OPINION
There is little doubting that Newcastle United fans are fearing the departure of Rafael Benitez this summer as the manager’s contract status is left up in the air – but what do the players think of the situation?
The Spaniard has galvanised the north east club both in the dressing room and in the stands at St James’ Park but with a contract which expires this summer there is every chance the Magpies will head into next season with a new man in the dugout.
Members of the Toon Army are surely worried about what sort of impact that could have on Tyneside and it appears it is not just those watching on who are concerned about Mike Ashley not tying the manager down to a new deal.
Speaking on behalf of the dressing room at Newcastle, club captain Jamaal Lascelles admitted the squad were also fearful he would leave in an honest reveal behind-the-scenes.
He told the Times: “Yes, of course it does (worry us). There aren’t many managers like him. Of course as players, we want him here and Newcastle should do everything they can to keep him.
“He is special. Even at the start of the season, when everyone is panicking and we’ve got all those big teams to play and we find ourselves down in the bottom-three, he stayed so calm.
“He knows his players and he trusts his own ability to get the best out of his players. That’s such an important thing for a manager to have.”
Benitez is quite clearly adored by the Newcastle squad as much as he is by those in the stands and as such the prospect for Ashley is so much more about losing the manager – he could be facing a mass exodus among the playing staff.
If the player see the Spaniard leave, then why would they want to stay on board? It would be clear that the club have no ambition for the future and as such they are going to want to leave as well.
Premier League football is all Ashley cares about if he is to stay on as owner – that is not going to be achieved if their star men leave the club – while a takeover is going to be difficult to pull off for a price he wants if the club’s players are wanting to leave too.
Lascelles’ comments should have the owner quaking in his boots – Benitez’s exit could cause a collapse at St James’ Park.