Regional leaders have backed our push to keep Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United .
With contract talks at an apparent standstill, fans are facing an anxious wait to see if the manager who has reignited the club will still be in the dugout next season.
Now that the club has secured its Premier League status, all eyes are on whether Mike Ashley can convince Rafa to sign on the dotted line before his current contract expire.
Ahead of what could be Rafa's last home game against his former club Liverpool on Saturday, ChronicleLive is asking for a show of support towards the manager.
And so far more than 6,000 people have signed our petition.
Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah , who has previously taken Mr Ashley to task over his running of of the club , said it was vital for Rafa to sign on the dotted line.
She said: "The football club matters to the whole culture and economy of the city.
"Rafa is the best thing to happen to Newcastle Untied in recent years and a world class club needs a world class manager.
"He's a leaders off the pitch on the social and cultural side of the club in a way Mike Ashley isn't.
Rafa Must Stay: Sign our petition to show Benitez & Newcastle how much you want the manager to stay
"We could go back to being a club changing manager every couple of seasons and facing relegation.
"Newcastle United's success isn't just about the pride of football fans - it's about lifting the economic fortunes of the city as a whole."
Gateshead MP and season ticket-holder, Ian Mearns , urged the parties to resolve the contract impasse but took a swipe at the owner.
He said: "Rafa must stay - full stop.
"But I have to add, with the current track record of his ownership, why would Rafa stay unless he gets guaranteed commitments signed in blood by the owner?"
A report produced by Ernst and Young on the impact of the club on the city found it contributed a £236m of the region’s economy during the 2017/18 season - the season Rafa led the team in the Premier League after winning promotion.
Stephen Patterson, director of communications at NE1, backed ChronicleLive's push.
He said: "I am totally behind this. The football club is a huge part of the city and being a Premier League team is a huge thing when it comes to people's perceptions of Newcastle.
"Everybody acknowledges that Rafa is an amazing manager and we would love to keep him in Newcastle."
Sign our petition to show the strength of support for keeping Rafa here
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