“The next step of bringing in players to take us forward from where we are now is perhaps even more difficult because you have to find that extra bit when you are talking about this level,” he said. “A lot of managers live or die by their recruiting and it has been a particular strength of mine so far, even when I was at Reading.

“Look at Shaun Newton. People say what a great signing Yossi (Benayoun) was or what a great player Danny Gabbidon was, but look at ‘Newts’. For ten grand he was pound for pound better than any of them.It would be fair to say that money has been spent here in the past to go to the next level and it hasn’t worked and we’ve stayed at the same level. We have to make sure we don’t make that mistake.”

Since taking charge two years ago, Pardew has instilled discipline and overseen improvements to training facilities. He expected the players and staff to show endeavour and enthusiasm. “It was a hornets’ nest in terms of the agenda,” he said. “Cut the wage bill, make the team better, cut the staff, make them better and follow Trevor Brooking. I looked at it, saw where people had let me down, marked it in my little book and, when the time was right, I moved them away.

“I found the bus was full up with people and I just felt that was damaging to the focus of the team. Preparation has to be spot-on, so everything that gives them a problem I took care of and freed up the players’ minds.”