Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew 'still has Mike Ashley backing'

Under-fire Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew reportedly maintains the faith of owner Mike Ashley.

Magpies fans are calling for Pardew's head after a winless start to the Premier League season, which was compounded with a 4-0 thrashing at Southampton on Saturday.

Pressure has been building on the 53-year-old following a run of only five victories in 23 top-flight matches in 2014, during which he has also served a seven-match touchline ban for headbutting Hull City midfielder David Meyler.

Reports over the weekend suggested that Hull's Newcastle-born boss Steve Bruce was being lined up as a replacement, but BBC Sport claims that Ashley plans to stick with Pardew for the time being.

A recent poll conducted by a local newspaper showed that 85% of Newcastle supporters did not want Pardew, who signed an eight-year contract at St James' Park in 2012, to stay on as manager.