Jamie Carragher says former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez must end his tenure in charge of Newcastle United.
The Anfield legend wrote in his column for The Daily Telegraph stating that his former manager, who led a Reds team with the defender at the heart to Champions League victory, deserves better and has to leave.
He said: "'If Ashley stays, Rafa will have to go.
"Those were my final words when I dedicated a column to Newcastle last season. Looking at the situation at the club at the start of this one, from a footballing perspective it is difficult to explain why my former manager is still there.
"For a coach of Rafa Benítez’s pedigree to be treading water with no prospect of doing anything beyond retaining Premier League status is incomprehensible. There is nothing more he can do at St James’ Park. Not without regime change, and that is not happening."
In the summer the Magpies' manager refused to sign a new five-year deal offered to him by owner Mike Ashley until the club released significant transfer cash and invested in the youth academy - which did not happen.
Ashley said he would only splash the cash if Benitez committed himself long-term first and that ended in a stand-off which is still currently threatening the club’s Premier League prospects five games into the season.
Benitez is out-of-contract at the end of this year and as it stands, the Spaniard is beginning a long goodbye on Tyneside — unless someone blinks - though for Carragher time for the departure cannot cannot come soon enough.
Newcastle are in the bottom three of the Premier League but have faced some tough competition in the opening five games against the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Their next run of games will look to be more of an indicator as to where they are as a club - starting with Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace which is followed by games against Leicester, Manchester United, Brighton, Southampton and Watford.
Carragher continued: "Knowing Rafa as I do, he will be desperately missing the Champions League, watching those games in midweek and so frustrated he is not trying to outsmart those younger coaches.
"He will feel he has one more crack at the European elite in him, but he would have to go back overseas to do it.
"The shame for Newcastle is they could have been that ‘one last big job’ if they had just some of the cash – and ambition – of Premier League rivals.
"Newcastle fans justifiably argue they can never achieve such lofty ambitions until Ashley gets out of St James’ Park.
"For Benítez to satisfy his and enhance a decorated list of honours, he will go first."
