Lee Charnley holds fresh talks with Rafa Benitez over Newcastle stay

The 56-year-old sat down with Charnley and club owner Mike Ashley after yesterday's remarkable 5-1 final day victory over Tottenham at St James's Park, during which a the bulk of a crowd of 52,183 implored him to take on the challenge of leading the club back into the Premier League.

Press Association Sport understands those discussions were "positive and productive", but that an agreement is yet to be reached despite an apparent willingness on both sides to maintain the status quo.

Benitez and Charnley will continue to talk this week as they attempt to find a basis upon which they can work together in the Championship and ensure that the Magpies' stay in the lower division is as brief as possible.

Newcastle certainly want the former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss to stay after handing him a 10-game rescue mission which ultimately fell short, but only just so, leaving them to reflect on what might have been had they moved just weeks earlier.

Benitez – whose three-year contract includes a break clause – too has indicated that he would like to carry on, saying: "My heart is obviously telling me yes, it is a fantastic opportunity, a fantastic atmosphere.

"Everything is so good that my heart is very clear. But at the same time you have to use the brain, both things have to go together."