Alan Shearer believes owner Mike Ashley has made the right decision to stick with Alan Pardew.

The manager's position has been under intense scrutiny over the last few months as he battled to keep the Magpies in the Premier League in a hugely disappointing season.

The Tynesiders were still involved in a relegation battle up until the penultimate weekend of the season, just 12 months after they finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League.

Their struggles have led to Pardew receiving criticism from some sections of supporters , while there was speculation his position was under threat ahead of his end of season meetings with Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias in London last week.

The owner kept his cards close to his chest while Pardew's side fought to keep their top-flight status intact, but it is thought his position was barely even discussed, with talks instead focusing on a plan moving forward next season.

The trio are keen to avoid another tussle at the wrong end of the table next term and appear united in their quest to establish Newcastle as a top six side.

And Shearer, who worked under Ashley for a short period as manager at the end of the relegation season in 2009, insists Pardew should have the chance to turn things around.

"I think he deserves to keep his job because of the season before, he bought himself time," Shearer said, speaking at Durham cricketer Steve Harmison's benefit golf day at Slaley Hall yesterday.

"The nature of the game is he's under pressure and he knows that but I'm delighted they stuck with him.

"I think he earned a bit more time because of last season when they finished fifth and he was manager of the year. You don't become a bad manager in one season.

"I'm pleased they stuck by him. He'll feel they have to get off to a good start as you always do, but fingers crossed that will happen."

The direction of the club's summer recruitment plan was a main topic of conversation during Pardew's meeting with Ashley with the pair keen to avoid a similar situation to last season.

The Magpies failed to properly strengthen their squad ahead of a hectic season, which included a testing European campaign, and paid the price when several first team players broke down injured.

And even after five players arrived during the January transfer window, the Magpies couldn't lift themselves away from danger with Pardew conceding mistakes had been made when they failed to sign certain targets last summer.

Demba Ba's January move to Chelsea also left Pardew extremely short of attacking options and it seems bringing in at least two forward-thinking players will be top of the manager's wish list.

Having seen the consequences of failing to spend last summer, Shearer hopes the same mistakes won't be made again and believes Pardew's summer shopping should be completed sooner rather than later.

He said: "It was a disappointing season, everyone will tell you the same thing. But they've got a chance to try and rectify that next season and hopefully they will purchase some players in the summer that will allow them to come strong again.

"I don't know how much they've got available to spend, if anything, I wouldn't like to say. Hopefully there's some money for the manager to spend and I'm sure he's hoping that as well.

"He needs to get them in as soon as possible so he can get his preparations started."

Pardew's players are currently enjoying their summer holidays, but the work won't stop for young midfielder Gael Bigirimana, who was named in Peter Taylor's final 21-man squad for the Under-20 World Cup.

Bigirimana, who featured regularly in the first half of the season and in the Europa League in particular, has been rewarded for his club form after he was named in the provisional squad last week.

It is the first time the 19-year-old, who joined Newcastle in a deal worth £1m from Coventry City last summer, has been involved in an international squad.