Source: FOOTYMAD
Ashley Has Had
Alan Pardew says Mike Ashley has had "many disappointments' as Toon owner. Yep ... that's what it's like up here in Geordieland. A lot different to his 'true love' ... Tottenham. Alan Pardew: “I think there has been a change in emphasis at the club. “We have gone from the owner wanting to sell the club to ‘OK, there’s a change of emphasis’. “He wants to keep the club and make it as competitive as it can be in the financial bracket we’re in. “The only way we can get Mike to attack that upper echelon of clubs is to make him see there has been progression. To make him see that it can work. “Then maybe then he might have the flavour to attack the top five or six – that is what I want to get, but let’s be realistic, it won’t happen in one years time or even two years time. “Maybe in that third year of my contract if everything works out and I’m lucky enough to still be the manager of this club – then hopefully it will take place. “We’ve stoked his fire at times, but then it goes out. You have to re-stoke! “He’s had so many disappointments since he’s been here . . . it’s very dangerous if I have too many times when the fire goes out. “Even when I’ve been here, there’s been one or two occasions where I’ve felt it’s hurt him to a degree. “And when you haven’t got a board you might not have 14 opinions.”
