Positive start to the new regime
hastily- arranged session yesterday because of prior arrangements, but those present were inspired by Benitez’s no- nonsense approach.
“It’s been a positive start,” a club insider said. “He’s wasted no time in telling the players exactly what he expects of them. He believes this squad is good enough to stay up and has told them if they practise what he preaches, they will win football matches.”
Benitez will be unveiled at a press conference this afternoon but has already made it clear the Toon Army have a crucial role to play in the club’s remaining 10 games.
“I have committed to a legendary English club, with the massive challenge of remaining part of the Premier League,” he said. “I can’t be happier. It will be a challenge not just for me and my staff but for the players, the club and the fans. C’mon Toon Army! The club and I need your total involvement.”
Benitez, who has been handed the manager title denied to McClaren, has brought in his own coaching staff of Fabio Pecchia, Francisco de Miguel Moreno and Antonio Gomez Perez.
There is thought to be a get- out clause in his contract which allows him to leave in May if the club go down. Stats back up his confi dence that Newcastle will survive . At Liverpool and Chelsea, he had a win ratio of 55.5 per cent, the seventh highest in Premier League history.
But no manager has joined a bottom three side at this stage of the season and kept them up, and Benitez’s only previous experience of a relegation scrap was 20 years ago as coach of Extremadura – and he lost it.
McClaren was fi nally put out of his misery just before 10.30am yesterday with a phone call from managing director Lee Charnley after declining the opportunity to be told the club’s decision face to face.
The former England coach had been kept waiting for four days while his fellow Toon directors fi nalised negotiations with his successor. Charnley apologised personally to McClaren and in a club statement in which he accepted his sacking could have been handled better.