Sports broadcaster Richard Keys has again laid into Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez and the club’s fans.
In his second bout of criticism of Benitez in less than a week, Keys questions whether the Spaniard is ‘asking for the sack’ and demands that United fans ‘bite into some realism.’
The statement found on his blog comes after he told Benitez to ‘shut up or walk’ after a week of tension between the manager and the club’s hierarchy.
Richard Keys tells Rafa Benitez to 'shut-up or walk' as tensions rise at Newcastle United.
It was that tweet and the reaction from United fans, which has prompted Keys to delve into the situation at St James’ Park once again.
“I got a lot of stick for offering Benitez advice last week,” he wrote. “I stand by it. It’s so tiresome to hear him bleating on.
“These are the facts - Mike Ashley isn’t going to change. Benitez will get the money the club generates - no more. Ashley isn’t going to put it back into the mess he inherited. “It’s stable now. It’s in the PL and they’ve got enough to be competitive with. Competitive? Top half - maybe a Cup.
“Benitez won’t get a better job if he walks and he knows it. Newcastle is a fantastic football club. If he delivers silverware his stock will rise even further. Forget top 4. It’s not going to happen. Keegan over achieved and for a while so too did Dalglish and Bobby Robson, who both delivered CL football.
“Newcastle fans should stop their fight with Ashley, bite into some realism, get behind their team and demand their manager does the same. He won’t walk - not without a pay off. Which leaves one last question on this subject - is he trying to get the sack? If he does go - trust me - Newcastle will survive.”
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12:30 Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
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12:30 Cardiff City v Newcastle United
Sunday 26th August
16:00 Newcastle United v Chelsea
Saturday 1st September
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Saturday 15th September
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Saturday 22nd September
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Saturday 29th September
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