ALAN Pardew believes he could comfortably deliver a mid-table Newcastle United team – but has promised to gamble for more.

The Magpies could finish the Premier League season anywhere between ninth (realistically) and 14th – a good return for a club in their first season back in the top flight.

But with the proceeds of Andy Carroll’s £35m sale to Liverpool available, Pardew will balance ambition and realism.

“We could attract a squad here I know would keep us safe in this division but that’s not what Mike (Ashley, the owner) wants and it’s not what I want,” he said. “We want to try to excel. We have to try to take a few chances with players who might take us on to that next level.

“That comes fraught with difficulties. Maybe it’s an international player who takes time to settle or you might have a situation with players who come in and get injuries like (Hatem) Ben Arfa.

“I could spend this money to make sure over the next three or four years we’re 13th, 14th, 15th no problem, but that isn’t what Mike or I want.”

Although Pardew is not working under the restrictions that caused Kevin Keegan to resign as manager in 2008, successfully citing constructive dismissal, he is operating within a framework.

“It’s set by the board to some degree,” he explained. “They want to sign younger players and I’ve got no problem with that, I knew that when I came in. It’s an area I’ve always worked well in at my former clubs and done well with 90% of them.”

With such financial inequality in the Premier League, Pardew appreciates there are limits to his club’s ambitions.

“He (Ashley) wants to push as high as we can,” he explained. “He knows we can’t compete with the top clubs in terms of the players they can afford.

“If you’re winning trophies you pay top money. We’re not winning trophies.

“There’s definitely a top six or seven who can generate more through sponsorship and advertising to take them well beyond us – the shirt sponsorship deal Liverpool have to us for example.

“On top of that, the top four have Champions League money coming in, which is an extra £40m a season.

“We’re going to be realistic in our aims – but we’re going to aim high within the realism of our situation.”

STUART RAYNER