Whoever claimed it was? It's an opinion, albeit one that is more informed than most as he actually worked under them. Nothing more, nothing less.
Yeah, that's kinda my whole point. His opinion, as you so rightly point out, is formed by close interaction with them, working under them so he's hardly likely to be objective. Because of that, his opinion on whether Pardew will or won't see a penny of the Carroll money, was only ever going to be going in one direction.
the fact that his opinion is subjective is the reason he's getting interviewed and you aren't.
Yeah, thanks for explaining that.