Alan Pardew Excited to Come Home to Crystal Palace

Alan Pardew wants to restore the spirit of his playing days after coming “home” to take over as Crystal Palace manager.

Pardew was released from his Newcastle contract on Saturday morning and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to return to the club he served for four years as a player.

The former midfielder was part of a successful spell in the club’s history between 1987 and 1991, scoring the winner against Liverpool to take them to the 1990 FA Cup final.

And in an interview broadcast on the club website, he said: “I think the fans remember that era I was in, they admired the spirit and they’d probably like to see a bit more of that. Hopefully I can bring that back.

“It’s been a while since I played here but it’s somewhere I know well and it’s close to my heart.

“It was difficult because I’m leaving a big club in Newcastle (but) really and truly, my home is in this area and for me it’s what you would class, as close as you can as a manager, as your own club.”

Pardew takes over a side in the bottom three that has not won for eight matches, since the 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on November 23.

And he acknowledged: “It’s a little bit sticky at the moment and we need to find a way out of that.

“The players have got great attitudes here, I’ve been very impressed. Can I help change that energy into more tangible results?

“That might take a transfer, it might take a change of style a little bit, and that’s what hopefully a manager of my experience can do.”

One target Pardew has been linked with in the January transfer window is Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis.

And the new manager said: “Without putting pressure on the chairman – because it’s difficult when the manager keeps talking publicly about players – I think we’re going to need a player or two and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”

Pardew is the permanent successor to Neil Warnock, after Keith Millen took caretaker charge for the goalless draw against Aston Villa, and becomes Palace’s fourth manager in less than 18 months.

Warnock succeeded Tony Pulis in the summer, with the former Stoke boss also serving less than a year before walking away in a dispute over transfer targets.

Pardew will now be looking to steady the ship and chairman Steve Parish told the club’s website: “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.”

Pardew’s departure signals the end of an eventful era at St James’ Park during which he took the club to fifth place in the Premier League and the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but also came in for concerted criticism from some fans.

Owner Mike Ashley remained strongly behind him, though, even after he had been banned from the touchline and fined for head-butting Hull midfielder David Meyler in March.

Pardew said: “It’s 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 whom 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 announced that Carver and Stone will again lead the team in the FA Cup tie at Leicester as the club continue to search for a new head coach.

That title – as opposed to “manager” – indicates the club will seek to a recruit a man comfortable with working under a continental model with managing director Lee Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr taking care of recruitment.

With the likes of Steve Bruce, Pulis and Tim Sherwood having already been ruled out, according to sources on Tyneside, St Etienne’s Christophe Galtier and former Mainz boss Thomas Tuchel have been linked with the club in recent days.

However, Press Association Sport understands no approaches have yet been made.