Newcastle United football chief Joe Kinnear says Alan Pardew is happy with his appointment.

Kinnear claims the 51-year-old's response to the news of owner Mike Ashley's latest controversial decision was more than positive.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "Before I had a meeting with Mike, (managing director) Derek (Llambias) said he's informed Alan, and Alan said 'Great news - I'm delighted with that. At last I've got somebody who's a football guy'.

"Derek told me he's had a long talk with Alan and explained that I'm coming in as director of football. He (Llambias) is going to go on the finance side and anything to do with football is coming my side.

"I am going to be delighted to be working with Alan. I saw Alan as a player - he was a heck of a player - and we bumped into each other a couple of times when he was West Ham manager.

"We always bump into each other at the Manager of the Year awards. Last year, I was at the awards when Alan won it. I said 'Congratulations, but you have to get two more to catch me!'.

"We are very open-minded and good with each other. I have the utmost respect for him and I cannot see any problems between the two of us."