Carroll not forced out, says Pardew

Alan Pardew has denied the claims of fan favourite Andy Carroll that the striker was forced out of Newcastle United.

Carroll, who joined Liverpool for a club-record 35 million pounds on Monday, had been quoted as saying he was given no choice by the St James’ Park hierarchy but to agree to the transfer.

The 22-year-old striker also claims he was coerced into handing in a formal transfer request.

But Newcastle manager Pardew insists that Liverpool’s offer was only accepted after Carroll decided he wanted to leave.

“We turned down a big offer, and they came back with a second big offer,” Pardew said.

“We were having a discussion about what we were going to do with that offer when Andy requested to see me.”

“I went to see Andy face-to-face. I asked him what he wanted, and I went to the board. We had a discussion about what the ramifications would be for the whole club.”

Carroll signed a new five-year deal with Newcastle in October 2010.

But Pardew claimed that despite the extended contract being in place, the club had little option but to accept the substantial offer from Liverpool if Carroll wanted to leave.

“We took the view, with him signing a contract in October, that this would cause us all sorts of problems,” he said.

“We decided that we needed the conversation confirmed, and (that) he put in a transfer request, which he did.”

“He spoke to his agent, and between them they put the request in. We decided with the size of the offer, and what it meant to us, that we would accept.”

“But no club is about one player. We’re absolutely gutted that he’s gone. It’s disappointing, but we’re not in a financial position like Liverpool.”