MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 19:11:27| >> :60:526:526:

Benitez future depends on talks with Ashley

Benitez future depends on talks with Ashley
© Reuters
The Newcastle manager will meet with the club's owner in the coming week after guiding the Magpies to 13th.

Rafael Benitez will hold crunch talks with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley next week to reach a decision over his future.

A 4-0 rout of Fulham at Craven Cottage concluded the season with a flurry of goals that secured the club a 13th-placed finish in the Premier League.

Ashley watched from the stands as a noisy contingent of 3,000 travelling fans repeatedly called for Benitez to stay at St James' Park for another year.

The Spaniard, however, hinted that his willingness to extend his three-season reign will hinge on Ashley's vision for Newcastle.

"We will have a meeting hopefully next week and we will see where we are," Benitez said.

"I can see the potential of this massive club and hopefully we can do things in the way that would be very good for everyone to move forward together. I don't want to keep talking, we'll see what happens next week.

"Mike Ashley came to the changing room after the game to say thank you very much to all of the players.

Mike Ashley, left
Benitez has frequently called for investment from Mike Ashley, left (Richard Sellers/PA)

"He was talking with me and the team. He didn't say anything special, but was congratulating the team.

"It was the end of a very good season – clean sheet, four goals, final day of the season on a sunny day.

"This is a very difficult competition and I'm very proud of this group of players who have given everything, even in the last few games when we were safe."

Goals from Jonjo Shelvey, Ayoze Perez, Fabian Schar and Salomon Rondon saw Fulham overwhelmed on the counter-attack after dominating long spells of possession.

Salomon Rondon, right, embraces Ayoze Perez after scoring Newcastle's fourth
Salomon Rondon, right, embraces Ayoze Perez after scoring Newcastle's fourth goal (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Among the highlights at Craven Cottage was the support shown by Newcastle supporters to Benitez, who was loudly cheered on to and off the pitch.

"The fans have been so good for the whole season. Since I have been here, they have been fantastic," Benitez said.

"I've been trying to do my best to give them something back. We could celebrate together. I'm always really proud and pleased when I hear the fans singing my name.

"The fans were fantastic. We weren't expecting so many fans at an away game when we'd nearly finished the season and were already safe. Everything has been positive."

Scott Parker
Scott Parker felt Fulham performed better than the scoreline suggests (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Scott Parker's first match as Fulham's permanent manager left the former England midfielder with mixed feelings.

"Those early goals took it right out of us, but I'm not sure the goals reflect the game," Parker said.

"Saying that, we were lacklustre and lacked a final third threat and lacked conviction at times. And we were vulnerable on the break.

"There were some real pleasing things in terms of the performance, but there were some glaring things that stand out."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Duncan Bech, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'aa8027ef-6ef6-42ac-9276-d557b444e9d4');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Benitez future depends on talks with Ashley'});

ID:359067: cacheID:359067:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10490:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez watches his side take on Wolves on February 11, 2019
Read Next:
Benitez: 'I have no problems with Mitrovic'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!