Sometimes it's hard to resist the temptation to put the boot in, but Alan Pardew's career is often the gift that just keeps on giving. He's head-butted players, used ill-advised sexual violence language on Match Of The Day, endorsed punishment for Carlos Tevez that included making him wear a Brazil top, and has fought off rumours about his love life for years. Even if some of the things that emerge in the press and on forums aren't true - and there's a good chance that a good deal of them are plucked out of the air - Pardew is such a divisive figure that it's seemingly irresistible to pass them on, which is usually where the lawyers get involved. But ignoring all of those well-trodden stories and controversial rumours for a minute, an old story has once more emerged in conversation with a fellow disgruntled Newcastle fan, who is firmly in the sack Pardew at all costs camp, and offers an indication of the problems of surrounding yourself with mates in key jobs and encouraging a laddish culture at clubs. The source is unknown for now, but the story of Zheng Zhi's move to Charlton has now gone down in infamy thanks to an unsavoury decision by someone in charge of kits at the club. When he signed, Pardew wasn't keen on having anyone on the training pitch in a full suit, so passed on instructions for him to be issues a tracksuit. Orders were obeyed and the Chinese interpreter was given his tracksuit, but for reasons known only to the kitmen, it had allegedly been emblazoned with the initials CM, for Chinaman: Inevitably some fans will jump on this as another reason to criticise Pardew, but clearly there's no indication that he was to blame. But what it does suggest is that the manager should be careful of who he employs - already this season Newcastle have had to encourage public apologies from two coaches in the wake of the Southampton game, and last year Willie Donachie was suspended and ultimately walked away for an allegedly physical altercation with Remie Streete. It is key to make sure these sorts of situations do not happen at a club that is more often than not under media scrutiny anyway, and the last thing the manager wants is further ammunition for those who want him sacked immediately.
