Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has criticised the club’s hierarchy for not supplying sufficient funds for a striker in the summer transfer window.

The 50-year-old, who took over from sacked Chris Hughton last year, admitted that he had been scouring for a new frontman for seven months.

Despite the ongoing search, the former West Ham manager failed to bring in a player to replace Andy Carroll, who left for Liverpool in January for £35m.

"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,” said Pardew. "We bid for three or four players and none of them came to fruition.

"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."

The Magpies let three of their first-team players depart from St James’s Park this summer, including Joey Barton to Queens Park Rangers, Kevin Nolan made a move to West Ham and Jose Enrique switched to Liverpool.