I'm fascinated that anyone would agree to take the manager position under Ashley. History has proven him to be untrustworthy, and anything he says about his intentions with respect to the club should be taken with a grain of salt. Either Ashley has the type of personality that can convince you that he's telling you the truth regardless of what history shows or you've got to see Ashley for what he is and have a big enough ego that you think you can handle him. I'm not sure if Pardew was taken in by Ashley or if he thinks he's Ashley's match. Either way, it seems to me that Pardew found out he was wrong, but I don't think the club's situation can be attributed primarily to him.