Alan Pardew has moved to explain reports over a bonus from ADO Den Haag for avoiding relegation and has offered to donate it to the club's non-playing staff and the Dutch health service.
The former Crystal Palace and West Ham boss has been in charge of the Eredivisie side since December, having taken over the struggling side amid their battle to avoid relegation from the Dutch top flight.
He has guided Den Haag to just one win in eight matches since taking charge, but following a decision by the Dutch FA to cancel the season and declare the results from the Eredivisie campaign null and void, with no promotion or relegation, or title winner, the club's place in the top flight is safe.
Reports had claimed that Pardew was to receive a £100,000 bonus after the decision was confirmed, but the former Palace boss has said he is "extremely disappointed" with the reports, insisting that he has not received a payment for keeping the club up.
"When I signed for ADO there was a bonus clause in my contract for avoiding relegation, however, the figure is not the one being reported by the press," said Pardew, in a statement released on Sunday.
"These clauses are standard practice in the majority of managers' contracts around the world.
"It was my understanding that this clause would only be activated if we had finished the season and ADO had avoided relegation.
"However, on a technicality issue with regard to the way the Dutch season ended, I was informed ADO intended to pay the bonus.
"I immediately contacted the club and told them not to pay me the money and to either give it to the non-playing staff at the club, or donate it to Holland's health service to help in their efforts to beat COVID-19.
"I hope that this clears up any misunderstandings caused by press reports."
Pardew added that the thoughts and prayers of himself and his family were with everyone around the world who had suffered or were suffering from coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Pardew has spoken out about the Dutch FA's decision, adding that he can understand the frustration of the head coach of the second tier leaders Cambuur, who were 11 points clear of the play-off places at the top of the table when football was suspended.
Cambuur head coach Henk de Jong said that ending the season felt like "the biggest disgrace in the history of Dutch sport," with his side four points clear of De Graafschap in second in the race for promotion.
In response, Pardew said, as quoted by the BBC: "Of course there is relief, but modesty is appropriate at this moment.
"Although we still had the belief we could accomplish our mission, we were not doing well and will never know if we would have succeeded. But because we did not know whether the season would end well or badly, I do not think another outcome for Den Haag was right.
"Although it is important that our club stays where it belongs, we count our blessings and understand the frustrations at Cambuur and De Graafschap."
Pardew has been back in England in recent weeks amid the lockdown in this country, but he has remained in contact with his players in Holland.
