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No butts: Alan Pardew must leave! Alan Shearer calls for the sack after touchline madness
THE future of Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was in the balance last night after he was sent off for head-butting Hull’s David Meyler.
Former managers Alan Shearer and Graeme Souness both think he should leave the club.
Shearer suggested he should be sacked while Souness said his position was “untenable”.
But Pardew said of his touchline clash with Myler: “I don’t think it was a head-butt but I put my head in a forward motion.
“I shouldn’t be there really. It was right on top of me. He pushed me away and I tried to ease him away. You just can’t do that and I apologised to him, to everyone at Hull and, in particular, to my own fans. From now on I will definitely have to sit down and keep out of the way.”
The incident took the gloss off a 4-1 win for Pardew’s side.
And when he was asked about reports that Shearer and Souness said he should go, Pardew said: “I don’t think so – one has an opinion I guess.’’
Newcastle reserve team manager Willie Donachie left the club last month after allegedly striking a player and Hull boss Steve Bruce added: “Donachie lost his job three weeks ago. I’ve seen it before in dressing rooms and I’ve seen it with your own players, but never from an opposition manager.
“It’s for Alan to deal with the consequences. I’m sure he regrets it.
“The reaction of Meyler was terrific. Alan is lucky he didn’t get one back. Then he would have been in serious trouble!’’
Pardew is sure to face a lengthy touchline ban and heavy fine at the very least and FA chairman Greg Dyke said: “Clearly it looks serious and we will investigate it.”