Sky Sports News HQ reporter Keith Downie lifts the lid on how Newcastle persuaded Rafa Benitez to stick with them in the Championship. [url=http://www.cheapredsoxjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-jimmie-foxx-jersey]Jim mie Foxx Jersey[/url] ... When Rafa Benitez insisted on having a break-clause inserted in his

Sky Sports News HQ reporter Keith Downie lifts the lid on how Newcastle persuaded Rafa Benitez to stick with them in the Championship. Jimmie Foxx Jersey ... When Rafa Benitez insisted on having a break-clause inserted in his three-year Newcastle contract in March, the Spaniard was making it clear he did not want to lower himself to the Championship.Fast-forward two months and the man who began the season in charge of Real Madrid has gone full circle: hes swapped the Champions League for the Championship. Rafael Benitez will continue to manage Newcastle and try and get them back into the Premier League The 56-year-old will lead Newcastle in Englands second tier next season, after the club gave him in writing the assurances he demands to continue in the St James Park hot-seat.The former Chelsea and Liverpool boss has been won over by the groundswell of support for him from the Newcastle fans, even though he failed to stave off relegation.An hour after a packed St James Park sang his name throughout a rather bizarre season-ending 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham, Benitez was given the promise of full backing by club owner Mike Ashley. But the Spaniard wanted it in writing. Benitez waves to the Newcastle supporters after a 5-1 win over Tottenham What followed was a succession of meetings between Sports Direct tycoon Ashley, managing director Lee Charnley and Benitez himself, as the finer details of a watertight contract were drawn up by lawyers.Benitez effectively made it clear to the St James Park power-brokers in the hours after that final-day win over Spurs that he would be willing to stay - provided he was delivered the assurances he felt would ensure he gets them back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking.What the Spaniard wanted, in essence, was to guarantee a structure was put in place that would mean if he made a mistake it would not cost Newcastle promotion.Although Benitez has managed in the lower leagues of Spain in his early days as a coach, he has never experienced the ultra-competitive, high-intensity English Championship. Benitez is expected to bring in a number of summer signings As Newcastles fans became increasingly worried about the wall of silence from their club last week, lawyers from both parties were working on a contract to ensure Benitez didnt suffer the same fate as some of his predecessors, who at times had to work with their hands tied.The former Real Madrid manager, who was keen to take a job in the north of England to be close to his family on The Wirral, wanted in writing the full control of transfers to a squad that will need overhauling in the years to come.Benitez also wanted inked promises that he could bring in his own scouting staff, and assurances of a budget for this summer and then again next January. A budget that will be the biggest in the Football League.This is a team whose net spend was second only to Manchester City last season; Mike Ashley will have to open his wallet once more. Rafa Benitez wanted written assurances of a budget for this summer and then again next January. A budget that will be the biggest in the Football League. Keith Downie He will also have to rip up the entire template thats to blame for taking Newcastle down.It is also thought that Benitez will make use of the loan market this season, with high-up contacts across Europe willing to allow their players to play in front of Newcastles passionate support.But aside from the written assurances, it was the full backing of those 50,000 St James Park fanatics that twisted Benitezs arm - and allowed him a vision of what can be achieved at this sleeping giant of a football club.They sang his name throughout the 5-1 win over Spurs. Benitez could at times be seen gazing out in bewilderment that this was coming from fans of a side who just four days earlier had been sent spinning down to the Championship. Benitez has asked for written assurances from the club before extending his stay Those same fans celebrated with gusto when news filtered through that Benitez was on his way to Tyneside on Wednesday afternoon to complete the paperwork and be unveiled for a second time.The arrival of Benitezs own scouting network will most likely mean an end to Graham Carrs tenure at the club.Carr, the man who brought Yohan Cabaye, Matthieu Debuchy and Cheick Tiote to Newcastle, was lauded by Ashley at first but the recent arrivals of Remy Cabella, Florian Thauvin and Seydou Doumbia have cast doubt over his eye for a player.Benitez promised the fans he would make his decision within a fortnight. Hes done just that, with three days to spare.He wanted to leave some time on the off-chance a bigger club came calling. There was interest from a couple of clubs in Spain, but neither got anywhere. Reported overtures from Everton didnt emerge, and Benitez pledged his future to Newcastle. A future that hes mapped out so that only a third of it will be spent in the Championship. Also See: Benitez to stay at Newcastle