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Newcastle hierarchy call on fans to unite behind team in open letter

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez and captain Jamaal Lascelles embrace each other after the Premier League match against Arsenal
Image: Rafael Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles joined Lee Charnley in issuing a rallying cry

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez, captain Jamaal Lascelles and managing director Lee Charnley have written an open letter to the fans calling for unity.

Seven players arrived on Tyneside during a summer transfer window which has seen Newcastle turn a profit, despite owner Mike Ashley telling Benitez in May he could spend every penny the club generates.

Benitez has cut a frustrated figure during much of the summer, while Newcastle's players refused to undertake media duties in a row over bonuses which was only resolved on Wednesday.

In a letter to supporters published on the club's website on the eve of the season, Benitez, Lascelles and Charnley have called for togetherness, insisting there is a shared belief that the team can enjoy a successful season.

"Dear supporters," the letter read.

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"As the transfer window closes and attentions turn to the start of the season, we wanted to make this joint statement, on behalf of everyone at the club.

"Doing good business in a transfer window is about ending the window clearly stronger than when you started and we believe we have done this. The view we all share is that we have a better squad now than the one that finished tenth last season and all involved have worked tirelessly to make this happen.

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"Collectively, we must extend praise to Steve Nickson and his recruitment team. Their operations are year-round, but they have worked day and night in recent months to support efforts to enhance the squad.

"We are all excited about the seven players who have joined us this summer. Their combined experience in the Premier League and at an international level - with three of them appearing at this summer's World Cup for their respective countries - cannot fail to strengthen us.

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"Martin Dubravka and Kenedy have already proven themselves to be fantastic players here and we are confident that Ki Sung-yueng, Fabian Schar, Yoshinori Muto, Salomon Rondon and Federico Fernandez will be excellent additions to the dressing room.

"Given our finishing position last season, we already had a team of players who were more than capable of performing well in the Premier League. They have shown heart, guts and determination and the inference that they are 'Championship' players and not good enough is unfair and untrue. The players all believe in themselves and in the quality of the squad, and we all believe in the players.

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"Now, it's about all of us pulling in the same direction, for the good of the club. This came through strongly in a recent positive call between our owner and senior members of the squad, who agreed that better dialogue going forward will benefit all parties and is in the best interests of the club.

"With the transfer window now closed, the focus should be on unity and getting behind the efforts on the pitch.

"We know our supporters are incredibly passionate and we know that passion will be channelled into supporting the players we have in black and white on Saturday, and every matchday thereafter home or away.​"

Lee Charnley, Managing Director

Rafa Benítez, Manager

Jamaal Lascelles, Captain

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