Terry Venables: Alan Pardew can’t count on Mike Ashley’s ‘bravery’ at Newcastle for much longer

Ashley has been brave, but sometimes there is a fine line between bravery and recklessness

Alan Pardew (Getty Images)

I know Alan Pardew is under real pressure taking his Newcastle team to Stoke on Monday night.

Owner Mike Ashley has been really brave, and he has always had a lot of confidence in Pardew, even if the supporters think he has kept him for far too long. He has been brave, but sometimes there is a fine line between bravery and recklessness.

When the Newcastle supporters turn against you, though, it has to be bad for that to happen. Those supporters are the best in the country. When I was a manager, I always wanted to manage Newcastle United. I always thought, whether they were doing well or not, that I could get my teeth into this, that I could take them where they wanted.

Pardew’s problems started with that confrontation with David Meyler last season. He was doing pretty well until then, but Ashley supported him through it. Of course, it is his club, but the performances are bad and they are bottom of the table.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley

Stoke is going to be a hard game for them. Mark Hughes has got the team playing some good football. So this game is going to be nervy. Pardew might need a result to turn it around.