Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has revealed that he is delighted the club's fans are beginning to see the benefits of the club's financial strategy.

Many fans have voiced their anger at owner Mike Ashley's decisions over the past 18 months but Pardew believes that the steps taken in that time will provide the team with a solid foundation.

Pardew told The Mirror: "Now I think a lot of Newcastle fans are starting to see the bigger picture and appreciate what we are doing makes sense. We set out to find value in the transfer market and I believe we have succeeded.

"We have been helped by the fact that signings such as Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba, Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye have come in and had an ­immediate ­impact.

"We have proved this season by breaking into the top six that we can be a force in the Premier League and we have laid ­foundations that I hope can keep us at the top end of the table in ­future years."

Pardew's team are currently fifth in the Premier League.