A summer of major transition and rebuilding beckons for Newcastle after a campaign that promised so much but ultimately exposed a host of festering issues that have undermined the club's progress in the last two seasons. For the eighth year running the power to enforce a change in the Magpies' direction rests in the hands of Mike Ashley, with the owner facing yet another inquest as to his agenda. Aggressive and incisive action is required by Ashley to lift the gloom on Tyneside and arrest a decline that has many fans questioning whether they will be supporting a Premier League team 12 months from now. We believe there are five key ways Ashley can instigate a change at St James' Park and give supporters a reason to be optimistic about the season ahead.
5. Hand Alan Pardew His P45
Not since Willie McFaul was manager at St James' Park dugout have we managed us to six consecutive top-flight games. Pardew equalled that unwanted record from 1986/87 on his return to the touchline for Monday's 3-0 surrender at Arsenal, becoming the first Toon boss in the Premier League era to preside over a half-dozen of defeats. The statistics are now starting to pile up against the 52-year-old; four wins in the 18 games since we walloped Stoke on Boxing Day, just 10 goals in 2014 and three straight Tyne-Wear derby defeats for the first time in 91 years. As are the accusations that he isn't getting the best out of the resources at his disposal having fielded six full internationals, some of which are being courted by clubs in the Champions League, and his scapegoating of Hatem Ben Arfa has cranked up the pressure on Ashley to end his reign. David Moyes, recently disposed of by Manchester United, has been mooted as a possible replacement despite a torrid 10 months at Old Trafford and would be embraced with open arms on the basis of his accomplishments at Everton, while former Swansea chief Michael Laudrup is another attractive candidate after winning the Capital One Cup with the Welsh side last season. We imagine both would provide a welcome alternative to Pardew. And after supporters entered into a chorus of We are going to have a party when Pardew gets the sack," from the away end at the Emirates Stadium on Monday in the clearest indication yet that patience is wearing thin. It might be wishful thinking on their part but Ashley certainly has a convincing argument to dispense with the man he plucked from lower league obscurity after his dismissal from Southampton to take over from the widely revered Chris Hughton in December 2010.