'I'm staying' says Newcastle's Pardew

Alan Pardew has vowed to stay at Newcastle United, he said in comments published on Wednesday, despite the controversial appointment of Joe Kinnear as director of football that has been interpreted as a threat to his job.

“I am staying — to take the club up the league,” he said in a short message to Newcastle fans sent to local newspaper the Evening Chronicle.

The St James’ Park club, who last year made the quarter-finals of the Europa League but finished a disappointing 16th in the English Premier League, last weekend brought back former manager Joe Kinnear as director of football.

The appointment was met with disbelief by many on Tyneside, who saw his return undermining Pardew’s position and ill-advised given that Kinnear’s tenure in 2008/9 coincided with relegation from the top flight.

Former Wimbledon and Nottingham Forest manager Kinnear has, however, said that Pardew was “delighted” at his appointment.

Newcastle on Wednesday confirmed that managing director Derek Llambias had resigned, reportedly because Kinnear would assume responsibilities for finding and signing new players.

Newcastle begin the new season on August 17 with an away trip to last year’s runners-up and 2011/12 champions Manchester City.