North East news RECAP: NUFC fans protest outside St James' Park after Rafa's exit

Today's top stories

That’s all from me tonight, we’ll be back from 6.30am tomorrow:

1. North East news LIVE: NUFC fans protest outside St James’ Park after Rafa’s exit
2. ‘We want Ashley out’ - Furious Newcastle United fans protest following Rafa Benitez announcement
3. Newcastle junior doctor’s ‘promising career’ in tatters after being jailed for importing drugs
4. Rafa Benitez LEAVES Newcastle United - the full statement from the Magpies
5. Rafa Benitez’s testing transfer windows at Newcastle - and how that distrust led to his United exit

What will the weather be like tomorrow?

“Rain, often heavy and sometimes thundery, gradually clears away northwards, leaving a legacy of low cloud, hill fog and light rain.

“Most parts becoming dry during the evening. Maximum temperature 16 °C.”

Furious Newcastle United fans protest following Rafa Benitez announcement

Furious Newcastle United fans have delivered a defiant message to owner Mike Ashley following the news of Rafa Benitez’s departure.

Dozens of angry supporters gathered to protest by the Sir Bobby Robson statue outside St James’ Park on Monday evening.

Enraged by the news popular manager Benitez will leave the Magpies at the end of his contract on June 30, supporters coalition The Magpie Group issued a rallying call on social media.

Armed with Benitez scarves and ‘Ashley Out’ cards, the fans called for the divisive owner to leave the club after a controversial 12 years in charge.

Chants of ‘we want Ashley out’, ‘ Rafa Benitez ‘ and ‘Newcastle United will never be defeated’ rang outside the stadium from 6pm onwards.

Passing motorists on Strawberry Place tooted their car horns in support of the protesters.

Daniel Wales, 18, from Springwell Village, Gateshead , was one of the dozens in attendance.

He said: “What’s happened today at Newcastle United is an absolute disgrace. “

Full story here.

Gavin Moon murder trial

A neighbour heard what prosecutors say was a man being murdered in the flat below him, a court heard.

The witness was playing a computer game when he heard a disturbance downstairs which prosecutors say was Gavin Moon being killed by Brian Goldsmith and Luc Barker.

The upstairs neighbour said he heard a male voice shouting “you thieving scumbag”, punching sounds, a voice saying “nobody’s f****** coming” and a groaning noise.

The witness said he didn’t’ think the voice he could hear was that of Barker, who lived there, and said he had not heard it before.

Goldsmith and Barker deny murdering Mr Moon, 31, with knives in Washington in January and are standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Mr Moon’s body was found the day after the neighbour heard the loud disturbance.

The neighbour told jurors he had been playing a computer game when he realised something was going on in the flat downstairs.

Full story from court here.

What will the weather be like tonight?

“Isolated thundery showers at first will soon die away this evening, then mainly dry but cloudy and turning misty over the hills.

“Later in the night heavy and possibly thundery rain moves northwards into the south of the region. Minimum temperature 11 °C.”

Overnight A1 closure

A1 breakdown cleared

All lanes are now open on the A1 Western Bypass southbound around Gosforth Park following an earlier breakdown.

The seven pressing questions for Newcastle United

Newcastle United have parted company with Rafa Benitez after three years in the dugout at St James’ Park.

Benitez was unable to save the club from relegation in 2016 but guided them to an instant return to the Premier League a year later and has since stabilised the Magpies with 10th and 13th place finishes in the top-flight.

Benitez and United failed to come to an agreement on a contract extension because of a difference in opinion on the club’s vision and transfer blueprint.

But what happens next?

Here’s the questions we have put to the club after Benitez’s departure from St James’ Park.

1) Will the club be addressing fans further after their initial announcement?

United’s statement at 12.30pm came on the back of reports that Benitez was not set to hold fresh talks on his new deal.

The press release read: “It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benítez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on 30th June 2019.

“We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been - and will not be - possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives.”

Newcastle are not expected to update fans further for the time being but with pre-season training set to get under way on July 4 they are now actively looking for a replacement and it is though their efforts are now being ploughed into the search for Benitez’s successor.

2) Is there another manager already lined up?

In short, no. Newcastle were hoping to agree a deal with Benitez and did not make any moves for a new boss.

They will now assess the list of early applicants and those who have contacted the club via their agent.

Newcastle could well be looking for more of a head coach that will work in line with the club’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson.

Full story here.

Kenton Bar Roundabout closures

Slow around the Tyne Tunnel

There’s also slow traffic on the A19 southbound around the Tyne Tunnel in Howdon.

