Rafa Benitez has told Mike Ashley that Newcastle United will be better off if he is allowed to manage the club his way.
There are concerns among supporters that the pair are on a collision course with Ashley having taken a closer interest in transfers in the past week.
The owner does not want his club to lose sight of their policy of buying young players with sell-on value, a practice which has made him a handsome profit in recent years.
But it is also one which saw the Magpies relegated last season and Benitez insists he only wants to sign the 'right' players, regardless of age.