Pardew set for St James’ appointment
NEWCASTLE are today expected to anger fans by naming former West Ham and Charlton boss Alan Pardew as their new manager.
Pardew, sacked by Southampton in August, is in line to succeed Chris Hughton, who was shown the door at St James’ Park on Monday.
Hughton was a popular figure with the Magpies faithful, having steered the club back into the top flight last season and started the current campaign solidly.
Pardew, meanwhile, garnered just two per cent of the vote in a Newcastle newspaper poll which asked fans who they would like as the club’s next boss.
Picking Pardew represents a huge risk for Toon owner Mike Ashley, who was only just starting to regain a modicum of tolerance among the club’s fans.
Pardew, 49, last managed in the Premier League almost four years ago, when Charlton were relegated under his watch in the 2006-07 season.
Southampton hired him in the summer of 2009 and, although he led them to the Johnstone Paint Trophy and finished seventh in League One, he was fired in August after falling out with chairman Nicola Cortese.
Pardew came in for fresh criticism yesterday from Cortese, who replaced him with Nigel Adkins.
He said: “I’m not going into details but there were plenty of reasons why it ended up with the sack.
“All the attributes Nigel Adkins has added is something we were missing before. He’s changed the attitude. His personality, his way of being, it’s motivated people.”
Hughton left the Magpies in 11th place, follwing high-profile wins over Arsenal, Aston Villa and fierce local rivals Sunderland. But results stuttered lately and Ashley dispensed with the formeer Tottenham coach.
ALAN PARDEW MANAGERIAL HISTORY
Oct 1999: Appointed Reading boss after a brief successful spell as caretaker.
May 2002: Guides Reading to automatic promotion to The Championship.
Oct 2003: Having resigned as Reading boss, Pardew takes over at West Ham.
May 2005: Takes Hammers back up to the Premier League following victory in the play-off final against Preston.
Dec 2006: Sacked by West Ham after the club suffer worst run in 70 years. Two weeks later he resurfaces at Charlton.
Dec 2008: Leaves the Addicks by mutual consent after a poor run of form following their relegation from the Premier League.
Jul 2009: Named new Southampton boss.
Aug 2010: Sacked by Southampton.