8 Most Ridiculous Newcastle United Rumours That Never Happened
2. Real Reason Behind Alan Pardew's Appointment
In the days before before his installation as Chris Hughton's successor Alan Pardew attracted just 14 votes from the 1,000 Toon fans who'd voted in a poll on who they wanted as Newcastle manager. Not exactly the most popular candidate for the job.
Needless to say speculation ran wild as to the motive behind Mike Ashley passing the black and white baton onto Pardew after cruelly giving the bullet to the popular Hughton with the official line from the upper echelons at St James' Park stating we required "an individual with more managerial experience was needed to take the club forward".
Suspicious were immediately aroused and the popular belief was that Pardew had struck a convenient arrangement with Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias to work off the heavy gambling debt he owed to the pair.
"That still hurts me, the casino tag," he revealed to the Daily Mail in his first major interview as Newcastle boss. "Ive never bet in a casino; its just not something I do."
Although it doesn't exactly dispel this particular myth we'll take Pardew's word for it on this occasion.