West Ham United‘s vice-chairman Karren Brady believes Newcastle United are “lucky” to have Rafa Benitez as as their manager.
Benitez led the Magpies to promotion back to the Premier League this season at the first time of asking, even pipping Brighton and Hove Albion to top spot on the final day of the campaign.
However, there had been speculation that Benitez could potentially not stay with the club beyond this campaign, with issues over the Newcastle’s transfer budget and strategy.
The Spanish tactician was reportedly seeking assurances that he would be able to strengthen his squad again after promotion, but it was then widely reported this week that talks with owner Mike Ashley over the issues at hand had gone well.
Benitez is now expected to stay with the North East outfit and Brady has had her say, which makes for interesting reading after the former was heavily linked with the Hammers recently following a poor season for Slaven Bilic’s men.
“Championship champions Newcastle are lucky to have Rafa Benitez as manager and the 57-year-old is lucky to have Newcastle with their huge and deeply loyal following,” Brady told The Sun.
“I sense Benitez is happy at a club with a similar working-class character to Liverpool where he is still regarded with much affection, not least for winning the Champions League. In Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley, he has the best financial means to give the Premier League a real go next year.
“Mike talked about ‘making your own luck’ but in football you also need a good manager and great players. He has at least one of these ingredients. And in my experience the rest follows – as long as you have a big cheque book, which Mike certainly has.”
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Benitez signed a three-year contract with Newcastle last May, but had hinted shortly after the Championship season ended that he could leave if he and Ashley were not on the same page.