Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is living on borrowed time and his sacking "inevitable", according to Steve Wraith, spokesman for the NUFC Fans United Group. Speaking to the Mirror, Wraith, who is also editor of the club's No.9 fanzine, also claimed director of football Joe Kinnear would take over from the beleaguered boss. The Magpies crashed to their third topflight loss in six games at Goodison Park on Monday night and a third-successive league defeat - against Cardiff on Saturday - could spell the end for Pardew. Wraith claims the majority of his fellow fans feel as though such an eventuality would be unfair, because of the way owner Mike Ashley undermined the former Southampton manager over the summer. There is more support for Alan Pardew now than there was at the end of last season, when many wanted him out, said Wraith, who believes Pardew knows he is nearing the end at St James' Park. He continued:
They feel he has been undermined and the Joe Kinnear situation has made it inevitable he will replace him as manager. I dont think Pardew would argue with that assessment - and I am privy to certain conversations he has had with certain people. Pardew knows hes on borrowed time and if results continue to go pear-shaped, theres only one man whos going to get his job."
Kinnear denied earlier this summer rumours of a conspiracy that he is primed to replace Pardew, who is just one year into the huge eight-year contract he penned last September. Questions were raised over Pardew's authority at the club in the wake of Kinnear's appointment as director of football, when it came to light he, and not the manager, would have the final say on transfers. And, having brought in just one new player over the summer, Wraith believes Kinnear and Ashley should shoulder the blame for the club's inactivity in the market. He concluded:
The team spent most of last season battling relegation, but the only player brought in during the summer was Loic Remy on loan. You cant just blame one person in Pardew. Its a job lot.
Do you think it's time for Alan Pardew to leave? Or are Mike Ashley and Joe Kinnear to blame for recent failings? Let us know in the comments, below.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
