Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has moved to head off any approaches to the club from West Ham for Rafa Benitez’s services.
The head of United and Sports Direct makes very few statements but has declared: “I would like to thank Rafa Benitez for his magnificent achievement this season.
I would also like to applaud the players, led fantastically by the captain Jamaal Lascelles.
“On many occasions throughout the season they have been described as a championship side, which I personally consider to be derogatory.
“Rafa, as always, has my full support, and contrary to some media reports that portray me as a pantomime villain, I will continue to ensure that every penny generated by the club is available to him. I hope very much that Rafa will remain at Newcastle United.
“Finally, I would like to thank the fans for their unrivalled support of Rafa and the team throughout the season.”
Benitez had said after the game: “I still have one year left on my contract, so it is different.
“Now, we have to make sure that we do the right things and are on the same page.
“The fans have ambitions and we have ambitions, and we have to know if everybody has the same feelings too.
“The potential is there. It is easy to see what we have, now we need to do something more and be a little bit better.”
Doesn’t sound to me like they’re on the same page. Ashley says he’ll continue to make “every penny generated by the club” available to him. Benitez appears to say that he wants more.
Saying that, I’d be happy to stick with Moyes.
Why should we be looking for a manager when we already have one . ?? .
A few fans , as is always the case , thinking they speak for the Majority , whatever that means . We are doing ok with Moyes thank you very much . No need for a change .
Time to except that West Ham are starting to improve and grow under Moyes ,,, so let him get on with it. . He has definitely won the dressing room over and the players are playing for him . Expectations are way too high with some fans . We are getting there and a change of Manager is a step backward in my opinion . Two steps forward and three steps back . We need to progress without the mistake other clubs have made . It’s a very long list : Swansea Leeds , Nottingham forest , Coventry , Birmingham , Fulham , QPR , West Brom , Aston Villa , Derby county , Wolves , Ipswich , Middlesbrough , Hull , Luton , Watford , Stoke , just to name a few who have been consistently changing Thier Manager . West Ham are in danger of falling into the same trap . Luckily we escaped this season …. changing the manager now would only invite instability and upset the progress we are making . We have the summer window to prepare under Moyes ; let him get on with it and see where it takes us . A whole season of 38 games + Cup games . Best chance we’ve had for many years in my opinion . A successful second division manager does not a Premiership Manager make .
A failed Portuguese manager with money does not a Premiership Manager make .
But a manager with experience in the Premiership with financial backing ???