LONDON, May 14, 2018 (News Wires) - Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is keen for manager Rafa Benitez to stay at the Premier League club, with the English businessman promising investment in the squad ahead of the next campaign. Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss Benitez, who took charge of Newcastle in 2016, helped the club secure a 10th-placed league finish this season, ending the campaign with a thumping 3-0 win over Chelsea Sunday. The Spaniard, who has a year left on his contract, has been critical of Newcastle's poor transfer dealings throughout the season. "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," Ashley said on Newcastle's website https://www.nufc.co.uk. "I hope very much that Rafa will remain at Newcastle United." Ashley previously promised investment at the end of the 2016-17 campaign after Newcastle won promotion from the Championship but the funds did not materialise, leading Benitez to deal with a thin squad throughout the season.