EXCLUSIVE: Mike Ashley set to back Alan Pardew as he hands Toon staff 10 per cent bonusNEWCASTLE UNITED'S controversial owner Mike Ashley has handed every member of the Toon staff a 10 per cent bonus for the club finishing in the top ten.
And in a move which will infuriate many St. James' Park fans and impact on season ticket sales,
Ashley is sticking by manager Alan Pardew.Even though he was close to sacking Pardew earlier in the season after a dismal run of home defeats Ashley believes that his manager has delivered the minimum requirement set out last summer - a top ten finish.
Despite there being a concerted campaign amongst rank and file members of the Toon army to have Pardew removed Ashley will once again defy their wishes and back his under fire boss.
Having decided to share some of the Premier League cash windfall for finishing either ninth or 10th amongst the staff which includes Pardew, the players and everyone else employed by the club, Ashley felt it would be wrong to get rid of the man who has made the generous payments possible.
So Pardew leads his side out at Liverpool today with his immediate future secure and with the promise of substantial transfer funds to regenerate a squad which has lost 13 of their previous 18 Premier League games, including the last six.
But he will be under pressure to deliver improved results from the moment the new season kicks off on August 16th.
The fear for Ashley is that many fans dismayed by the decision to stick with Pardew, who in their eyes has become a boardroom puppet, will refuse to renew their season tickets.
But as he has proved since taking over the club in 2007 Ashley is always prepared to tough it out and won't listen to public opinion.He has been the subject of protests and cruel chants from frustrated fans but insists on running the Tyneside club his way.
Ashley is now preparing himself for another deluge of criticism after deciding to stick with Pardew.
