LONDON -- Alan Pardew has warned Crystal Palace supporters that he may not be able to repeat the heroics of Tony Pulis after taking over as the club's new manager, emphasizing that Premier League survival by any manner possible is his only target for the first half of 2015.
Pulis claimed the Premier League LMA Manager of the Year prize after impressively guiding Palace from a position of relegation favourites to an 11th-place finish last season. But Pardew used his first major press conference as Palace boss to dampen expectations among the club's supporters.
"Although it was a tremendous ending under Tony last year, realistically, one place above relegation will be enough to rebuild the club this year with the finances that will come in from that," stated Pardew.
"It's a tough challenge here. We find ourselves in the bottom three at the moment, 18 games to go and our home form is not good. We need to try and turn that home situation into a positive for us. The players need a lift, so hopefully with my arrival and maybe a signing or two, we can do that. Then maybe we can go on a run that can get us to safety.
"Somewhere between 35 and 40 points will be the mark and we have to aim for that. There is a feeling amongst the players, an inner feeling, that they can do it and that's a good thing. You need that belief to start building.
"Relegation has come up briefly in discussions [with the Palace owner]. You would be foolish to come in at this stage of the season and not have a contingency plan if we didn't make it.
"It is a situation we don't want to get involved in, but we have to look at this as 18 months to be a Premier League team. If it takes us to go down and bounce straight back, we can still be strong, so we have to make sure our signings are right now."
Pardew refused to confirm or deny claims that he has made a bid for Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis, but he admitted he had established the finances available to him with Palace co-owner Steve Parish prior to making the move from Newcastle to Selhurst Park.
"I can't say anything about finances, that is unfair on any club we are talking to," he continued. "The chairman and the board are keen to try and bring a player or two in and they are working hard towards that. We have to wait and see. It's very complicated in the Premier League and especially a striker.
"I spoke to Steve [Parish] on my arrival here after the club initiated the transfer and told him that we are going to need some funding and he knows we will need some new players. He gave me assurances that he will do his very, very best to do that.
"We are looking at any players who can take us forward. There are a couple of things in the Premier League that are important to understand. The way the funds are distributed in this league, it gives you a great opportunity to attack the ten clubs above you. That is why staying up this season is a priority.
"It can take time. There are a lot of things that need to be covered with agents and the like. If we have to wait until the last day to sign players, we will do it."
Pardew is already showing his tough side as Palace boss, as he publicly admonished Jason Puncheon after the winger was involved in a public bust-up while attending last Sunday's world darts final in London. Pardew insisted he had "reminded him of his responsibilities as a Palace player."
Yet this was a day when a relaxed and jovial Pardew was keen to portray a positive image on his arrival back at a club where he was a player a quarter of a century ago. "We need to get back to the way it was when I was here as a player," he added. "The game is about players and fans and the love of the game.
"I don't think any Crystal Palace fan would begrudge me dreaming that we can win trophies. I showed at Newcastle that I can handle a big club and sometimes you have to take a step that is right for you. I'm a fighter and I want to prove that I'm a top manager in this division.
"It would have been easier to stay at Newcastle and try to get a top ten finish this season, but I have decided to take on this challenge instead. I will have the support of 99 percent of the stadium and that is a great feeling, but I know that won't last long. You have to serve up the best possible football you can with the players you have and that's what I will try to do."
Pardew's first home game as Palace boss against Tottenham on Saturday will be played on a newly-relaid pitch at Selhurst Park, with the new Eagles boss confirming he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of a game when he "hopes the stadium will be rocking and we can get a victory."