Pardew puts striker search on hold

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admits he was frustrated by his inability to sign a new striker, but he will resume his hunt in January.

Despite pursuing Bryan Ruiz, Papiss Demba Cisse and Modibo Maiga on the August 31 deadline day, none arrived at St James’ Park, annoying fans who expected a reinvestment of the 35 million pounds raised by selling Andy Carroll to Liverpool in January this year.

Asked on Thursday if he was dealing with the setback, Pardew told reporters: “Of course. I have been disappointed many times in my career as a football manager.”

“You think you have got a signing – I remember Benni McCarthy sitting in the stadium at West Ham at 11.50pm thinking it was done, and it didn’t go through, and that was seven or eight years ago when he was at his very, very best.”

“These things happen, but the most important thing is to get your stock together and move on.”

When asked if he would be trying to sign a forward in January 2012, Pardew said: “Absolutely. Yes, absolutely.”

Pardew is happy with his squad, who take on Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League on Monday.

The former Southampton boss admitted that criticism over failing to secure a replacement for Carroll was justified.

“The criticism that’s going to come from not getting a striker in has some validity to it because seven months is a long time,” Pardew said.

“But I can only say that from my point of view, we put the targets in front of the board and then it comes down to financial decisions, and that financial decision didn’t take place.”

“We bid for three or four players to fill one position and none of them came to fruition, and that’s the disappointment that we have to face.”