Final insult as revealed Rafa Benitez wasn’t told Newcastle United were putting out leaving statement

Newcastle United released an official statement on Monday lunchtime, telling the world that Rafa Benitez was leaving.

Part of the statement reading: ‘We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved.’

However, Mike Ashley has delivered the statement with a final touch of the class we have come to suspect.

George Caulkin of The Times now revealing that Ashley didn’t allow the club to give any advance warning to Rafa Benitez that a statement was going to be released.

We now must surely look forward to what Rafa Benitez will have to say about his whole Newcastle United/Mike Ashley experience.

Whether this will be instant, or a revenge dish best served cold, remains to be seen.

This though just sums up the contempt Mike Ashley has for any decent person who falls into his clutches, whether that is Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer, Chris Hughton, or indeed, Rafa Benitez.

Never mind the entire Newcastle United fanbase that he has laughed at for over a decade.

George Caulkin recalls that in an unguarded moment, Rafa Benitez declared how could he ever trust Mike Ashley?

Well, we all know the answer to that rhetorical question, trusting Mike Ashley is the equivalent of the Gingerbread Man being duped into riding along resting on the fox’s nose.

George Caulkin writing in The Times today (24 June 2019) – A few extracts;

‘Today, the long goodbye brought its sad farewell.

When Benítez’s deal expires on June 30 he will be gone and, for many supporters, hope will leave with him. “We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been — and will not be — possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives,” Newcastle said in a statement. Benítez was given no warning that it was coming.

In an unguarded moment at a mid-season training camp in Spain 17 months ago, Benítez had asked a rhetorical question: “How can I trust him [Ashley]?” He never found an answer.

He had arrived thinking of Newcastle as a big club, but he does not leave that way, because it is not how Ashley and Charnley operate.

This could have been a blissful summer for Newcastle fans, enraptured by the prospect of a takeover, by Benítez staying and powered by momentum. Instead, they straddle a familiar knife-edge. No players have arrived, no manager is in place and no shortlist has been compiled, with pre-season training beginning on July 4. New ownership remains possible, but the process has been interminable and a narrow window is closing.’

That official Newcastle United Statement earlier today:

‘It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benítez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on 30th June 2019.

We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been – and will not be – possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives.

Rafa’s coaching staff, Paco de Míguel Moreno, Antonio Gómez Pérez and Mikel Antia, will also leave the club on 30th June.

We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved.

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