Pardew safe after Newcastle hand boss vote of confidence despite disappointing season

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been given assurances that his job is safe after a series of meetings with owner Mike Ashley and has now jetted off for holiday.

Pardew met sportswear billionaire Ashley for clear-the-air talks following Newcastle’s poor season which ended with a 16th place finish.

Although sympathetic to the injury crisis which enveloped the Newcastle squad throughout the campaign, Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias were disappointed with the lack of progress in the Barclays Premier League and another season without a trophy.

Pointing the way: Alan Pardew's job is safe as Newcastle manager despite finishing 16th in the Premier League

The Newcastle board, who invested heavily in French players recommended by chief scout Graham Carr in January, have a new set of summer targets, and have taken some responsibility for the club’s failure to land better, and more players a year ago in the wake of their fifth place finish.

Rumours about Pardew’s future have circulated on social media sites over the last three days, with many supporters calling for a change of regime. The club’s decision not to make an official statement on the matter only fuelled rumours that Pardew had in fact been sacked.

Pardew is now the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League at two-and-a-half years following Tony Pulis’ exit from Stoke City. And he will be expected to make a better start to next season, with a handful of new additions from the summer transfer window.

All smiles: But Newcastle owner Mike Ashley met Pardew for clear-the-air talks after the poor season

Newcastle have however distanced themselves from a move for former striker Andy Carroll whose fee and wages remain outside the Newcastle transfer policy.

Meanwhile France international Mathieu Debuchy, one of the January signings, has admitted the last season was disappointing.

The full-back said: 'It’s not been good enough for a team such as Newcastle United to do what we did in the last campaign and everyone knows that. We will do better next time.

'There is a determination within the squad to improve next season. We want to do a lot better.'

