OPINION
Anyone with a deep-rooted interest in Newcastle United will know that their training facilities are lagging some way behind their rivals.
You need only look at the plans laid out for Leicester City’s new complex, take a peek at Brighton’s new state of the art training ground or watch the behind-the-scenes Manchester City documentary to see what Premier League sides are doing to improve the quality of training available to their players.
Newcastle meanwhile operate out of a much smaller building with training pitches and an indoor hall – despite officially revealing plans back in 2013 of a newly constructed building with high tech facilities to be completed in 2016.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the training ground and academy has been a sticking point for Rafael Benitez in contract talks with the Spaniard looking to be given funds to improve what is currently in place – but it seems as though he will be left disappointed.
The same report states that owner Mike Ashley has shelved the £15million plans to focus on spending money on recruiting new players for the first team – a decision which is surely seeing the Sports Direct supremo shoot himself in the foot.
Firstly, why would you not give Benitez what he wants when trying to tie him down and risk losing him for good? It leaves the Spanish boss feeling unappreciated and unlikely to commit to a new deal.
Aside from that, new facilities would help every single one of the players at St James’ Park improve, especially when it comes to things like recovering from injury and fatigue.
It would also be a big selling point, not only to potential new recruits but to new owners – Ashley said to still be looking at a takeover deal – with potential investors not feeling like they would have to splash out to improve the training complex themselves when they took over.
A price of £15million is peanuts for Newcastle and one decent player sale could fund that quite easily – Ashley is missing the big picture by not green lighting what could be a huge game changer for the Magpies.