ALAN PARDEW claims he is “desperate” to see Newcastle United remain in the Premier League, but has repeated his assertion that the club is “difficult to manage”.

Pardew will make his first return to St James’ Park since leaving Newcastle when he leads Crystal Palace into action on Saturday, and is likely to receive a rough reception after his four-year reign ended in a great deal of acrimony.

Many Newcastle fans trace the root of the club’s current problems to the demise that set in during the final 12 months of Pardew’s time on Tyneside, and while the current Palace boss led the club to a fifth-place finish, his overall win ratio of 38 per cent perhaps provides a better reflection of his performance.

His defenders will argue his hands were tied by the policies that were imposed above him, with Mike Ashley taking control of transfers out of Pardew’s hands and encouraging his manager to field below-strength teams in the early rounds of the cup competitions, and the 54-year-old claims it wasn’t always easy to be Newcastle boss.

When asked about what kind of reception he expects to receive at the weekend, Pardew said: “Well, I think that question is a little bit loaded. I know how I feel, that’s all I can determine.

“I loved managing that football club and some fantastic games. A quarter-final of the Europa League, finishing fifth and (winning) Manager of the Year – so I had some great moments.

“I also had some very difficult moments – it’s a difficult club to manage.”

However, Pardew insists he is desperately hoping Newcastle avoid relegation this season, even if he is determined to make their situation more difficult this weekend.

The Magpies were in ninth position when Pardew walked out halfway through last season, but did not confirm their survival until the final day of the campaign.

“I want them to stay up,” said Pardew. “Those players are close to me, there’s a lot of players I managed there. I went through so much with those guys, not just on the pitch, but off it as well.

“I am desperate they stay up, but having said that, my job is to get the three points with Crystal Palace and that’s with my professional head on.”

Pardew has been watching Newcastle from afar in recent weeks, and feels performances have improved markedly following the arrival of Rafael Benitez.

Benitez has guided the Magpies on a three-game unbeaten run, with their most recent draw with Liverpool taking them to within a point of safety.

“What I will say is they have improved,” said Pardew. “They are a much stronger team. Rafa is an experienced manager who has managed at the very top of the game.

“He has got his team in a much better place to win the game – that worries me. My job now is as Crystal Palace manager, and I have to win the game.”