Newcastle United legend Mick Quinn has spoken out over the club’s current woes, claiming that Rafa Benitez will leave the club if nothing changes.
After two wins in a row, the Toon Army were dumped out of the FA Cup by Watford on Saturday, and the club have still yet to make a signing this transfer window.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Quinn was quick to outline the sad state of affairs on Tyneside.
He said: “The club is absolutely in limbo. There’s nothing from the club down to the fans to give any kind of communication, so everything’s just stagnating at the moment.
“It’s almost toxic. Fans are talking about pitch invasions, it’s ridiculous. They’re not happy, they’re frustrated, and then of course Rafa’s contract is up at the end of the season.
“He’s gone, for me, if things don’t change. And where will they go if they do get relegated and he goes? I can’t see them getting back up.”
OPINION
Strong, strong words from Quinn, but he’s probably not too far off the truth. Just when Newcastle look as if they might have taken a step to turn their season around, they shoot themselves in the foot with a woeful performance against Watford, and find their confidence deflated and back to square one. The real concern, however, is Rafa. The Spaniard has bordered on a miracle worker during his time in the north east, and if he gets at the end of the season, which could easily happen at this stage, it’s hard to see where the club would go from there. If the Magpies get relegated, and there’s no saying they will with Rafa at the helm, then surely he will walk, and if he goes so will a large portion of the disgruntled fanbase. Toon fans can talk about loyalty and dedication, but there’s only so much punishment they can take, and if they were to go own again, for a third time under the Ashley era, surely that would be the final straw.