Alan Pardew was rewarded with a staggering new deal on Thursday which shows the belief that Newcastle United have in the 51-year-old.
Not only that, this indicates that the Englishman is their man for some time to come which is a nice change considering they’ve chopped and changed over the years.
The eight-year deal is the longest given to a Premier League manager and will run until the start of the 2019/20 season.
To ensure total stability on Tyneside, coaches John Carver, Andy Woodman and Steve Stone have all been given similar deals.
Building the foundations
While there is huge risk in tying Pardew down for so long, this indicates that the Magpies are ready to settle down with the same manager for the foreseeable future.
This is a refreshing change from the norm with the Toon Army board.
Managers like Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder were given no more than a season to save an often sinking ship under the previous regime.
Current chairman Mike Ashley has drawn criticism in the past and rightly so. At times, he has looked like a comic owner rather than a serious owner.
This indicates a changing of the times at the Sports Direct Arena, in an era where the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa seem to enjoy hiring and firing managers, turning it into a hobby rather than a professional job.
Managing Director Derek Llambias admits that having a stable environment is the main model for success.
He said: “If you look at clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have shown that stability gives you the best platform to achieve success and that is the model we wish to emulate here.
“We’re looking to build on the success we had last season and these new contracts are aimed at keeping the club progressing on and off the pitch, as we have done since returning to the Premier League in 2010.
“Alan has done a fantastic job over the last couple of years and has proved what a great Premier League manager he is.
“I have total respect for him in all football matters and have an excellent relationship with him which I think benefits the club enormously."
Learning from previous mistakes
Former Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic midfielder Pardew (pictured) has grown up and learnt from previous mistakes in his earlier managerial days.
The way he left Reading for West Ham United in 2003 was unprofessional and despite taking the Hammers to the 2006 FA Cup final, he showed a lot of arrogance in his role at Upton Park.
Stints in the dugout at Charlton and Southampton harmed his reputation rather than helped it, so it was understandable the reluctance Newcastle supporters showed when he took over from Chris Hughton in December 2010.
What he has done in the job is incredible, maturing along the way. He kept the Magpies up in 2010/11 and then finished an astounding fifth in the Premier League table last season, earning European qualification for the club for the first time in five years.
His achievements last season were not ignored as Pardew was voted manager of the year by the League Managers’ Association in May.
He has rebuilt the squad with style and has the eye for picking up a bargain in the transfer market.
The likes of Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Jose Enrique were sold and the £35m received for Andy Carroll’s transfer to Liverpool has been spent superbly on quality players such as Papiss Cisse, Davide Santon and Yohan Cabaye.
Despite elimination from the Capital One Cup at Old Trafford in midweek, Newcastle have made a solid start to the new Premier League season, acquiring seven points from five games and head to Reading on Saturday, looking to break into the top six once again.
The Newcastle supporters have suffered long enough and have not captured a domestic trophy since 1955.
Not since the days of Sir Bobby Robson has St. James Park become a fortress of expectation and hope rather than misery and despair.
Newcastle have made a big commitment and so has Alan Pardew. This deal shows that in Pardew, they trust him to continue to bring the good times back to Tyneside.
By Simon Wright - Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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