Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has released a statement backing Rafael Benitez and promising funds for the Spaniard, but fans aren’t buying a word of it.

Newcastle ended their season on a high note on Sunday as a brace from Ayoze Perez wrapped up a 3-0 win over Chelsea, but fans are still concerned about the future.

Rafael Benitez has done an incredible job at Newcastle, backing up their title winning promotion with a tenth place finish, the highest of any of the three promoted clubs, despite spending less than both Huddersfield and Brighton.

Of course, the issue of spending is what’s on every Newcastle fans’ mind, and probably will be all summer.

Benitez is desperate for the backing he so clearly deserves, and there is a growing concern that the Spaniard will leave the club if owner Mike Ashley does not give him some cash to splash.

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Ashley has tried his best to quash these concerns, as he released an official statement on the matter after the match.

"I would like to thank Rafa Benitez for his magnificent achievement this season,” Ashley said, in the statement that you can find here.

"Rafa, as always, has my full support, and contrary to some media reports that portray me as a pantomime villain, I will continue to ensure that every penny generated by the club is available to him.

"I hope very much that Rafa will remain at Newcastle United.”

One has to wonder if the statement would have been released quite so quickly had the Magpies not won 3-0, but the owner certainly wants Benitez to stay.

That said, actions speak louder than words, and Newcastle fans are not buying any words that come from their infamous leader.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…