Charnley hits back at Benitez over criticism of spending priorities
Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley has defended the club’s decision to prioritise strengthening the squad over improving the training ground and academy in response to criticism from former boss Rafael Benitez.
The Magpies’ hierarchy has been engaged in a war of words with the Spaniard in recent days, insisting he turned down a contract extension at St James’ Park for more money in China. For his part, Benitez denied that claim and repeated his assertion that the club failed to match his ambition.
Benitez had been keen to redevelop the training ground and the academy, but left having been told in no uncertain terms that what cash was available would be used to re-shape the playing squad. Charnley said: “What we have said is it is about priorities. There is a pot of money. Where is the greater need? At this time it’s on field.
“It’s not unreasonable, the pot of money can only go so far. You go and spend it on the training ground, it means there is less to spend on the team.
“Spend it on the academy, there is less to spend on the team; spend too much on wages, there’s less to spend on the team.”
Charnley’s comments are unlikely to placate fans left angry by the loss of a manager in whom they had invested so much faith and, while the club broke their transfer record this summer to land striker Joelinton, as well as Allan Saint-maximin, Emil Krafth, Jetro Willems and Andy Carroll, the spending was offset by Ayoze Perez’s £30 million departure for Leicester.