RAFA WON’T ROLL OUT WELCOME MAT, ASH

RAFA BENITEZ will not bow to owner Mike Ashley’s bizarre request for a formal invitation to the Newcastle training ground.

Ashley (below) has let Benitez know, via managing director Lee Charnley, that he would welcome an approach to watch the Toon players at the club’s Benton training base.

And he would also appreciate Benitez (top) personally asking him to attend a match at St James’ Park – something he has not done since the Magpies clinched the Championship title against Barnsley in May last year.

Ashley and Benitez have met on only a handful of occasions – the last, three months ago – but the

Toon chief has daily contact with Charnley, who has told him that their relationship may benefit if the sports magnate was invited.

Benitez, however, feels it is not his job to hold out an olive branch to the controversial owner, who has repeatedly frustrated him with his hands-off approach and reluctance to back him in the transfer market. And the Spaniard believes that if Ashley wants to watch the squad being put through their paces or turn up on matchday, he does not need his permission. “The owner is the owner and he is always welcome here,” said the Newcastle boss. “If he wants to come, it is not a problem.

“We are a professional club and we are open to anyone. And as the owner, he can come whenever he wants.” There is a possibility that Newcastle’s two major figures may have no direct contact between now and Benitez’s contract running out in June. He revealed there are no imminent plans for talks on a new deal after he felt bitterly let down by the hierarchy in the last transfer window. And – in another dig at Ashley – Benitez said the club spending so little means they are bracketed with relegation favourites Huddersfield and

Cardiff this season. He added: “This year will be more difficult because Wolves and Fulham have spent a lot of money, not just this year but also in the past. “You look at Cardiff and Huddersfield. We are around that league.”