Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez and managing director Lee Charnley held talks after the Spaniard first heard of a potential takeover through Mike Ashley’s interview with Sky Sports, according to journalist Lee Ryder.
The Chronicle reporter claims in a live Q&A on the newspaper’s website (06/12, 15:15) that the former Liverpool boss has not been told anything from the top about whether or not a takeover deal is on the cards and is working as though nothing will happen.
He was said to have been surprised by Ashley’s reveal and after seeing the interview, in which the British businessman stated a potential buyout was more advanced than ever before, was in talks with Charnley to discuss it.
Opinion
This might not seem like an awful big deal for the club but you can be sure that Benitez was not happy he was not informed of the supposed takeover talks. Only the Toon Army – and perhaps homegrown star Paul Dummett – are more passionate about the club than Benitez and he would no doubt want to be kept in the loop when it determines the future of the Magpies. It is an anxious time for the fans, who do not know what to believe and it seems the same applies to the man in the dugout. You can expect that his talks with Charnley were to demand an explanation and an update on the situation and whether Ashley’s claims are true or whether he is bigging things up to try and drive interest. It is a worrying time when not even the manager knows what is going on behind closed doors at St James’ Park. Fans best hope he has been informed of the situation, for it could well determine his future on Tyneside as well as Ashley’s.