From the Bernabeu to Burton Craig Kimbrel Jersey . The Tiger-Cats announced on Friday the linebacker has signed a new contract with the team through the 2016 season. Ian Kinsler Jersey . But last years runner-up Jarkko Nieminen crashed out despite winning the first set against Denis Istomin. Istomin fired 10 aces and won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 to even his career record against Nieminen at 3-3. http://www.cheapredsoxjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-wade-boggs-jersey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to win two straight games for the first time since mid-January on Monday night as they play host to the struggling New York Islanders. EDMONTON -- Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Smyth is calling it a career after tipping in shots and absorbing spine-jarring jolts standing in front of goalies for 18 NHL seasons. Smyth said Friday his body was still willing, but with his young children getting older, his mind was wandering. "The mental side of the game, I didnt have it at times," Smyth told a news conference at Rexall Place, with his family on hand. "Ive got a wonderful family that I miss out on a lot of their stuff. That (became) a factor. "There comes a time in my life where you have to turn the page." The 38-year-old known for his famous mullet was also a stalwart on Team Canada. He was drafted sixth overall by Edmonton in 1994 and spent most of his 18-season career in Albertas capital. He mixed grit with a scoring touch and became the face of the post-Wayne Gretzky Oilers, leading the team to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2006. Smyth thanked everyone from former teammates to the Oilers massage therapist in a speech that saw the scrappy forward fight back tears. Sitting beside him at the news conference was Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish. "There are many players that have worn the Edmonton Oilers jersey, but there are no players who wore the jersey that had more passion than Ryan Smyth," MacTavish said. Smyth has 386 goals and 456 assists and 974 penalty minutes in 1,269 games heading into Edmontons Saturday season finale against the visiting Vancouver Canucks. He added 59 points (28-31) and 88 penalty minutes in 93 career playoff games. He also earned the nickname "Captain Canada" for his loyalty to Canadas mens national team. The team is preparing a tribute to the Banff, Alta., native during Saturdays game. Asked what hell miss the most about the game, Smyth said the it will be the journey itself. "Being on the ice surface, the adrenalin, the excitement, obviously your teammates," he said. "Ill for sure miss the guys." What was the highlight, he was asked. "Probably playing a thousand games and coming back and being an Edmonton Oiler." Teammates said he will be remembered as a blue-collar workhorse who made his living with a big stick in front of the net, deflecting and tipping in point shots and passes whhile taking a hellacious beating. Carl Yastrzemski Jersey. . Oilers winger David Perron said he grew up idolizing Smyth. "He was always around the net being greasy and scoring goals that everyone was like, How did that go in? Oh, Ryan Smyth scored again. At the end of the year hed have 30-40 goals," said Perron after practice Friday. Oilers goaltender Ben Scrivens said Smyths trademark goals come from a mix of skill and guts. "Hes always in position but never stops the puck, and it makes it really difficult to see pucks because no matter which way you look it seems like hes there," said Scrivens. "Its a talent he acquired through hard work and just sacrificing his body." Smyth played at least 40 games as an Oiler in 14 of his 18 seasons. He blossomed in his first full season with the team in 1996-97, when he had 61 points (39 goals and 22 assists) in 82 games. Smyth was a steady force up front in Edmonton early in his career. The six-foot-two 191-pounder played a key role in the Oilers 2006 Stanley Cup run. Smyth had 16 points (7-9) in 24 games that post-season as the Oilers dropped a seven-game series to the Carolina Hurricanes. He was shipped to the New York Islanders at the trade deadline during the 2006-07 season. Long-term contract negotiations between Smyths agent, Don Meehan, and Oilers then general manager Kevin Lowe went to the 11th hour but the two sides couldnt reach a deal. With Smyth due to become a free agent that summer, Lowe didnt want to risk losing him for nothing in the off-season. Smyth said goodbye to Edmonton during an emotional news conference at the city airport. He played two seasons with Colorado and two more with Los Angeles before he asked Kings GM Dean Lombardi for a trade in 2011. A deal was finalized in June of that year. He has provided some veteran leadership on a young Oilers squad over his last three seasons. Saturday will be Smyths last chance to set a team record for power-play goals. Smyth and Glenn Anderson have 126 each, one ahead of Gretzky. Internationally, Smyth played at two Winter Games, helping Canada win gold at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. Smyth also won gold at the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and represented Canada at seven straight world hockey championship during his prime. 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