OPINION
There would have been very few people who would have predicted Newcastle United’s 10th place finish – and their over-achievement has left the Magpies sitting pretty over their future.
Fans and pundits alike would have been expecting a relegation battle for the newly promoted Championship title winners, and heading into 2018 it looked as though their predictions would be coming true, with Rafael Benitez and his men in and among those at the bottom.
Their struggled came amid the rumour of a potential takeover, and whether that caused doubts in the mentality of the squad, or drove them on to pick up the success they did, only the dressing room will know.
Still, a top ten finish following the final game should have given owner Mike Ashley a much easier job to sell up and make a healthy earning from his investment, but it seems as though that will not happen.
The Daily Mail claim that, in crucial contract talks between the club and Benitez, the assumption is that the Sports Direct owner will still be at the helm for the foreseeable future – and it is a risky game he is playing.
While such negotiations are said to be moving positively, it leaves Ashley in a sticky situation, with the Spaniard likely to have made demands over what he expects if he is to commit his future to the club.
If the owner fails to meet those demands, which will likely be put into writing as part of the terms, then Benitez could just walk away from the Magpies, leaving them as a rudderless ship sailing into uncharted territory.
Ashley must know that he will never be able to convince a coach of Benitez’s calibre to take over and losing the former Liverpool man will not only cause major uncertainty in the stands, but wipe massive value off the club.
If Ashley is willing to back Benitez, then all is good, but as proven before, the businessman likes to take a risk, and this is one gamble which will come back to hurt him and his wallet.