Rafa Benitez agrees to take on Championship challenge with Newcastle

With their relegation from the Premier League confirmed, it soon became clear that Newcastle United supporters were keen for Rafa Benitez to stay on at the club and help them seal promotion from the Championship at the first time of asking.

Local paper, the Newcastle Chronicle, even went as far as printing an open letter on their a front-page begging the Spaniard to extend his stay on Tyneside. https://twitter.com/jamiewh_/status/731010818741936128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw It seems to have worked. Reports claim that the man that was managing Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema at the start of the season has agreed to try and navigate his way out of the shark-infested water that is the Championship next season. Confirmation of the three-year deal is expected on Wednesday, with Benitez pictured back in the North East following a short break at his family home in Merseyside. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/726111349269532672 Despite being in charge of the club when they were relegated, Benitez was only appointed by the club in March with Newcastle already facing the prospect of the drop following Steve McClaren's disastrous spell at the helm. An upturn in form for fellow-strugglers Sunderland eventually saw Newcastle lose their Premier League status. Benitez is also said to have identified several transfer targets as he prepares to sign a new contract. Given the circumstances, it's quite a coup for Newcastle United. And certainly their fans couldn't be happier with the news. https://twitter.com/jakeypotter/status/735449666431688705 https://twitter.com/_TheDuffmeister/status/735449587834617856 https://twitter.com/mc2810/status/735449633237962752 https://twitter.com/ChetanChohan7/status/735449609674313729 https://twitter.com/SamNicholles/status/735448617910173700