• Premier League

Pardew to be named Newcastle boss within 48 hours

Harry Harris, ESPNsoccernet
December 8, 2010
Alan Pardew left Southampton in August © PA Photos
Enlarge

Alan Pardew is set to be named the new manager of Newcastle United in the next 48 hours.

ESPNsoccernet sources have revealed that Mike Ashley decided to bring in the former West Ham and Southampton manager "some time ago".

Pardew and Newcastle owner Ashley are said to have met up on Sunday night in an Italian restaurant in London - the day before Chris Hughton's sacking.

The exit of Martin Jol from Ajax on Monday gave Ashley something to think about but it only served to delay the appointment of Pardew, who will be in place for Saturday evening's match with Liverpool, which is live on ESPN in the UK.

Pardew was initially installed as favourite for the job before Jol's decision to leave the Dutch club led to a run of bets. But now Pardew seems almost certain to take the job with many bookies no longer offering odds and, among those that are pricing him, they are as short as 1/12 (1.08). Jol is said to favour a return to Hamburg.

"Mike Ashley and Alan Pardew were spotted in the Little Italy restaurant in Soho on Sunday night, and if you ask me this has been talked about for a long time," the source confirmed. "Alan is big friends with the chairman and the man who owns the club likes people around him he can trust.

"He wants a man he can work with, not necessarily the best man for the job, as he likes to keep matters close to him. And Alan Pardew is a good manager. When he first went to West Ham he was very successful, reaching the play-offs in his first year, gaining promotion via the play-offs in his second and then reaching the FA Cup final in his third before it all started to go wrong."

Pardew left League One side Southampton in August, reportedly after falling out with the club's hierarchy. He took Saints to the brink of the play-offs last season despite starting the season on -10 points, and won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

There are also suggestions that Martin O'Neill was sounded out about the job weeks ago. And a leading football agent suggested to ESPNsoccernet that O'Neill wanted a £20 million transfer kitty in January, but was told he could only have £10 million.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices