Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley personally intervened to see Rafa Benitez's departure confirmed yesterday.

The Mirror says Benitez was dismissed after being given no warning Newcastle United were about to publicly give up on keeping him.

The club took Benitez by surprise by announcing his three year reign at the club was over, a week before his contract expires.

A direct intervention from Ashley over the weekend is said to have triggered Newcastle's noon statement.

There was little chance Benitez would have been persuaded to stay on, but last-ditch talks had been expected.

Benitez is said to have refused a meeting with MD Lee Charnley last week.

Both club and manager had been waiting for the other to blink in a tussle over Benitez's vision for the next few years.

Newcastle are now searching for a new “head coach" and have been contacted by a host of contenders after starting to draw up a short list yesterday.