A690 delays

There’s delays as usual on the A690 Leazes Road at A691 Framwelgate Peth (The Gates Roundabout).

Busy in Leam Lane

Traffic is busy on the A194(M) in both directions around Whitemare Pool Roundabout.

'Disgraceful'

Some fan reaction:

'Where has the money gone?'

Protest in the city centre

Fans are protesting outside St James’ Park this evening following the news Rafa is leaving:

Slow in Sunderland

Traffic is slow on the A1018 Wearmouth Bridge southbound.

Ant and Dec call for Mike Ashley to 'get out'

TV personalities Ant and Dec have called for Mike Ashley to sell Newcastle United following the announcement that Rafa Benitez is to leave as manager.

The Geordie duo hit out at the club’s hierarchy for allowing Benitez to walk away from his role.

Benitez will not sign a new deal and will leave the club when his current contract end of June 30 with China the likely destination.

Ant and Dec, who are boyhood Newcastle fans and are often seen at games, took to social media to voice their anger at the situation, labeling the news of Benitez’s exit as ‘disastrous.’

“[It is] disastrous,” they tweeted. “Those ‘at the top’ of our great club should be ashamed. The great shame is that they won’t be.TV personalities Ant and Dec have called for Mike Ashley to sell Newcastle United following the announcement that Rafa Benitez is to leave as manager.

The Geordie duo hit out at the club’s hierarchy for allowing Benitez to walk away from his role.

Benitez will not sign a new deal and will leave the club when his current contract end of June 30 with China the likely destination.

Ant and Dec, who are boyhood Newcastle fans and are often seen at games, took to social media to voice their anger at the situation, labeling the news of Benitez’s exit as ‘disastrous.’

Full story here.

Metro cancellations

Queues on the A1

Traffic is queuing on the A1 Western Bypass southbound from Seaton Burn to Kingston Park.

Breakdown in Gateshead

One lane of the A184 Park Road westbound is blocked at Old Fold Road due to a broken down vehicle - near the McDonalds.

Heavy on the Central Motorway

Traffic is heavy on the A167(M) southbound from Great North Road to the Swan House Roundabout.

Breakdown near the Metrocentre

Collision in County Durham

There’s reports of a collision on the B1278 Salter’s Lane northbound at Front Street in Fishburn.

Slow towards the Tyne Bridge

Traffic is slow but moving on the A184 Askew Road eastbound at the A167 Tyne Bridge Approach.

Temporary traffic lights in Gateshead

On the A695 in Ryton:

Delays on the A1

There’s delays of up to 12 minutes on the A1 Western Bypass southbound from the Metrocentre to the Angel of the North.

Newcastle junior doctor's 'promising career' in tatters after being jailed for importing drugs

A junior doctor’s promising career has been left in tatters after he was convicted of importing and selling drugs.

Tim Kerr was in his second year as a foundation doctor at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital when his part in a Class A conspiracy was uncovered.

The former Newcastle University student is currently serving a 56-month sentence behind bars for conspiring to supply cocaine and ecstasy, and importing Class A drugs.

Now, a disciplinary panel has ruled that he should be struck off after finding that “the public would not expect a doctor convicted for drug dealing and importation to face a lesser sanction than erasure”.

Full story here.

Bookies reveal favourites to replace Rafa Benitez

Jose Mourinho, Patrick Vieira and Garry Monk are among the favourites to become the next Newcastle United boss.

Newcastle United have announced Rafa Benitez will leave the club at the end of the month.

And odds on Jose Mourinho taking over have slashed with him becoming the new favourite with Betvictor at 5/1.

And former Swansea boss Garry Monk is 6/1 with Betvictor to take over.

Benitez’s contract was due to expire at the end of the week and the club confirmed on Monday he will leave the club at the end of the month.

Other linked managers here.

Paedophile who went on the run after his horrific campaign of sexual abuse was exposed is jailed

A paedophile who went on the run after his campaign of sexual abuse on two girls was exposed has been locked up for 14 years.

When William Orchin’s brave victims finally plucked up the courage to report what he had done to them, he disappeared from his home in the North East.

He was eventually traced to a hospital in Scotland a week later after trying to kill himself.

Now the 34-year-old, who admitted carrying out a campaign of sexual abuse on the youngsters, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court.

Full story here.

Man remains in critical condition as police continue to investigate alleged assault in Sunderland

A man remains in a critical condition in hospital after sustaining head injuries during a serious assault in Sunderland .

Police were contacted by the ambulance service at 8.13pm on Thursday after a man was found unconscious at an address on Salem Hill.

Officers attended and found a 33-year-old man with serious injuries to his head and face.

He was taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

Full story here.