Alan Pardew is “understood to be holding talks” with EPL side Crystal Palace Tuesday about succeeding Neil Warnock, according to Simon Rice of the London INDEPENDENT. The Newcastle manager was “given permission last night to speak to the struggling London club and it is expected a deal will be reached imminently.” Newcastle released a statement that confirmed Palace had made a formal approach for their manager. The statement said, "Newcastle United can confirm that Crystal Palace have made a formal approach … As a result of this development today, Alan will not be at training on Tuesday. Training will be the responsibility of assistant manager John Carver. The club will make a further announcement in due course." Bookmakers also “suspended betting on Pardew's appointment” at Selhurst Park (INDEPENDENT, 12/30). In London, Kajumba & Murtagh reported Pardew is set to sign a £2.5M ($3.9M)-a-year, four-year deal at Selhurst Park and will be handed a £10M ($15.6M) "transfer kitty" for the January window. That will see Pardew -- “one of the lowest paid managers in the Premier League” on a heavily-incentivized deal at St. James's Park -- earn a pay rise of at least £1M-a-year. EPL side Hull City Manager Steve Bruce and “out-of-work Tony Pulis are early contenders to succeed Pardew” as Newcastle manager (DAILY STAR, 12/30). In London, Louise Taylor wrote Newcastle is keeping its “options open and will not be rushed into appointing a replacement for the Crystal Palace bound” Pardew. One thing is definite: the club will “not be naming Fabricio Coloccini as player-manager.” The Argentine centre-half, “who does not hold a single coaching badge, let alone” the Pro-license mandatory for managers at Premier League level, was said to be “bemused by reports linking him with a vacancy” (GUARDIAN, 12/30). Also in London, Jamie Redknapp opined that it is a “bold and clever decision and the right time for him to escape” from Newcastle. He can leave knowing he has “done a good job in difficult circumstances." Not a "brilliant job.” He did not "win them a trophy." But nor did Bobby Robson. Or Ruud Gullit. Or Kenny Dalglish. It has been 45 years since Newcastle won a trophy, but Pardew finished fifth in his best season in the Premier League and consolidated its position, with a “pretty average team and a club that sells its best players” (DAILY MAIL, 12/30).
