Former Newcastle United owner Freddy Shepherd is delighted Rafa Benitez has signed a new contract.

Shepherd reckons getting Benitez to manage Newcastle in the Championship is a major coup for billionaire owner Mike Ashley.

He told The Sun: “It has to go down as the best bit of business Mike Ashley has done since he took over.

“Mike has pulled a rabbit out of the hat by getting him to stay.

“It will go some way towards making up for some of the past mistakes.

“No one is perfect and Mike has made a few wrong turns along the way."