The Destruction of Newcastle United - Rafael Benitez Leaves Club

Mike Ashley's destruction of Newcastle United continues after news broke that Rafael Benitez will leave the club.

For many Benitez was the only hope the club had. With the Spaniard at the helm there was a degree of optimism. The former Liverpool manager couldn't save the club from relegation when he first arrived, but he stayed with the club during the championship season, a season in which the club bounced straight back to the Premier League. Benitez then guided the club to a top ten finish in their first season back in the top flight.

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Benitez was working with his hands tied behind his back and still delivered miracles. In fact, Benitez made a profit in the transfer market during his time at the club, with Ashley unsurprisingly unwilling to spend, Benitez was forced to wheel and deal.

Mike Ashley has overseen the dramatic fall of this great football club. He is not remotely interested in the club, spinning lie after lie to the loyal supporters. Ashley allowing a world class manager to leave the club virtually guarantees relegation next season.

No other manager would've been able to do the job Benitez did. It was because of Benitez's tactical genius that the club have stayed in the Premier League for the past two seasons.

The club will now go back to hiring "Yes men" instead of a manager worthy of this club. There is only one man to blame in all of this, a man who only cares about one thing, himself.

Supporters must now vote with their feet, it is the only way the club can rid themselves of a leech.

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Newcastle United is rotten from the very top down. The club can never move forward, show ambition, or achieve anything while Ashley is in charge.

Only a clueless idiot would allow Rafael Benitez to leave the club, and unfortunately that's exactly who is in charge.