By IAN GORDON
The Newcastle boss admitted his future was ‘out of his hands’ after his side were plunged into a relegation crisis by Saturday’s 6-0 home defeat against Liverpool.
Pardew, 51, signed a mega eight-year deal last September but that might not save him, even if he avoids the drop.
He said: “It is out of my hands.
“My job, until I am told otherwise, is to get this team as it can be for next week and that is what I will do.”
Asked if he expected to be backed by Ashley, he added: “I hope so, yes.
“That is probably the heaviest defeat I have had as a manager and for me there were a lot of things that I saw which I didn’t like.
“I am angry but I have to channel that anger in the right way.
“I will make sure we put it right. And that started straight after the game in that dressing room. That is the key.
“The players are very much aware of the situation that we are in and I don’t think they need a lot of telling.
“We need to make sure when we start on Monday morning that we work really hard to show this city that we have the fight for it.
“I think there are a lot of people who will look at us after tonight, especially on the TV and absorb that game, and think that we have a great chance of being relegated.
“We have to prove them wrong.”
The tide started to turn against Pardew after the 3-0 home defeat by arch-rivals Sunderland two weeks ago which led to ugly scenes in the city.
But it got worse following their biggest home defeat at St James’ Park since 1925 as the Reds ran riot even without Luis Suarez who started his 10-match ban for biting.
Hundreds of the Toon Army left their seats after Daniel Sturridge put Liverpool 4-0 ahead on the hour and one angry fan threw his scarf at Pardew in the dug-out.
Newcastle are just five points above the drop zone with three games left and go to Upton Park on Saturday to face former boss Sam Allardyce and ex-player Andy Carroll.
But Pardew insisted: “I have no problem getting the flak, I accept that.
“The only way I can put it right is next week and make sure I have a team that enters the pitch at West Ham confident it is going to win.
“The start at West Ham is going to be a key part of our game, because if we start like we did against Liverpool, we are going to find ourselves in a lot of trouble.
“That performance was not one of my team’s.
“My teams are renowned for being organised and being on the front foot and you could not say that about my team against Liverpool.
“I will take responsibility for that.
“But I genuinely believe we have enough in that dressing room and enough quality in my staff to get the points that we need.
“It was a difficult day today and we have had difficult days in the past.
“But if I don’t get a response from the playing staff then I will be deeply disappointed.”
