NUFC reporter reveals what 'club sources' are now saying about a move for Brendan Rodgers

According to Lee Ryder, sources at St James' Park have now 'played down' the possibility of making a move for Brendan Rodgers after the Celtic boss was linked with Rafa Benitez's job once again over the weekend.

An 'exclusive' in The Mirror reported last week that Newcastle were considering a move for the ex-Liverpool manager if Rafa Benitez failed to turn things around over the next few weeks.

It emerged today that Ashley gave Benitez a vote of confidence despite Saturday's latest defeat to Brighton, with The Chronicle's piece also mentioning the £9m compensation fee that would be required to get Rodgers out of his current deal at Celtic.

Here's a snippet from that story, confirming that the Rodgers link has been played down by club sources:

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Brendan Rodgers and while sources at St James' have played that possibility down, they would be faced with a £9milliion compensation fee to get the ex-Reading and Liverpool manager out of his current deal over at Celtic.

The fact it'd cost Ashley close to £10m to get Rodgers is perhaps one of the main reasons that link is being played down, with us knowing just how reluctant the NUFC owner is to spend money.

Not only that, I'm pretty sure even he's wise enough to know that Rodgers wouldn't exactly be a clear upgrade on Benitez.

We may be in a sticky position, but it's down to the incompetence of Ashley - and that's what he needs to accept and rectify heading into the January window.

Changing managers when we're already punching above our weight with Benitez would only seal our fate as far as I'm concerned.