NEWCASTLE UNITED manager Alan Pardew has signed a new eight-year contract along with the three most senior members of his backroom team.

Pardew, John Carver, Steve Stone and Andy Woodman have all agreed the incredible new deals which now take them up to the end of the 2019/20 season.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was keen to award the long-term contracts in a bid to bring further stability to a club that has enjoyed a turnaround in fortunes under Pardew.

Managing director Derek Llambias said: “If you look at clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have shown that stability gives you the best platform to achieve success and that is the model we wish to emulate here.

“We’re looking to build on the success we had last season and these new contracts are aimed at keeping the Club progressing on and off the pitch, as we have done since returning to the Premier League in 2010.

"We hope this announcement will be great news for the fans, whose support and commitment to this club over the years has been fantastic."

* For more on this story and other Newcastle news read Friday's The Northern Echo.