Newcastle were chugging along quite nicely during their first season back in the Premier League when Chris Hughton was unceremoniously sacked by Mike Ashley following a defeat away at West Brom. In came Alan Pardew, a man that had been sacked by League One's Southampton a few months before amidst reports of low staff morale and conflicts with club chairman, Nicola Cortese. Pards also arrived amidst rumours that he was a good friend of Mike Ashley's and had a considerable gambling debt to the Magpies' owner, an allegation that wouldn't leave him throughout his time at the club. Pardew's appointment was the real first step into the 'jobs for the boys' mantra that looks to be leaving the club following John Carver and Steve Stone's sackings. The 2011/12 season apart, the former West Ham manager did absolutely nothing to endear himself to the St James' Park crowd during his four year reign and was worthy of being sacked numerous times throughout his time in NE1. Such loyalty from Ashley proved to be extremely ironic when the manager, or head coach (who knows), requested to leave the club for Crystal Palace at the end of last year.
