RAFA BENITEZ has revealed he is already making plans for next season – but will not decide on his own future until Newcastle have secured safety.
The Spaniard has spoken to some of his squad whose contracts are up in the summer and has started scheduling pre-season.
Yet Benitez wants the Toon, who are currently 12th and seven points clear of the bottom three, to reach the magic 40-point mark before he thinks about committing himself to the club.
The Magpies manager will seek talks with owner Mike Ashley and will want assurances over transfer plans if he is to stay at St James’ Park.
Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Leicester, Benitez said: “Today I was talking with some players about next season – when we will start, what we will do.
“Everybody needs to know more or less what is going on.
“You cannot say everything because still you don’t know everything, but at least you can start working because players need to know their futures.
“It is important to start working little by little.
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“But a lot of questions that people will be asking about my future or whatever, at the moment it is just about 40 points.
“We don’t need to talk anything else.”
Benitez admits it will be a “massive” achievement if Newcastle stay up this season given his squad was not seriously strengthened following last term’s promotion.
But he insists the job is not yet done and he is keen to guard his Toon team against complacency.
Benitez added: “It would be massive for me and my staff and for the city and the club.
“It is the first season in the Premier League and that is always difficult, but we still have to do it.
“I have to make sure we do not have any complacency and that everybody is concentrating because it is not done yet.
“The target is still 40 points and we have to get there.
“I don’t think we can relax. If we get 40, we will try to get more, but 40 is still the number.”
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