Pardew calm over Ba speculation

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has delivered a frosty response to speculation over striker Demba Ba's future on Tyneside.The 50-year-old was dismayed to read stories suggesting Tottenham could be ready to activate a release-clause in the Senegal international's contract this month after a stunning 15-goal start to his Magpies' career.Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was asked about the 26-year-old on Friday, and his reply sparked a frenzy of rumours but, when asked about the matter on Saturday, a terse Pardew said: "I thought, listening to the conversation, that the media tripped him up a little bit, Harry."He added: "You don't want to end up talking about other players in the transfer window and I am sure he probably regrets that a little bit."He's a Newcastle player, he has been brilliant for us and that's all I want to say, really."Pardew's comments came after his side's dramatic 2-1 FA Cup third round victory over Blackburn, and he was not the only manager having to fend off interest in his players.Rovers counterpart Steve Kean issued a hands-off message to QPR following their unsuccessful bid for defender Chris Samba, who was not part of Saturday's squad.He said: "The situation is simple. Before any bid came in, we said he is not for sale. "We had already made a decision that he was having treatment on an ankle injury and a bit of a tight hamstring, so that was the reason why he didn't travel. It was nothing to do with the bid."He's our player and we want to keep him at the club. I felt as tough he was getting a good partnership with Scott Dann before Scott got a nasty injury, and we want to add to the squad, we don't want to break it up."

Source: PA