Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of Alan Pardew’s installation as Newcastle United’s manager and he cites a remarkable absence of arguments with Mike Ashley as one reason for this longevity.
In the business sphere Newcastle’s owner has a reputation as a most demanding employer but Pardew claims to have experienced only his more holistic side. “It’s very important to have a solid relationship with your chairman or owner and I’ve always had that with Mike,” said Newcastle’s manager.
Ashley confounded many by standing by Pardew as Newcastle struggled for much of 2014 before recently winning six games in a row, but it seems no cross words were exchanged during this prolonged rough patch.
“Me and Mike don’t really have too much communication,” he said. “But when we do it’s really constructive. We’ve never had a destructive conversation since I’ve been here. I think that’s very helpful because I’ve had them at other clubs. The link between owner and manager is very important but sometimes it can get lost in the wash a little bit. Chief executives can get involved and the relationship gets distant.”
Pardew has been further bolstered by the security of a controversial eight-year contract but feels that both he and Ashley deserve praise for making their partnership work through the tough times on Tyneside.
“It’s credit to the owner and also credit to me because I’ve had to dig in a few times. Sometimes his flag is up the pole and sometimes it’s mine. But I think we both knew that when we signed that long contract, that there were going to be difficult days as well as good days for us both.”
Newcastle’s manager is horrified that his length of tenure makes him a rarity in the increasingly turbulent world of English football. Indeed, only Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger, Exeter’s Paul Tisdale and Karl Robinson at MK Dons have been in post longer.
“I noticed that Mark [Yates] got sacked at Cheltenham, so I think I’m fourth on the list of the League’s longest-serving managers now, which is very disturbing,” he said. “That isn’t a good stat at all.
“Since Tony Pulis left Crystal Palace by mutual agreement a Premier League manager hasn’t left this season, which is unusual. Maybe it’s beginning to stabilise a little bit, although perhaps I’m speaking to soon. The Championship is the bigger worry at the moment, because nine months is the average tenure. I don’t know how long it takes other people to get to know their jobs but nine months is certainly not enough for the coach of a football team.”
He can further reinforce his own job security by choreographing a repeat of the 2-0 win Newcastle enjoyed against Chelsea in the Premier League at St James’ Park last season. Thirteen months after that victory José Mourinho’s side have been revamped and Pardew expects a considerably tougher challenge in the north east on Saturday lunchtime.
“I wouldn’t say they’re on a different level but we’re playing a much better team than came here last year,” he said.
“I’ve been watching Chelsea since I was 12. I used to watch John Neal’s team on a regular basis but this is as good a Chelsea as I’ve seen. Whether they can continue like this is a big question mark, though, because they have quite a few players who haven’t won the Premier League – yet.”
There seems little chance of complacency in the visiting ranks. “José knows this is a tricky game,” says Pardew. “He won’t come here complacent. He never does. That’s the art of his management and something that I don’t think gets carried through at some other clubs. Chelsea certainly won’t go unbeaten in all competitions but it’s not impossible for them to stay unbeaten in the Premier League this season.”
An impressive defensive performance by Sunderland earned Gus Poyet’s side a draw with Chelsea at the Stadium of Light last Saturday but Newcastle will not be emulating their neighbours. “No, we won’t do the same,” said Pardew. “I think Chelsea will score, so we’ll need to score twice.”
