Alan Pardew dismissed fears over the sale of Newcastle and insists Mike Ashley is committed to the club.
Newcastle manager tries to plan for a brighter future
Alan Pardew has dismissed speculation over the sale of Newcastle and insists Mike Ashley is committed to the club.
Newcastle have been linked with a takeover bid by an Indian consortium during the last week.
But Pardew has rubbished talk of a potential sale citing owner Ashley's commitment to the club by offering new contracts to Cheick Tiote, Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson and Nile Ranger in recent weeks.
The Toon boss is also expecting to receive the bulk of the money from the £35million record breaking fee from Andy Carroll's sale to Liverpool as he bids to improve his squad in the summer.
Rubbished
And the former West Ham boss insists Ashley no longer wants to cash in on the club and has rubbished talk of a change of ownership.
"We have dismissed that quite thoroughly; I don't expect that to raise its head again," Pardew said.
"Mike has made a commitment with these long-term contracts that he wants to see a plan going forward, and that's what we will try to carry out."
In order to ensure that Newcastle progress, Premier League status has to be retained.
Relegation zone
Their poor results of late have left them just five points above the drop zone, meaning they have yet to extinguish the possibility of relegation.
Saturday's trip to Stoke will provide them with a stern test and Pardew has called for them to preserve their top-flight status having only returned this term.
"Unfortunately, we haven't got the cup to distract us - there are only four teams in the Premier League who have that left," he added.
"We are in the same boat as everyone else and we have to concentrate now to see ourselves to a strong finish, and that's what we are going to try to do."
