By ESPNsoccernet staff
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has risked the wrath of the fans by hailing the impact and investment of unpopular owner Mike Ashley as the club close in on Champions League qualification.
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Ashley was widely criticised for his decision to sack Chris Hughton and appoint
Pardew in December 2010, and for allowing star striker Andy Carroll to leave the club on
January transfer deadline day, albeit for a whopping £35 million, the following month.
However,
Newcastle 3-0 win over Stoke on Saturday lifted them to fourth in the Premier League as Pardew's team - built around shrewd acquisitions such
as Papiss Cisse, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa - continue to exceed
expectations.
Pardew and his team have scoured Europe to sign relatively cut-price players, who have all come good at St James Park, but the manager believes Ashley
must also take some of the credit.
"Mike's put something like £273 million into the club and he's not taken anything
back,'' Pardew told the Sunday Times.
"Since I've been here I have not really shouted his corner. Politically for me
it's a minefield. I want to keep the fans in a good place but I would say to
them, before they get emotional about it, that Mike has invested something like
25% of his personal wealth in this football club.
"Ask me for 25% of my money and you've got no chance. I don't care how good
your idea is.''
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