Manager Alan Pardew has stressed that Newcastle United must re-evaluate their status as a club.
Magpies manager feels some still need to adjust expectations
Manager Alan Pardew has stressed that Newcastle United must re-evaluate their status as a club.
Pardew has had to get his head round various contractual issues from the previous regime, which have resulted in potentially both Jose Enrique and Joey Barton leaving the club cheaply.
Newcastle fans and some high-profile players have grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of a big-name striker being signed following Andy Carroll's £35million move to Liverpool in January.
But gone are the days of Newcastle splashing the cash, with modest signings such as Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux, Mehdi Abeid and Gabriel Obertan reflecting owner Mike Ashley's new prudent approach.
And Pardew admits that is something everyone involved with the club will have to get used to.
"Some of the problems I have inherited that have gone on before haven't made it easy, and I have picked up some history of what has gone on in contract negotiations et cetera," he said.
New understanding
"It's very, very important that we try to build a new understanding of the club going forward together.
"It's documented that the club needs to be sustainable from its own funds, and that put us in a category of clubs that probably we are not used to being in.
"Maybe 10 years ago, we would be able to rival the Arsenals and Manchester Citys and Chelseas of this world in terms of transfers.
"But that looks difficult at the moment until such times as we grow the club and show on the pitch that we can bring some success, then hopefully keep our better players and build on that.
"Unfortunately, the business of this Premier League makes it difficult. These top clubs can come and grab our players and until such time as we are financially strong enough to hold off sovereign states, we are going to have a problem."
Enrique medical
Enrique headed to Merseyside on Thursday to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical with Liverpool.
Having had to admit defeat in his bid to keep hold of Carroll in January, Pardew had signalled his intention to tie up Enrique, Barton and Kevin Nolan to long-term deals.
But both Enrique and Barton rejected the terms on offer while Nolan dropped down a division to join West Ham this summer.
Asked about the Enrique situation, Pardew added: "He was in the last year of his contract and he made it clear he didn't really have any motivation to re-sign here.
"He's got the move he wanted and we have to move on, and we will."
