Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez is happy to see the academy staff being expanded.

United will bring in three new roles behind the scenes at the Academy including a new Under-23 manager and a loan coordinator.

Benitez wanted certain changes at Newcastle and asked Mike Ashley to improve the youth system during talks last year.

When asked if this was an indication that he was prepared to stay, Benitez told the Evening Chronicle: "No it means we have been talking about it for a while.

"In the end, we have done it and hopefully it will be for the good of the club.

"We will have an idea how to improve things and we have waited too long to do it.

"But now it is a good sign.

"My future is not linked with that but it is still something positive."