The Spaniard is set to leave St James’ Park when his current contract expires, but Mick Martin believes there could be a route back to Tyneside <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Rafa Benitez leaving Newcastle is a \u201cdisaster\u201d, says former club captain Mick Martin, but a change of ownership could deliver a shock U-turn in the dugout.<\/p>\n
As things stand, the Magpies are set to be without a manager on June 30.<\/p>\n
That is because no agreement has been reached with Benitez to extend his contract.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The inability of Mike Ashley and Co to do a deal has been widely condemned, with Martin telling Love Sport Radio of a long-running saga: \u201cYes, it\u2019s been a disaster, to be honest with you, and I have to say I didn\u2019t think it would come to this, because Benitez seemed happy to be in his position at Newcastle.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther than the fact there\u2019s a couple of issues that needed to be sorted out. He loves the crowd, he loves the area, he\u2019s done great work with the team, and he just wanted a couple of things made clear to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, a couple more quid to invest, and control, and help with transfers. And on top of a few quid more on his wages, so I think he would have deserved all that, the crowd would have been happy. But unfortunately, it\u2019s come to this stage where there\u2019s going to be turmoil around here.\u201d<\/p>\n
While being braced for a parting of ways with a proven coach, Martin believes there is a chance that Newcastle have not seen the last of Benitez.<\/p>\n
Takeover talk on Tyneside has dragged on for some time and it could be that a new regime look to bring the popular manager back if an agreement can be reached in the near future.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Martin, who spent six years with the Magpies between 1978 and 1984, added: \u201cThe problem you have facing you now, is an appointment of a new manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow a new manager comes in, straight away you have to hit the ground running, because if he doesn\u2019t, results aren\u2019t good, then the crowds are going to start booing him, booing Ashley, and everything is going to be up in the air.
\u00a0
\u201cWhoever does come in has got to be strong and handle the pressure of replacing Rafa Benitez, because if he doesn\u2019t he\u2019s going to get buried up here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is one little possibility that might happen, if there is a sale of this club prior to the season starting, it wouldn\u2019t be beyond the new owners to go to Benitez if he hasn\u2019t got a job by then to bring him back. I read that somewhere and thought \u2018God, that\u2019s a good idea\u2019, and if there was a sale that could possibly be on.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n