Sunday 15 May 2016 12:45, UK
Newcastle United should do everything in their power to keep hold of Rafa Benitez and allow the Spaniard to build a dynasty, says the Sunday Supplement panel.
The Magpies were relegated on Wednesday without even kicking a ball when arch rivals Sunderland defeated Everton 3-0 to avoid the drop at the expense of their north east neighbours.
Benitez is thought to have a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away from St James' Park if he failed to guide them to safety, but said on Saturday that there is a 'chance' of him staying at the club.
Speaking on Sunday Supplement, Henry Winter, chief football writer at The Times, said Mike Ashley should prioritise retaining the Spaniard.
"It's very simple: They have to work on Benitez to make him stay," Winter said.
"Benitez has done some great things in his career and I think it would be one of the greatest things that he could do if he stayed with the club when all logic said wait for a bigger club, wait for a Champions League club, for a club in Spain, Italy or England.
"But if a big Champions League club comes in, he may move on and you can understand that. He had a real go at keeping them up and I think it would be one of the greatest things in his career if he stayed on and got them back up."
Newcastle face Tottenham Hotspur at home in their final game of the season before the club's board meets to discuss life in the Sky Bet Championship.
Shaun Custis, chief football writer at The Sun, said Benitez could be the man to reverse Newcastle's fortunes and turn them into a successful club.
"It's a bit of a blow to the ego but in another way, if he can resurrect the football club and bring it back up, it would be one of his best triumphs of his career.
"The only way to keep Rafa Benitez now for me is to say 'Right, it's all yours. Everything. What do you want? How do you want to do it? You are properly in charge.''
"Because nobody has been properly in charge of that club for donkey's years. [Sam] Allardyce tried to do it, wanted to do it, wanted to change the training ground, wanted to bring in more professional set up into it and was not allowed.
"From Rafa's point of view, maybe he should look at it and say 'You know what, I've been there, I've been fired by Chelsea, I went over to Real Madrid. Maybe with a little stability, let's see what I can do.'
"Because, and I hate hearing this, potentially it is a great club. Rafa Benitez is a man with the stature who could realise that potential if he is allowed to get on with it, but he needs 2-3 years and whether he is actually prepared to do that matters a lot as well."
