Crystal Palace confirmed the news on Saturday:
Crystal Palace Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Alan Pardew as the club's new manager after signing a three and a half year contract.
Chairman Steve Parish welcomes the former Palace midfielder back to Selhurst Park. "We wanted a manager with a great track record and proven experience in the Barclays Premier League. In Alan we have both these things as well as a man who has great affection for this club and shares my determination to take us to the next level."
Commenting on his new role, Pardew said, "I am absolutely delighted to be the new manager of Crystal Palace. Everyone knows my history here, what's important now is to move the club to the next level. I believe with the backing of Steve and the board I can help achieve that and create some new exciting history for the club.
Newcastle United also released a statement:
Newcastle United can confirm that Alan Pardew has been released from his contract in order to be installed as the new manager of Crystal Palace.
Pardew said: "It has been a privilege to manage Newcastle United and I want to thank my captain Fabricio Coloccini and all the players, John Carver, Steve Stone, Andy Woodman and all the staff, all of who have been outstanding servants to Newcastle United.
"A special thanks also goes to the fans for all their support over the last four years. I must also thank Mike Ashley and the board for their unwavering support during my tenure at the Club."
Newcastle United managing director, Lee Charnley, said: "I would like to thank Alan for his service to the Club.
"Despite public perceptions, fuelled by the media, Mike Ashley had never met nor spoken to Alan before his appointment. However, what developed over the last four years was a very strong and positive relationship between all parties.
"It is these relationships that, four years later, means the Club is in a far better position, both on and off the field, and Alan has had a big part to play in that.
"During his time with us, Alan achieved two top-ten Premier League finishes, including a fifth-place finish in 2012, as well as taking us to the quarter-final of the Europa League. He goes with our best wishes and thanks."
Pardew himself talked about the move on Saturday, according to Crystal Palace's official Twitter feed:
The 53-year-old had served as the Magpies' manager since 2010, making him the second-longest tenured boss in the Premier League prior to this switch. But it appears that off-the-field unrest, particularly from the Newcastle supporters, has prompted Pardew to take his services elsewhere.
As was first reported by Joe Bernstein, Neil Ashton and Craig Hope of "Daily Mail "on Dec. 29, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley agreed to allow Pardew to return to the club at which he saw some of his greatest success as a player.
Palace are in trouble, currently sat 18th in the Premier League, but will take great inspiration from one of their own.
The 2014-15 campaign has been a particularly bizarre one for Newcastle supporters thus far. Whispers regarding Pardew's job security have existed for quite some time, but the volume was turned up significantly during a 4-0 loss to Southampton on Sept. 13.
A sizable Newcastle contingent travelled to that match and made its feelings known during the onslaught, per Lee Ryder of "The Chronicle":
Pardew was under so much scrutiny during the contest that even fans of former employer Southampton got in on the chants, according to CNN's James Masters:
Newcastle sat at the bottom of the table after that Southampton defeat, and the firing of Pardew seemed inevitable. Even Pardew himself acknowledged that his squad's play against Saints was unacceptable, per Mark Chapman of 5 Live Sport:
Despite that, Pardew was able to retain his position under seemingly impossible circumstances. He revealed that while Ashley was unhappy with Newcastle's performance, he didn't consider making a management change at that time, according to Miles Starforth of "The Shields Gazette".
We didn't have a conversation regarding my position. He was upset with the performance, and I think he has every right to be that as an owner. I told him some things which I think should be sorted out, and some things that can help me. At the end of the day, Mike and myself do not want Newcastle to lose. We want to have the best possible team and we want to win. At the moment, of course, we haven't got that. So how are we going to achieve it? I think it was about how he could help me and support me, and I appreciate that.
That only served to further fan the flames of the Newcastle supporters who wanted Pardew out of power. A movement known as "Sack Pardew" started to pick up plenty of steam, and the movement even tweeted out a graphic outlining Pardew's ineptitude while at Newcastle:
Following the Southampton match, Newcastle hosted Hull City on Sept. 20. Pardew was harassed by the home crowd for much of the match as there were chants and banners galore. Ryder blamed the fans' fury partially on the fact that Newcastle leadership refused to give clarity on Pardew's status:
Pardew really seemed to be on the ropes with Newcastle trailing Hull 2-0, but Papiss Cisse saved the day as he scored two goals off the bench in his return from injury to salvage a draw.
Interesting enough, that comeback sparked a spectacular run by the Magpies that saw them win seven matches, lose three and draw three over a 13-game stretch. That run even included shocking upsets over perennial powers such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Despite that turnaround from out of thin air, it still appeared inevitable that Pardew would ultimately move on from Newcastle.
The Magpies were all over the map during Pardew's tenure, and while there were unquestionably fleeting moments of brilliance, the fans are desperate for something more substantial.
In the end, Pardew has left on his terms, walking before he was pushed. Newcastle fans finally got what they have been asking for, and it will be interesting to see who Ashley tasks with finally making Newcastle United contenders in the Premier League.
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Reference: lilith-dark-moon.blogspot.com
