Mike Ashley has enjoyed his recent trips to Newcastle United home matches and shared time with Rafael Benitez and the players behind the scenes, according to Guillem Balague.
The Spanish football expert explained in a detailed United analysis for BBC Sport that witnesses have noticed how the long-standing owner has looked at ease back at St James’ Park after a lengthy self-enforced absence.
Balague insisted there is no Western-style stand-off between Ashley and Benitez but there is an urgent need for the duo to find common ground ahead of what will be a crucial January transfer window that will determine the future of the manager at the club.
OPINION
Forget the PR moves from Ashley. They’re not kidding many Newcastle fans into thinking the long-time absent and deeply unpopular owner has suddenly found a new love for the game and club he has ran for over a decade. The scars from the broken promises and the years of hurt run too deep for Magpies to have much other than contempt for Ashley. The only way he will be forgiven by natives is if he changes his ways, demonstrates ambition to keep hold of Benitez and establishes the club in the Premier League. A joined-up policy in the transfer market in which Newcastle are decisive rather than disinterested, and clever rather than cautious, would begin the process of rebuilding ties with the terraces. There is huge doubt as to whether the January window will be anything other than a time of frustration and false hope for the manager and supporters. Otherwise, those appearances for the TV cameras will mean absolutely nothing.