Considering all the uncertainty surrounding St. James’ Park towards the end of the season in terms of a potential takeover and the fact that Rafa Benitez was in the closing stages of his contract, it was never likely to be easy for supporters.
Indeed, the Magpies have obviously had to suffer plenty of pain in the Mike Ashley era, yet losing Benitez has been particularly bad. Fans have protested outside of the ground, while club legends such as Alan Shearer and Micky Quinn have been vocal in their frustration at the Spaniard’s departure.
However, Ashley has reportedly now blamed Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan for his departure, via The Mirror, and these Geordies online simply aren’t having it.
Mike Ashley has claimed it is the fault of Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed al Nahyan that Rafa Benitez has left the club. #NUFC [Mirror]
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) June 29, 2019
Sunday 30th June marked the last day that the former Liverpool boss was in office as the Newcastle manager. The blame for that has been widely plastered on Ashley by the frustrated and angry supporters, but the Sports Direct owner is said to have claimed that Benitez’s exit is the result of would-be owner Sheikh Khaled not fancying the Spaniard.
The likes of Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger have been mentioned within the report but as Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards pointed out on Twitter yesterday, the window for a takeover will soon close and those close to Ashley reportedly doubt it will happen. Frankly, it looks to be a real mess right now.
You can see what the Magpies have made of the Ashley comments here:
This statement contradicts even more things.
I thought there was no ‘exclusivity’ ??? but we’re binning managers because BZG don’t want them?
The club statement says ‘We couldn’t agree terms with Rafa’ so was THAT a lie too? #NUFC
— Dell (@agbnufc) 29 June 2019
The final few pieces of the puzzle are being put into place by MA now. By mid week next week there will be news that the take over has fallen through. All the blame will be on Rafa and BZG . None of it MA fault of course. He did all he could to get it through.#ashleyout
— Paul McCarthy (@PaulKieramax) 29 June 2019
It makes no sense. If Rafa left because Khaled didn’t want him, now the club is bringing someone to be sacked less in a month if the takeover happens?
— Lucas Barboza (@lulucasbarboza) 29 June 2019
Ashley is a evil genius, next the takeover will collapse. BZN to blame for Rafa leaving. Business as usual. If this is true this basically means the takeover will get pulled, 100%
— Gianfranco Shola (@youmeandnufc) 29 June 2019
I thought Ashley might get his PR going this weekend after all the bad press. This claim only works if the sale goes through, otherwise it’s pretty pathetic even by Ashley and Keith Bishops standards, I’m betting it’s absolute rubbish.
— Brady (@BRADY1892) 29 June 2019
All this means is that the protests are getting to him so we need to ramp it up
— hâgan daź (@_d_i_a_h_) 29 June 2019
So when the takeover inevitably falls through, there’s nothing stopping fat Mike resigning Rafa then?
Thought so.
— Phill (@PhillAdHam) 29 June 2019
