Even though Graham Carr will remain chief scout, his power will be more restricted enabling Benitez to have full authority on what happens in his squad; managing director Lee Charnley will still be responsible for officially signing financial deals off. The Spaniard had also sought assurances over the extent of his remit with player recruitment and disposal a major focus.
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The 56-year-old joined The Magpies back in March 2016 where he was given the impossible job of keeping the club in thePremier League after Steve McClaren’s horrid tenure was finally brought to an end.
Benitez took over the Tyneside club in March, in a bid to rescue them from relegation, but his six-match unbeaten run was not enough to save Newcastle.
They have achieved success in that pursuit and confirmation is expected to come this afternoon. I have seen the evolution, the progression of our players during these weeks.
Newcastle confirmed Benitez will have day-to-day responsibility over all football matters and the Spaniard insisted he is under no pressure to sell any players.
Boss Benitez says he has amassed a good deal of knowledge of the Championship, studying tactics, players and taking soundings on the physical demands of its longer season from friends in coaching. Now, he is planning to start life in the Championship with Newcastle United where he will aim get the club back in the top flight at the first attempt.
He hopes to emulate the good times under Sir Bobby Robson, and said: “I’m here because I’m convinced we can go up next season, stay in the Premier League and win trophies”. We saw that in the last games.
The club announced the news ahead of a press conference on Wednesday evening, with Benitez stating: “I am extremely pleased to be staying at Newcastle United. Everything is massive and I want to be a part of it”, Benitez said.
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“The way and the ideas will not be hard to have, to have similar ideas, but we have to sit down and make sure of everything”. From day one, they were so positive. There is little doubt that if the club acted sooner and appointed him in January when he became available, Newcastle would have comfortably survived.
