Benitez fears Keegan factor
RAFA BENITEZ will not offer any assurances about his future as Newcastle boss.
But amid uncertainty over whether he will be in charge next season, the manager has issued a plea for the club not to tear itself apart.
With Benitez at odds with club owner Mike Ashley over the direction Newcastle are taking, a 52,000 sell-out crowd will show their support for the manager on a day his predecessor Steve McClaren brings Derby to St James’ Park. McClaren knows full well how division between supporter and hierarchy can undermine a team and Benitez is desperate the issues off the pitch do not affect business on it.
Despite being angered by the club’s failure to back him during the latest transfer window, Benitez wants to draw a line under it. Asked to quell fears he may quit even if the Magpies win promotion, Benitez said winning matches was his sole concern now. Many Toon fans see parallels with 2008 and Kevin Keegan quitting after a policy clash with Ashley, who has not been forgiven for alienating the club legend. The fallout that season resulted in relegation and Benitez said: “We can’t be blaming each other after the transfer window. The experience of fans, the owner, the players and staff here has been complicated in the past but we must make sure we don’t make the same mistakes. We all have to push in the same direction.”
He said he wanted to sit down with Ashley in May to find out if the owner shared his vision.
“I’m not worried about the long term,” he said. “I can only change the short term. My future is the next game and to try to get promoted. We will have plenty of time to talk.”