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Alan Pardew claims that Mike Ashley has “learned lessons” that he was trying to teach him when he was at Newcastle United .

Pardew was United boss from 2010 to 2014 and achieved a fifth-placed finish before disappointing the following year. When he left United were comfortable in mid-table but there was unprecedented frustration and discontent on the terraces – something that feels alien given the current good feeling towards the club that has been generated by Rafa Benitez.

Pardew, speaking in a BBC documentary, feels that Ashley has learned his lessons by handing full control to the manager.

“I kept nagging (Ashley), kept telling him I thought the process was wrong. I made that very clear behind closed doors,” he said.

Pardew also took another dig at United’s recruitment policy, which he says left him feeling “frustrated”.

It should be pointed out that Pardew has subsequently bought Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy – and was linked with a number of players who were Graham Carr picks when he was at United. He was also linked with a move for Moussa Sissoko in the summer.

Nevertheless, Pardew - appointed by United after being sacked by Southampton, who were in League One - says his life at Newcastle was made difficult by those circumstances.

poll loading Who do you side with in this: Graham Carr or Alan Pardew? 0+ VOTES SO FAR Graham Carr Alan Pardew

“At times I had a very unbalanced team, very unbalanced squad. It’s very difficult to pick up results when you don’t think the players that are being signed for you fit what you want.

“That makes it frustrating a little bit, and I was a bit frustrated at Newcastle. The financial element came first, then the technical side of it.

“But the vision of the manager and how he wants to take the team forward, that must come first.

“I like to think they’ve learned some lessons. I think Mike, at Sports Direct, has learned some lessons - I think he’d be the first to say that - and he’s had to learn lessons on the football side.”

Pardew has certainly had a freer hand to recruit at Palace, who have a very handy squad. They sit 9th in the Premier League and should not be embroiled in a relegation fight this term.

Not short of confidence, he also said he enjoys going toe-to-toe with the ‘elite’ managers.

“You earn the right to get in that position and I respect that. The Klopps, the Guardiolas, the Mourinhos - they’ve earned the right to be at those football clubs. Maybe I haven’t,” he said.

“But, of course, there is another side to football management and getting the best out of the group you’ve got - that’s all I can focus on.

“It’s been a long road for me to get to this level and I’m very proud to be here.

“I do enjoy going up against them (the elite managers) - I’ve beat a few of them - and I’ve seen a lot of them come and go already, supposedly very good managers.”