CASPER
New member
Pardew succeeds Chris Hughton, who was dismissed on Monday in the wake of last weekend's 3-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion, which left the Magpies four points above the relegation zone.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley gave Pardew a five-and-a-half-year contract, an indication he wanted the sixth manager at St James' Park since he took charge in 2007 to stay for the long haul.
It also appears to signal that Ashley, who tried and failed to sell Newcastle, was preparing to remain in control of the north-east club.
Pardew's first match in charge is a home fixture against Liverpool on Saturday.
The 49-year-old was the bookmakers' -- if not the fans' -- favourite to take over the St James' hotseat from Hughton, 51, who was axed by Ashley despite having led Newcastle to promotion from the second-tier Championship last season.
As well as West Ham, whom he took to the 2006 FA Cup final, Pardew has also been in charge of Reading, Charlton and Southampton, who sacked him in August.
Newcastle are currently 12th in the table and Pardew, speaking at a news conference broadcast by Sky Sports, admitted he had a hard act to follow.