Rafa told he'll only get transfer funds on one condition, just as NUFC make top 20 rich list...Wow
On a day where Newcastle have been confirmed as the 20th 'richest' club in world football, The Telegraph claim Mike Ashley will still only release funds for permanent signings IF Rafa Benitez signs a new contract.
We know Ashley's a parasite and a man whose only use for Newcastle United is to advertise Sports Direct and promote his own self interests, but you really couldn't make this up.
As we scramble for loan signings with just a week of the January transfer window remaining, the new @Deloitte Football Money League has us as the 20th 'richest football club in the world' - and the 8th highest earning club in the UK:
Incredible - yet here we are, struggling to stay up due to a total lack of investment, only looking at loans, refusing to pay over £16m to sign 'top targets', refusing to upgrade our old hat training facilities or keep St James' Park in remotely good order.
To make matter worse, here's what Ashley's stance is with regards to Rafa making any permanent signings this month - with the Telegraph suggesting he is holding cash back based on Rafa's rightful reluctance to sign a new deal:
"The Spaniard has made up his mind that he will quit at the end of the season if he is not backed this month with new signings.
…with the club reluctant to sanction permanent deals because of Benitez’s refusal to sign a contract extension."
The logic is absolutely baffling. Why on earth would Rafa sign a new deal on this basis? They've lied to him before and Ashley won't be afraid of doing it again.
It's ridiculous to expect him to sign on these terms. It's like your girlfriend promising she'll change after she cheats. You give her a chance - she cheats. You give her a second chance? She cheats AGAIN. You don't get back with her the third time! Based on this logic, why on earth would Rafa signed before he's given written promises Ashley can't break this time.
We have the 4th lowest wage bill in the Premier League and we haven't spent over £14m since 2005. Mike Ashley is coining it in while he lets the club rot on a shoestring budget - leaving Rafa and us fans to deal with the mess he's created as he pursues other business ventures.
He's the villain in a pantomime that looks destined to have no happy ending until he sells up.
