Macdonald
Malcolm
NEWCASTLE legend Malcolm Macdonald says his old club are facing a traumatic double whammy – relegation AND the departure of revered manager Rafa Benitez.
Supermac fears that it’s the only possible ending to the open warfare on Tyneside between Benitez and current Toon owner Mike Ashley.
Benitez once again failed to receive financial backing from Ashley to bring in his top targets during the summer transfer window.
In fact, the transfer dealings that Benitez was able to make saw Newcastle spend nothing overall – instead trousering a profit.
That’s a balance-sheet of delight for Sports Direct magnate Ashley – but one that spells despair for United supporters confronted with yet another season seeing their club struggling to stay out of the Championship. Macdonald has had enough. He insisted: “I feel really sorry for Rafa because this is a great manager who I see just getting dogs abuse. “He’s being used and abused. “It’s almost as if he is being punished for the success that he has brought to the club.
“In my eyes, Mike Ashley is not bothered about the club, the team, the supporters or anybody.
“What he really wants is for Newcastle United to keep supplying him with the money like they have been doing.”
Newcastle face Arsenal, one of Macdonald’s former clubs, at St James’ Park on Saturday – with just a single point from their opening four games.
Christmas
Macdonald added: “It’s not good. You get to Christmas and you really need to be on 18, 19, 20 points. Right now I am struggling to see where they might come from.
“I’m looking at the fixture list until the end of December and I’m not sure that they will even get into double figures.
“They need some talent to come into the squad and give the team a real footballing boost. “But that’s just not going to happen. I have never known a situation quite like this.
“Does the owner want to sell? He says he does, but I don’t think he does really, because Newcastle is too valuable for him.
“The club has been relegated twice while Ashley has been the owner. Each time they have come straight back.
“But if they get relegated again and things stay the same – it hurts me dreadfully to say this – I just can’t see them coming straight back this time.
“I think the spirit in the club has been broken over these last few weeks.”
And if Newcastle do drop into the second tier again, Macdonald feels that it is increasingly unlikely that Benitez will be around to pick up the pieces like he did last time.
Supermac added: “I think that Rafa’s being shoved towards the door.
“He doesn’t deserve it. He’s got a great track record and he’s done an absolutely terrific job at Newcastle.
“But he’s getting no support from above. If what Newcastle have achieved over the last couple of years had happened elsewhere, most football club owners would have been absolutely delighted.
“They would have been wanting to reward the manager.
“It is heartbreaking. You look and it’s a full stadium every match day, 52,500 fans. And supporters will think, ‘Where the hell are we going?’.
Murder
“Everybody is totally aware of the situation but Mike Ashley is ignoring everything.
“The team got away with murder last season to stay up – but it can’t happen two years in a row.”
Macdonald, 68, will be at Saturday’s game. “I have been invited by my old skipper Bob Moncur to do talks in different lounges, which I am happy to do,” he explained.
“But whenever I am in there, I’m having to bite my tongue.
“So if I’m doing that, for heaven’s sake, Rafa is certainly having to bite his tongue too.
“I don’t think things would improve even if he won a trophy. “I fear that he will be gone at the end of the season.
“There is a solution, but I don’t think it will happen.
“Mike Ashley would have to listen carefully to the buyers who are interested... and let it go. Let the new owners sit down and seriously talk with a brilliant manager.
“I know that Rafa would dearly love to remain at Newcastle United with a decent, free hand to go and bring success.”