Coaches John Carver, Steve Stone and Andy Woodman join the boss in levels of unprecedented job security.
It's reward for the Toon finishing in fifth-place in the Premier League last season.
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| Pardew, Llambias and ... Wonga! |
And though that's no mean achievement after the ignominy of relegation under Joe Kinnear and Alan Shearer, there's no need to secure a manager so long-term.
Managing Director Derek Llambias said: "If you look at clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have shown that stability gives you the best platform to achieve success, and that is the model we wish to emulate here.
'We're looking to build on the success we had last season and these new contracts are aimed at keeping the club progressing on and off the pitch, as we have done since returning to the Premier League in 2010.
'Alan has done a fantastic job over the last couple of years and has proved what a great Premier League manager he is.
'I have total respect for him in all football matters and have an excellent relationship with him which I think benefits the club enormously.
A player awarded an eight-year deal post-Bosman is understandable. But a boss?
It'd be logical if upward progress was as predictable as it's been fast for Newcastle in the last two seasons.
But football isn't like that.
When things come undone, they come undone big time, especially at a volatile club like Newcastle where the gap between expectation and trophy haul is as big a gulf as probably any club in the world.
Trouble is there's a thin line between stability and complacency - and you wouldn't begrudge Pardew - or some older members of his management team putting a big cigar on when secured under a huge contract.
Pardew signed a five-and-a-half year deal from the get-go at St. James' Park - before he'd earned any lengthy loyalty.
It's made still more confusing by the treatment Mike Ashley and the board dished out to previous boss, Chris Hughton who immediately returned Newcastle to the big time at the first time of asking - then stabilised them back in the top flight.
He was sacked midway through a season to be replaced by Pardew.
No one's arguing with how the former West Ham and Charlton boss has succeeded. The manager of the year's continuing to progress the club.
But if and when it goes wrong, it'll be a Titanic and costly turn to a new plan.
And in the world of football, particularly Newcastle United, you'd say with near certainty Pardew won't be there in 2020 - either Manchester United and their like will come calling and Ashley will get huge compensation.
Or on the balance of probabilities when Pardew's luck runs out, he'll get a disproportionate payoff instead.
Ashley's a retail visionary and one wonders whether he's applying unprecedented commercial acumen to the job of running a big club.
But football's like no other business. I think he's busking this. A four-year extension for his management team would've served the club better.
Alan Pardew is an excellent manager, in fact I think one of the finest English managers for some time.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree that he is a "lucky" manager, who could run out of luck at any time as you put it, he was superb at West Ham and only the Tevez debacle ruined everything there.
By signing him for 8 years, Newcastle have not only assured themselves a platform to build on but more importantly, Pardew is exactly the sort of manager that England will be looking for post Hodgeson let alone another club.
Lets hope this mature attitude from Newcastle is the shape of things for the future, this current trend of 'smash and grab' management appointments has never worked for any club.