Fuming Newcastle fans lay into Mike Ashley after Rafa Benitez quits blasting ‘you’ve killed our club’ and vowing to cancel season tickets
NEWCASTLE fans have torn into owner Mike Ashley for "killing the club" after Rafa Benitez sensationally quit as manager.
Sports Direct billionaire Ashley, 54, met Benitez, 59, in London at the end of the season but talks over a new deal broke down and the inevitable separation was confirmed this afternoon.
Benitez and his whole backroom staff will depart on June 30, with Newcastle now beginning their search for a new boss, leaving fans and legend Alan Shearer exasperated.
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 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.
"The process to appoint a successor will now begin."
Fan 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."
'KILLED A CLUB AND A CITY'
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."
A fellow Newcastle supporter tweeted: "Anyone who renews their ST [season ticket] now is absolutely mental and exactly the reason why Ashley gets away with this s***e.
"Don't give me the 'I'll support my club regardless' rubbish - if this new doesn't boil your blood then you need to think long and hard about what NUFC means these days."
One tried to see the funny side when they wrote: "Not many clubs could go from favourites to sign Mbappe to favourites to appoint Garry Monk in the space of a month."
'TOXIC REGIME'
Another posted: "We had a Michelin starred chef and gave him a microwave. Binned him off because he asked for an oven or something. Just realised I don't really know what else you do in a kitchen other than microwave so this analogy has got lost a bit but I'm still raging."
One by the name of @doshmeisterr wrote: "It ain't #nufc anymore. It's Sports Direct FC."
User @jackalextheaker said: "I fear for the future of the club I love. A manager who was high above what we deserved.
"Talk of a takeover that’ll probably never happen. And now we’re left stuck with a toxic regime who pushed our prize asset away with their incompetence."
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Another wrote: "Mike Ashley is the worst owner in world football. He is embarrassing. How do you let this happen."
One comment read: "Shambles. Feel sorry for the Newcastle fans. Rafa is a legend & not a chance you'll get a better manager. Mike Ashley is a clown."
And a fellow user posted: "You've ripped the heart out of our club to balance books and increase profit to invest in commercial gains. You will never be forgiven. Ever!"