dramatic turnaround from Gordons miserable rookie season. H

Rafael Benitez has agreed a three-year deal to stay on as Newcastle United manager. Sky Sports News HQ reported earlier on Wednesday that the Spaniard had struck a deal to extend his tenure, despite failing to prevent the teams drop to the Championship.The 56-year-old signed a three-year contract when replacing Steve McClaren in March, but the agreement was reported to include an option to cancel at the end of the season. However, the club have managed to persuade Benitez to remain at St James Park and announced the news on Wednesday evening. Benitez shakes hands with managing director Lee Charnley after signing his new contract A statement on the clubs website read: Newcastle are delighted to confirm that Rafa Benitez will remain as Newcastle United manager, after signing a new initial three-year contract.On Wednesday afternoon the Spaniard put pen to paper on the deal which will keep him on Tyneside until at least the summer of 2019. Benitez will have day-to-day responsibility for all football-related matters at the club. Rafa convinced How Newcastle persuaded their man to stay on Although the club dropped out of the top flight, Benitez reignited their campaign in the last two months, leading them to three wins and a six-game unbeaten run, which culminated in a 5-1 demolition of Tottenham on the final day of the season.Benitez said: I am extremely pleased to be staying at Newcastle United. The love I could feel from the fans was a big influence for me in my decision to stay, as was my relationship with Lee Charnley and all the staff. Newcastle odds-on for promotion Toons Championship odds slashed after Benitez agrees to stay This is a huge club and I wanted to be part of the great future I can see for Newcastle United.Managing director Lee Charnley added: When we brought Rafa to the club in March, 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. Newcastle fans urged Benitez to stay despite the clubs relegation It is clear that Rafa has connected deeply with the clubs supporters and we do not underestimate the role they have played in his decision to stay.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.A further announcement regarding Benitezs coaching staff will be made in due course. Also See: How Newcastle convinced Rafa From the Bernabeu to Burton Wijnaldum devastated at drop When does your season start? Shoes NZ 2020 . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Shoes NZ From China . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. https://www.shoesnzonline.com/ . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Shoes NZ Outlet . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Shoes NZ Online . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. SAN DIEGO -- Even if the San Diego Chargers continue to struggle for an identity, Melvin Gordon isnt.For the second day in a row, coach Mike McCoy referred to the second-year running back as a bell cow.Gordon led the herd all right, running for a career-high 196 yards in helping the Chargers hold off the Tennessee Titans 43-35 on Sunday. It was the ninth-highest total in franchise history and the most since LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 198 against Oakland on Oct. 14, 2007.Gordons NFL-high 11th touchdown was a go-ahead, 1-yard run in the third quarter.The way we ran the football, that was outstanding, with Melvin being the bell cow and really just pounding it home and being the physical runner that he is, McCoy said Monday.Gordon ripped off a 47-yard run on third-and-7 in the closing minutes as the Chargers finally figured out how to close out a game when they held the lead.Thats phenomenal. It doesnt get better than that, McCoy said. Thats imposing your will on your opponent, whether its the guys up front, whether its the ball carrier making a special play like that to really seal the deal, and then to get the additional first down after that, was something special, McCoy said.McCoy said Gordon became the bell cow after Danny Woodhead was lost for the season with a torn ACL in the second game of the season.We all understood what we were dealing with, McCoy said.ddddddddddddIts a dramatic turnaround from Gordons miserable rookie season. He failed to score a touchdown, didnt have a 100-yard game, was twice benched for fumbling and then missed the last two games with a knee injury that required microfracture surgery in January.Sunday was his second straight 100-yard game and third overall.McCoy said Gordons confidence is no different now that it was early in his rookie season.I think we saw that a lot early on last year, the first couple games of the year, the physical runner he was, McCoy said. Then from that point on, to a certain point during the season, whether it was us not blocking as well up front or him maybe making the wrong cut or guessing a little too much as the year went on last year. Weve been talking about this for a long time. We werent efficient enough.McCoy lauded Gordon for coming into the season in shape.Hes in great shape right now. Thats why hes able to do this, McCoy said.The Chargers (4-5) remain in last place in the AFC West. They host the Miami Dolphins (4-4) on Sunday.---Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '