Pardew fears for job as poor run continues

MANAGER Alan Pardew admits he fears for his job after West Ham suffered their sixth consecutive defeat at Portsmouth.

Pardew, who has seen his side fail to score in those six games and slide into the Premiership’s bottom three, said: “I think any manager who has lost six games has to have a certain amount of fear about his job – otherwise he would be silly.

“The media attention will be very strong I’m sure leading up to our next game against Spurs.

“But you have to be big enough and strong enough to take it. I am, and I hope the players are.

“I’ve always thought of our players as strong characters and now it is up to them to prove it.”

Pardew, who denied a report that he had to be talked out of quitting last season’s FA Cup finalists over the proposed takeover led by Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian, insisted: “We are not far away now.

“Against Portsmouth I felt we were great up to the last third of the pitch where we are having persistent problems. Nigel Reo-Coker was immense in the first half, as was Hayden Mullins, but we lacked that little bit of genius and flair at the end.

“And when you concede the first goal the problem is always the same. You end up chasing the game and I don’t think that really suits us.

“We need a break to change the entire face of the team and I’m convinced it will come soon. The only formula which I’ve followed throughout my life is to come in and work harder because only we can turn it around. And that is what we will do.”

A new bidder for control of the club has emerged in Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnusson, who is also head of his country’s football association, who has had talks with West Ham chairman Terry Brown and other directors.

But Pardew added: “I think there has been too much emphasis placed on all this. We can’t look to that or the arrival of Argentine players as an excuse.

“I’ve told the players and the staff to just pull their socks up as employees of West Ham and find a bit of belief.”

More changes look to be on the cards for Sunday’s clash with Tottenham, however, and goalkeeper Roy Carroll could be the next casualty.

The former Manchester United keeper seemed to make only a token attempt to stop Kanu’s opening goal from a header, pointing to his arm in a vain appeal to referee Graham Poll for an infringement in the build up.

Pardew, who bought England goalkeeper Robert Green from Norwich for almost €3million at the start of the season, admitted: “The goalie I will look at because clean sheets are an issue. If I have any criticism of him (Carroll) I will keep it private.”

Pardew also confirmed he will have a replacement by Tuesday or Wednesday for his former assistant Peter Grant, who has left West Ham to become manager at Carrow Road.