Former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been talking about his time at the Magpies once again. In an interview with BBC’s Premier League show (via the Chronicle), the Crystal Palace boss talked about his relationship with Mike Ashley and how he told the Newcastle owner he felt the recruitment of players at the club had been conducted in the wrong manner.
Pardew replaced the popular Chris Hughton as head coach, with most fans believing him to be a ‘yes’ man for the board. The current Palace boss claimed he tried to change things at St James’ Park but without success:
“I kept nagging him (Mike Ashley), kept telling him that I thought the process was wrong. I made that very clear behind closed doors. At times I had a very unbalanced team, very unbalanced squad. It is very difficult to pick up results when you don’t think the players that are being signed for you, fit what you want.”
On the proviso of staying as Newcastle manager, Rafa Benitez demanded direct control over recruitment in the summer, and it has now paid dividends for the Magpies with a squad far more balanced and in line with the Spaniard’s own requirements. With the Magpies top of the Championship, things are certainly looking more positive on and off the pitch than at any time under Pardew.
