Ashley has taken stick this season for his gamble not to sign Pardew's choice players in the summer.
Newcastle may need to sign a new striker to replace Demba Ba if he leaves during the January transfer window and could also bring in a right back, centre back and a winger.
He is now likely to renew his interest in France right-back Mathieu Debuchy, but a striker also remains a priority.
Ashley stubbornly refused to pay more than HIS valuations for players in the summer and missed out on a string of targets, including Debuchy, Dutch striker Luke De Jong and Brazilian defender Douglas.
Alan Pardew: “This spell certainly made me question a few things that we have done.
“Whenever you get a blip like that, it makes you get on your mettle and change a few things.
“We have had a look at things and I think it is also time for the board to have a little look at things as well, about what has gone on.
"They have done that. All of us have had to re-adjust a little bit.
“I think it gave us a shake that we needed to do a little bit more work in the summer on recruitment and I don’t think we’re going to fall short again. We’ll be stronger in February.
"The last time we played at Craven Cottage, we lost 5-2.
“We are miles away from that now.
“In terms of the quality we have, we have dramatically improved. Unfortunately, in the last six or seven weeks, a lot of that quality has been in the treatment room.”