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QPR boss Harry Redknapp believes Newcastle owner Mike Ashley deserves praise

Image: Harry Redknapp: Takes QPR to St James' Park on Saturday

QPR boss Harry Redknapp has described Mike Ashley as a “fantastic” chairman for Newcastle and believes Alan Pardew would have been sacked by a foreign owner.

Redknapp will lock horns with Pardew this weekend when he takes his rejuvenated Rangers side up to Newcastle, who have also revived their fortunes in recent weeks.

Ashley continued to back his manager, despite calls for him to swing the axe, and also received criticism about the renaming of St James’ Park and his investment in the squad.

But Redknapp insists the Magpies owner deserves praise after his faith was rewarded with five straight wins.

"The chairman has been fantastic,” he said. "He gets a lot of stick, Mike Ashley, but he's always at the games in the crowd. He follows the team, loves it, and has stuck by Alan because he knows he's got a good manager."

Loyalty

Pardew was handed an eight-year contract in December 2012, but Redknapp insists the long-term deal is not the reason for Ashley's loyalty.

"It doesn't really matter if you've got a contract - there will be a clause in it and 99 times out of 100, if they sack you that will probably pay you a year's money," he said. The difference is probably because he's a British owner.

Lots of the foreign owners would look at bringing a foreign manager in because maybe he's been a better player than Alan Pardew was and they played in Italy or Spain.
Harry Redknapp

"Lots of the foreign owners would look at bringing a foreign manager in because maybe he's been a better player than Alan Pardew was and they played in Italy or Spain.

"But Ashley has stuck by him and no matter what abuse he gets he doesn't care, does he? That's why he's such a clever man - you don't become that wealthy if you're not a clever man."

QPR have taken four points from their last four games, leaving the Londoners just a point from safety. Over the festive period, Redknapp’s men will face a number of their drop rivals and he admits it could be a crucial stage in the battle for survival.

"We have upped the workrate and that's what we have to keep doing over the next few games because they will have a big bearing on how our season goes," he said.

"We have games against Leicester, Burnley, Palace coming up - teams that are going to be down there with us. They will be massive games for us that we will have to get some good points out of.

"You determine your season when you play the teams that are going to be around there with you."

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