The other reason is that we already have a manager.
And what, in your opinion, is the real reason Benitez is playing hardball over his contract situation presently?
Its a serious question.
Does he want out, for whatever reason, and keeps issuing new demands to force the owners into a decision (cos like it or not, as I certainly dont, we are having the owners for the forseeable)?
Or is there really some serious sticking point regarding control of the Academy? Cant see that myself.
Or is he really being denied control of his transfer dealings.. money aside.. cant see that either if Im honest.
Or is it that he wants to be certain of the ownership going forward?
Well this last one is interesting.
How can he expect to know about the ownership, when the owners don't know either? There is no imminent buyout, and how would Benitez expect the current owners to say what can happen?
So why is this of importance to him? Because none of the other potential sticking points in the contract negotiations appear to be a real issue. The tenure/money are sorted. He has been granted Academy control. There might be some fineprint about his control of any transfer budget, but in principle Hicks has rubberstamped this, and with Parry gone... theres no real impediment.
So, I ask again, what is Rafa's problem?
It has to be his future if the ownership changes sometime, or, he doesn't want to sign. Now, it may be that previously interested buyers of the Club are not supportive of Benitez, but these buyers are gone, and no other sugar daddy is imminent. If a takeover was forthcoming, and if these were not wanting to retain him, I could see the reason for Rafa wanting his future clarified before signing up... but he knows as well as everyone else, that in the current climate... there is no takeover. Hicks will be his master for the future few years.
So, I say again, I have a feeling that Rafa is engineering his exit this summer without appearing to let the fans down or to desert the sinking ship. Thats my take on this saga. It certainly hasn't done the Club or the team any favours in recent weeks, and that cannot be argued. I think the politician in him has over-ruled the football coach on this occasion, and once again we will be the losers.