BEN AND GONE
Rafa Benitez quits Newcastle after refusing new deal over lack of transfer funds
NEWCASTLE have announced that Rafa Benitez will leave at the end of the week - and they are now looking for his replacement.
Toon owner Mike Ashley met Benitez in London at the end of the season to try and agree a new deal.
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But talks have broken down in recent weeks and an inevitable separation has now finally been confirmed.
Benitez and his whole backroom staff will depart on June 30, with Newcastle now beginning their search for a new boss.
A Toon statement read: “It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on 30th June 2019
We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved
Newcastle statement
“We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been - and will not be - possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives.
“Rafa’s coaching staff, Paco de Míguel Moreno, Antonio Gomez Perez and Mikel Antia, will also leave the club on June 30.
“We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved.
“We would also like to thank our supporters, players and staff for their patience during a period of uncertainty.
“The process to appoint a successor will now begin."
£350M BUYOUT
Representatives of the Sheikh made no contact with Benitez despite releasing two statements about the proposed takeover, the latest insisting proof of funds have been provided.
They have also registered a company, Monochrome Acquisition Limited, as the vehicle to complete the deal.
And the Sheikh’s people insist they are now just waiting for Premier League ratification.
FAR EAST FORTUNE
Benitez is already being courted by Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.
He has already turned down numerous big-money offers from the Far East during his Toon tenure.
But that has not put off Dalian, who are willing to pay him a salary of £12m-a-year.
He once admitted: “I could go away and make some money.
“If you go to China you can make a lot of money.”
BIG AL DEMANDS ANSWERS
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer tore into Ashley in his exclusive Sun Sport column today prior to the confirmation of Benitez's exit.
The former England captain wrote: “Where is the respect for the thousands and thousands of loyal fans?
“There is not a jot of thought for them even though they are the lifeblood of that football club.
“They have been there a lot longer than Mike Ashley - and will be there long after he has gone.
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“They deserve so much better as they are the best fans in the country.
“Nothing surprises me at Newcastle any more.
“But for the club to stay silent and seemingly let someone as talented and as special as Benitez leave for free, it really is a terrible situation.”
Newcastle fans wasted no time in tearing into Ashley for "killing the club" after Benitez's exit.
Their anger in response to the tweet announcing Benitez's departure was clear for all to see, with Jose Mourinho, Alan Pardew and Mikel Arteta among the favourites to take over.
One fumed: "Done with you and done with this absolute s*** show until Ashley is gone. This club deserves better."
Another said: "Mike Ashley you have killed a club, a city, the fans.
"Rafa was the best thing to happen to this club in a long time and you've messed him about, lied to him, lied to us and took the p*** for too long.
"I will not be giving you any more of my money. It's time for action."
Meanwhile, former Toon boss Alan Pardew has been backed by the bookies as second-favourite to replace Rafa - and he is still technically under contract from his first spell.
Pards put pen to paper on a bizarre EIGHT-YEAR deal in 2012, only to join Crystal Palace in 2014.
Benitez and his whole backroom staff will depart on June 30, with the Toon now beginning their search for a new boss.
And Jose Mourinho - out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in December 2018 - joins Pardew at 7/1 with Betfair.
Manchester City assistant Arteta is 5/1 favourite - with sacked Birmingham chief Garry Monk in the top five at 10/1, along with Bournemouth's Eddie Howe.
Two ex-Newcastle bosses Alan Pardew and Chris Hughton are joint-second favourites along with Mourinho at 7/1.
Elsewhere, Steven Gerrard (12/1), Roy Keane and Gennaro Gattuso (both 14/1) are amongst the front-runners.
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