Toon bid to keep Benitez
them out of the Championship drop zone.
Benitez was set to quit the north-east once the Magpies’ demotion to the Championship was confirmed – now it is touch and go if he will stay.
Such has been the overwhelming show of affection for the Spaniard that he wants to see what is on offer before giving up on a job.
Benitez is in a strong position and will make demands of owner Mike Ashley that he has both the budget and control necessary to make sweeping changes.
He wants a final say on transfers and is also planning an upgrade of the training facilities.
Benitez knows that if he is to attract top talent to the area he will need to show that the club means business. And this time Charnley must be armed with facts and figures from Ashley to make a difference. The ex-Real Madrid chief has spent 20 years building up his reputation and needs convincing that if he is to drop down a division that he has the best chance possible of returning.
Rotherham, meanwhile, would love 67-year-old Warnock to stay on, while Blackburn and Cardiff are keen to take him. But should Benitez turn his back on Newcastle, Warnock would find any offer from Ashley difficult to reject.
There is also an outside chance that Newcastle could be tempted by the untried partnership of Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick.
Giggs is keen to branch out into a meatier managerial role and Geordie Carrick, who is nearing the end of his playing carrer at Old Trafford, would be his first choice as player/coach.