Intriguing results: Newcastle fans polled on who think will own and manage NUFC by September and which division…
Mike Ashley said the club was up for sale in October, at the time Rafa Benitez had the team on a very decent run and there looked every chance of avoiding a dreaded relegation battle.
Now we are in February and Newcastle fans still have Mike Ashley, Rafa Benitez (thankfully) and Premier League football, at least for the time being.
Everything now appears to have been put on hold until the relegation/survival issue is sorted, including the chances of Rafa Benitez being NUFC Manager long-term, as well as whether Mike Ashley is serious about selling up.
So yesterday we asked you to look forward, to September and after the 2018 Summer transfer window has closed…
Three questions to answer:
Mike Ashley or a new owner in place?
Rafa Benitez or a new manager in place?
Playing in the Premier League or Championship?
All variations on the three questions were listed and here are the results:
57% Newcastle will have Mike Ashley, New Manager and Championship football
19% Newcastle will have New Owner, Rafa Benitez and Premier League football
12% Newcastle will have Mike Ashley, New Manager and Premier League football
5% Newcastle will have Mike Ashley, Rafa Benitez and Premier League football
3% Newcastle will have New Owner, Rafa Benitez and Championship football
2% Newcastle will have New Owner, New Manager and Championship football
2% Newcastle will have Mike Ashley, Rafa Benitez and Championship football
0% Newcastle will have New Owner, New Manager and Premier League football
Breaking all of that down and simplifying things, this is how the results of answers to the three questions came out.:
Who will own Newcastle United in September?
76% Mike Ashley
24% New owner(s)
Who will be managing Newcastle United in September?
29% Rafa Benitez
71% New Manager
Which division will Newcastle United be in come September?
36% Premier League
64% Championship
Starting at the bottom, it would be a bit of a reality check for many neutrals that two in three Newcastle fans who answered our poll, believe that Newcastle will be relegated. However, nobody has a tougher schedule, with nine of Newcastle’s remaining 12 matches being against clubs in the top 11 of the Premier League.
The results in response to the other two questions sums up the worries of Newcastle fans perfectly.
A massive 76% think Mike Ashley will still own Newcastle United when we get to September, whilst almost the same figure (71%) believe Rafa Benitez will no longer be at St James Park.
In an ideal scenario of course, we will see the players reach PL safety ahead of schedule, Mike Ashley will then quickly agree a deal to sell the club.
Then Rafa Benitez will be backed and have the entire summer to bring in the better quality players the team desperately needs.
We can dream!
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