I WAS PARD DONE BY
Eagles sacking harsh says new Baggies chief Alan
ALAN PARDEW claims his sacking by Crystal Palace was harsh and believes he will get more trust at West Brom.
He was axed in December after leading them to a 10th-place finish and an FA Cup final, where he marked the Eagles opener with a dance (above, right).
He has an early chance to make his point – his first match in charge is when Palace visit on Saturday.
Pardew, an Eagles player from 1987 to 1991, said: “I was disappointed to lose my job at Palace. I did feel a bit harshly done by”
He is reunited with his former Reading team-mate Nicky Hammond, now Albion’s technical director.
Pardew (below, walking off at Selhurst Park after a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in November 2016), added: “Although we were on a difficult run, we had finished 10th, had got to a cup final. I felt I deserved more time but didn’t get it.”
In 2016 he won just six league matches and said: “Of course you can justify it by saying on that particular run I had to go, but sometimes as a manager with the relationship you have, I felt I had a bit more trust than that.
“I wanted to make sure when I went back in it was an opportunity with people I really felt comfortable with. Nicky Hammond, who I worked with at Reading, I class not only as a great working professional but also a friend.”
He spent his first day at the club’s training ground yesterday and will meet the players for the first time today.
Pardew has spoken of his desire to be England manager.
Asked about that, he replied: “My ambitions at the moment are to get this club moving forward and I don’t think you can look further than that.”