Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew admits his London background helps him get along with club owner Mike Ashley.

Pardew says he can operate inside that framework and he also says that being a Londoner gives him a better chance of enjoying a successful working relationship with Ashley.

"Some people talk about this London mafia thing and I don't really know what that means," he told the Daily Mail. "But I guess because our owner is from London and I'm from London, and because of the situation in the past with Dennis Wise, that might have put me at a disadvantage.

"Because I'm from London maybe I get on with Mike better than a manager from abroad or a different area. If anybody is going to get one more penny out of him for investment in the team, then it's going to be me.

"I can look him in the eye and have an argument with him. I can disagree with him and get a balanced argument back about what he wants because he's the owner. I give him my advice, I tell him what I think and then he'll make the decision. Sometimes he'll come with me, sometimes he won't.

"But financially the club have done a good job, you have to say that. Whatever the Newcastle fans feel about Mike and Derek Llambias's management of the club, you have to say that their fiscal approach has brought some stability to the club. And when I look at Derek and Mike I think they're enjoying it more."