Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez looks set to depart the club at the end of the season despite fresh contract talks with Mike Ashley, according to the Shields Gazette.
The newspaper reports on their website that the Spaniard will leave the Magpies at the end of the campaign, as owner Ashley and his representatives are not willing to invest in club facilities or the youth system.
The report adds that even minor investment in these areas will not be enough to persuade Benitez to stay put, with the manager growing increasingly frustrated due to seeing the potential youth players have.
OPINION
This is news that is not going to delight many Newcastle fans in the slighest is it? The fact that Ashley is not keen to invest in these key areas is shocking, but not a surprise given his lack of involvement in recent seasons. It is clear that Benitez has a lot of faith in the youth system and he can see the potential that the youth players have – so it is no wonder he will still leave, even if Ashley invests minor funds into these areas. It is not fair that the manager has to put up with this – if there is no investment, then how are the players meant to develop at a steady pace? The likes of Sean Longstaff have proved that the potential is there, yet Ashley is still unwilling to part ways with his cash. If the youth players are anything like Longstaff, then the fans will be in for a real treat. Unfortunately though, it does not seem to look that way – and with Benitez set to leave as things stand, things seem to be getting from bad to worse.