Pardew 'Most Important Thing Is Getting Our Bonus!'

Last updated : 05 May 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Last season Mike Ashley offered the staff a bonus if Newcastle beat Arsenal last game of the season to help his beloved TOTTENHAM get into the Champions League!

Reporters suggested at the time it was against FA rules to offer money in such a way to benefit another club, but Ashley got away with it (probably because Newcastle lost and no money exchanged hands).

The 52-year-old was left in little doubt as to what large sections of the club's support think of him.

The triumph ended a demoralising run of six consecutive defeats, which left many supporters among a crowd of 50,239 in rebellious mood.

However, Pardew, who was booed by some spectators every time he left the dug-out, remains focussed on picking up his bonus.

Owner Mike Ashley will hand out bonuses to all the club's staff if they achieve their target of a top-10 finish - they currently sit in ninth place, two points ahead of Stoke and a further four better off than Crystal Palace, who entertain Liverpool on Monday evening.

Ashley was not on Tyneside for the latest instalment in this saga, and the only time he has been to St James' Park this season was when he was in the area on business to do with Sports Direct moving premises.

Alan Pardew: "It was an important day, we know that, all round, really, for the club. It was the club that was important today, and our staff.

"All the staff at the stadium today were hoping to get their bonus, and hopefully we have delivered that, but we will have to wait to see what Palace do.

"We were nervous a little bit because we haven't won, obviously, and we were protecting ourselves to a degree.

"But we did the job and that was important today, that we did the job, and hopefully we can show our fans in the summer, as much as in the last game, that we are going to be stronger next year."