Ashley’s failings a sign of trouble ahead for Benitez

Rafa Benitez has taken Newcastle down, taken them back up again and probably feels the only way he can take them now is sideways – at best. The Tyneside hokey cokey resumes at Swansea after a result most clubs would consider encouraging: a 3-0 home victory, admittedly over West Ham.

But there is a bigger measure these days than goals in the net and points on the board. Deals done in the transfer window are seen as the true gauge of health. By that standard, gales of pessimism are once more sweeping around Newcastle, with Benitez (below) saying: “I signed what I could, not what I wanted.”

Swansea is a painful destination for Geordies incensed by Mike Ashley’s apparent failure to give the manager what he desired. Benitez wanted Tammy Abraham. Where is Abraham now? Swansea. So is Wilfried Bony, the prodigal, and Renato Sanches, from Bayern Munich, on loan. Newcastle risk seeing every fixture as a hall of mirrors for their own transfer muddle, which sent 20 players out, sold or on loan, and brought six in.

Amid the politicking between manager and owner (they have not spoken directly since

May, according to some reports), the standout line all along was Benitez saying: “Hopefully, Mike can keep his word.”

To understand that hope we need to revisit Newcastle’s relegation in May 2016, when Benitez was entitled to scoot but elected to stay, subject to assurances: effectively, transfer funds and control.

In the Championship, Newcastle were well coached, as you would expect from a manager who had worked at Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. “The love I could feel from the fans was a big influence in my decision,” said Benitez, who was equally cute in his relationship with Liverpool supporters.

But you could see the next wave of tension coming. Over the summer, Benitez said: “I have responsibility for football business and the most important thing is I have assurances that we will have a strong, winning, team.” Several times he urged Ashley to “keep his word”.

This is where we hit the snag. The faith placed by Benitez in Ashley suggests a certain refusal to consider evidence. Everyone on Tyneside knows Ashley is a reluctant spender who still resents having to part with so much to stabilise Newcastle in the first place. There was no indication that he would go charging into the transfer market again, whatever “assurances” Benitez was given.

The fans are stuck with it, but at least Benitez can leave, if his £6m managerial release clause is activated, with a fall-guy already established: Ashley, who has been embroiled in legal action with Tony Jimenez, one of the club’s former vicepresidents. Jimenez has also clashed legally with Dennis Wise – another of Ashley’s bright ideas.

There are some bright spots: Matt Ritchie, who has started the season well, and Mikel Merino, who joined on loan from Dortmund, saying: “Rafa is one of the main reasons I’m here.” There is no escaping, though, the spin of ill feeling and frustration, in the dugout and the stands. Newcastle players have never been slow to pick this up, and hide behind it. And if Benitez is cast as the “victim”, there were plenty of clues that it would go this way. A manager can change plenty, but not the owner’s nature.