"?Newcastle United managing director Lee Charnley has praised the club's fans for influencing Rafael Benitez' decision to stay on at St James' Park.
The former Real Madrid coach couldn't save the Magpies from relegation to the Championship after winning just three of his 10 games in charge, but has agreed to lead the club next season with the hope of bouncing back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
On Wednesday Benitez signed a new three-year deal at the club to replace the contract he initially signed in March, and Charnley was delighted at being able to secure the Spaniard for the immediate future.
He told the "?official club website: "When we brought Rafa to the club, we knew he was a phenomenal manager and everything we have seen from him since has only served to reinforce that.
"We are therefore delighted to have secured his services for the next three years and I believe with Rafa as manager it gives us the best possible chance of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking and delivering success for this football club beyond that."
Benitez has an impressive CV which includes two La Liga titles, a Champions League and two Europa League trophies, and elated Newcastle fans will be expectant for the experienced 56-year-old to add the Championship title to his list of silverware too.
Newcastle supporters haven't had much to cheer about in recent times, with discontent and resentment aimed at owner Mike Ashley, but Charnley expressed his thanks to the supporters for being a huge factor in persuading the former Liverpool manager to stay on Tyneside.
"It is clear that Rafa has connected deeply with the club's supporters and we do not underestimate the role they have played in his decision to stay", he said.
"He has captured the hearts and minds not just of the fans, but of everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him at the club thus far.
"As a world-class manager we had no doubt in our minds as to the importance of retaining him at Newcastle United."