ALAN PARDEW has revealed his reasons for leaving Newcastle United - and suggested his team over-achieved at times during his St James' Park reign.

Speaking for the first time since he was appointed Crystal Palace's new manager last week, Pardew has revealed that he felt the time was right to move on.

Pardew said: “It’s difficult, because it (Newcastle) is a big club. It’s a club that’s run on fairly tight financial margins. Our net spend was one of the lowest.

“We’ve had to really work hard at transfers because the funds for a club that size makes it difficult sometimes, for the fans, to understand that you need to have a slow progress and build slowly, which we did during my four years there.

“I’m under no illusions, and I understand the football community having a slight concern with why that happened.

“For me, personally, and professionally, it was the right time, and I think it’s the right time for Newcastle, too. It was my decision.

“Steve Parish met the clause in my contract and I therefore had a decision to make, and I just thought it was the right decision for me, and I hope for Crystal Palace.

“We’ll have to wait and see whether that’s the correct decision.”

After leaving Newcastle, a lot was made of the fact that his hands had been tied in terms of his plans for January recruitment.

He has been promised money to spend at Palace and hinted that the financial factors had played a part in his thinking. 

He added: “Also for Newcastle, because I think four years under that type of monetary situation and the fact that they are trying to push, and the history, and everything else, it’s difficult for the manager. I’ve left a good club.

“I’ve left it with, I like to think, a good base of young players, some fantastic professionals who I am going to miss, the staff and players have been phenomenal for me at that football club. We have actually punched above our weight at times.

“Also the fans. There has been a lot of talk, and some of it completely off the mark.

“Of course, when you lose games there is going to be criticism from the stands, but never once did I sense that outside of the ground.

“I had tremendous support in my time there, and I want to thank all Geordies for their help, and also for Mike (Ashley) and everyone at the club, who have helped me grow as a manager.

“You cannot help but grow as a manager there. My resilience and character has grown because of the nature of the club.”

The former West Ham manager is also satisfied with what he achieved on Tyneside. 

He said: “I think at Newcastle I proved that I can handle a big club in difficult circumstances, and with a difficult agenda, and I don’t think anyone at Newcastle would have an issue with me saying that.

“Sometimes you have to take a step that is best for you, personally and professionally, to bring the best out of you, and I think this will bring the best out of me.

“I’m a fighter and I fight for the team, I want to prove that I am a top manager in this division, and this is a chance for me to do that.

“It would have been easy for me, maybe, to stay at Newcastle and get a top 10 finish this season, or easier, but I decided to take this challenge.”

“Also for Newcastle. That was not a huge part of my thinking, but I thought it might work for them as well.”