No Benitez meeting yet after Ashley’s Palace appearance

NEWCASTLE United owner Mike Ashley has not yet followed up his first appearance at a game with a meeting with Rafa Benitez, writes LEE RYDER.

The duo did not talk after the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, Benitez conducting media duties straight after the game before both went their separate ways.

At the time of going to press, the owner and manager had not been in contact ahead of Benitez’s pre-match media briefing today.

The club issued a “no comment” response to claims from Tony Jimenez United could have been sold to Sheikh Mansour in 2008.

Jimenez saids: “If he had played his cards right Mike could have sold Newcastle to Abu Dhabi before they bought Man City.” It is understood a deal was never close.

A recruitment summit meeting will take place following the home game with Leicester City but it remains unclear whether Ashley will be involved.

Ashley has not attended a home game since May 2017 but has made it clear he wants to make a visit to the training ground soon. Benitez said: “The owner is the owner and he is always welcome here.”

The wider issue at Newcastle is Benitez’s contract.

It is believed Benitez’s concerns about a new deal are not salary-based and his requests were more based around improving the training ground, Academy and under-23 set-up.