RAFAEL BENITEZ claims the remarkable scenes that accompanied Newcastle United’s final game of the season have made him even more tempted to remain as the club’s manager – but the Spaniard will demand some cast-iron guarantees about the future when he meets managing director Lee Charnley this week.

Benitez’s name was chanted throughout the 5-1 win over Tottenham that rounded off a season that has culminated in relegation to the Championship, with Newcastle supporters singing “Rafa Benitez – we want you to stay” and “Rafa is Geordie” as well as unfurling banners pleading with the Spaniard not to walk away from St James’ Park.

Benitez’s three-year contract contains a relegation release clause that enables him to move elsewhere, with Everton and Spanish side Valencia both having been linked with him in the last few days.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss is due to meet Charnley within the next 48 hours for detailed talks over his future, and while he had initially been reluctant to even contemplate dropping into the Championship, he admits he is actively considering remaining to take charge of Newcastle in the second tier.

Today’s show of faith from the stands will be factored into his final decision, although there will have to be some tough negotiating once the emotion of the last few days fades.

“My heart is saying yes,” said Benitez. “It’s a fantastic opportunity and atmosphere, but you have to use your brain too.

“I was expecting the fans to be behind the team and supporting me, but it has been really good, amazing and really positive. I was open to talk, and now I am even more open to talk, and hopefully after this we will start analysing what is going on, and what will be the future of Newcastle United and my future.

“I said I was flattered, but I am really pleased (with the fans’ reaction) and it is not easy to leave a club like this. So I will talk, I will analyse and I will try to do the best for me and what is the best for Newcastle United.

“You can put it one way or the other way – the best for Newcastle United or the best for me. If we go together, then it has to be the best for both.”

Benitez is due to meet Charnley within the next couple of days, and the Spaniard will demand some assurances about the level of financial support he can expect to receive as he attempts to reshape a squad that will inevitably lose some of its leading players.

Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored twice, Moussa Sissoko, Andros Townsend and Daryl Janmaat are all unlikely to be involved in the Championship, and while Benitez is understood to be willing to work with Newcastle’s powerful chief scout, Graham Carr, he will demand the final say over all transfers.

That will mean an end to Mike Ashley’s controversial policy of prioritising the purchase of young, inexperienced players from abroad, as while Benitez has never managed in the Championship, he has already been briefing those close to him that Newcastle will have to sign some hardened professionals with experience of the second tier if they want to succeed next season.

Benitez will also demand permission to oversee a radical restructuring of Newcastle’s training-ground facilities and academy set-up if he agrees to see out his long-term deal.

His initial discussions will be with Charnley, although he is also likely to request a face-to-face meeting with Ashley, who was at St James’ Park today for the first time this year.

“My agenda is to talk to Lee Charnley, but if he (Ashley) is around then that is much better,” said Benitez. “If not, we will have time, so it is not a problem.

“I don’t know what he (Ashley) will do, but I have an appointment with Lee Charnley, so I will talk to him. If they both want to talk with me, it will be fine, no problem.”

Today’s performance resulted in Newcastle’s joint-biggest win of the campaign, and the manner in which they comprehensively outclassed a Tottenham side who will compete in the Champions League next season underlined just how badly they have under-performed for the majority of this season.

“We knew that without fear, it could be like this,” said Benitez. “We did well, but football is totally different. They needed to win, and then when they conceded, they were more open. We had more space, and it was easier for us to run behind defenders.

“At Aston Villa, they were deep with five defenders and three midfielders without the space, and we missed chances. Today, we scored five goals, and it could have been even more.”