Stan Collymore believes that Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez needs to change his style if he is going to enjoy long-term success at St James’ Park.
The Spaniard enjoyed a fantastic full season in charge of the Tyneside club as he guided them straight back to the Premier League as champions of the division.
However, there have been reports that Benitez is unhappy with the lack of transfer activity this summer with potential recruits Tammy Abraham and Willy Caballero deciding against a move to the newly-promoted side.
The Northern Echo recently reported that the Spaniard demanded to meet with the club’s managing director Lee Charnley in order to discuss the transfer dealings.
Writing in his column for the Mirror, Collymore admitted that Benitez was the perfect man to help the Magpies achieve automatic promotion last season, but he urged the Spaniard to stop creating problems with the club’s hierarchy.
“Rafa Benitez is a control freak — he has been since he was at Liverpool,” he said.
“He’s a benign dictator – and I actually really like that in a manager.
“But I’m starting to worry that if he keeps picking fights with owners and chief execs at the rate he does then he may well start talking himself out of every club he goes to.
“I remember writing last season that the Spaniard’s style was just what Newcastle United needed.
“But at a club with genuine aspirations to kick on and return to the top flight’s top six, even top four, he is never going to be given the autonomy he craves.
“So he might need to be a little bit more pragmatic because there’s no reason why he can’t have his cake and eat it at Newcastle.”
The Spaniard will be hoping that he can add more players to his squad before the start of the upcoming campaign, with Christian Atsu being the only new arrival at the club this summer.
The Magpies are set to welcome Tottenham to St James’ Park on the opening day of the new Premier League season in August.