Steve McClaren has admitted he cannot afford a honeymoon period as he bids to turn Newcastle's dismal recent fortunes around starting with their Premier League opener against Southampton on Sunday.
The former Derby boss arrived at St James' Park in the wake of one of the most depressing seasons in the club's history and knows he must get to work immediately to change perceptions over the way the club is heading.
A number of major summer signings plus the contract extension agreed on Thursday by captain Fabricio Coloccini have already gone some way towards the Magpies approaching the onset of a new campaign in much more positive mood.
McClaren said: "I don't believe in these honeymoon periods at all. The pressure is on me from the outset, without a shadow of a doubt.
"We want it to be different and it needs to be. The messages from the club over the past few weeks have been very clear and a statement of intent, with three very good signings and maybe more on the way.
"We've got to make that statement on the field now. It's going to be different -- a different style, different football and everybody has got to be able to adapt and cope with that."
McClaren expressed his delight at Coloccini's commitment after recent speculation linking him with a move elsewhere.
McClaren added: "There was interest and it went beyond speculation and I think that has hindered Colo's preparation in pre-season with all that going on.
"It's been going on too long but luckily the club have sat down with him. I've said I want him as captain here and we've got a senior group of players here and I've sat down with every one of them and they've said they want him as captain.
"It was an easy decision in the end to sit him down and extend his contract and hopefully finish his career here at Newcastle United, where he's been for seven years."
Coloccini's deal, which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2016-17 season, follows the club's announcement that Northampton teenager Ivan Toney has become their fourth signing of the summer.