Paddy Power pay out on Newcastle to be relegated before season even starts after Rafa Benitez quits

BOOKMAKERS Paddy Power have PAID OUT on Newcastle United to be relegated.

Despite the season not starting for another six weeks, punters will have seen their accounts fatter if they backed the Toon to go down.

Rafa Benitez quit St James’ Park on Monday morning knowing he would not renew his contract.

Billionaire owner Mike Ashley met with Benitez in London at the end of the season to try and agree a new deal.

But talks have broken down in recent weeks and an inevitable separation has now finally been confirmed.

Benitez and his whole backroom staff will depart on June 30, with Newcastle now beginning their search for a new boss.

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea boss wanted more money to spend.

Pep Guardiola’s No2 Mikel Arteta is the current favourite with odds of 5/1.

Mark Hughes and Roy Keane (both 8/1) are also in the running.

Former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho – who was linked with the job last month – is currently a 16/1 outsider.

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer tore into Ashley in his exclusive SunSport column today prior to the confirmation of Benitez’s exit.

The former England captain wrote: “Where is the respect for the thousands and thousands of loyal fans?

“There is not a jot of thought for them even though they are the lifeblood of that football club.

“They have been there a lot longer than Mike Ashley – and will be there long after he has gone.

“They deserve so much better as they are the best fans in the country.

“Nothing surprises me at Newcastle any more.

“But for the club to stay silent and seemingly let someone as talented and as special as Benitez leave for free, it really is a terrible situation.”