Mark Douglas has been speaking on the latest edition of The Chronicle’s the Everything is Black and White podcast about all things relating to Newcastle United.
One of the topics that came up in the episode was the impending takeover of Derby County by Sheikh Khaled Zayed Bin Saquer Zayed Al Nayhan.
Sheikh Khaled attempted to buy the Toon last year and planned to keep then-manager Rafael Benitez and provide a cash injection into the team.
Douglas does not believe that Benitez will end up at Pride Park despite Sheikh Khaled’s arrival and reports he is ‘not happy‘ in China.
He said: “Benitez is only going to come back to England for a really big job.
“He left the Newcastle job because he didn’t feel he had the potential to take the club to where he wanted it to be.
“He’s not going to come in and take over at Derby if he feels they would just be treading water.
“Benitez doesn’t look like a fit, for me.”
Can you see Benitez becoming Derby County manager?
No, not a chance
Yes, I don't see why not
TIF Thoughts on Benitez and Douglas’ thoughts on him taking the Derby job…
Benitez has indeed been linked with a move to join the Rams; however, the Spaniard has an incredible CV, having won the UEFA Champions League and Europa League as well as several other trophies.
So, perhaps a move to Derby in the Championship would be a bit below his required standards.
However, he spent one season in the Championship while he was the Newcastle manager as he led the Toon to the title.
The Rams, though, are bottom of the table and 15 points away from automatic promotion at this early stage, so it would take some effort to achieve automatic promotion this season if Benitez decides to join the club.
We agree with Douglas that Benitez would be unlikely to take the Derby job despite the impending takeover, and this is because Derby’s place in the table would mean that short-term success may not be a realistic prospect.
We also can’t imagine that a manager like Benitez would want to spend more than one season in the Championship again.