Rafa Benitez could walk out of Newcastle United today.

The Mirror says the only thing keeping manager Benitez from walking out before now has been the £6million he would have had to pay to his sportswear tycoon boss for breaking his contract.

But that clause has now expired, and Benitez can quit St James' Park for nothing.

However, he recognises any movement in the manager's chair could end in relegation disaster.

Even though he is putting his managerial head on the block by staying put, he doesn't want to turn his back on the Geordie fans.