Alan Pardew hits back at relegation bonus reports after giving payment to non-playing staff and health service

Eredivisie’s season has been ruled null and void, saving Pardww’s ADO Den Haag from relegation and triggering a £100,000 relegation bonus that Pardew immediately rejected

Alan Pardew has hit back at “untrue and ill-informed” reports that he collected a £100,000 relegation bonus from ADO Den Haag after the Eredivisie season was cancelled, with the former Crystal Palace and Newcastle United manager confirming that he immediately asked for the sum to be given to healthcare workers in the Netherlands as well as the club’s non-playing staff.

The Dutch club were seven points adrift of safety with eight games remaining, with only RKC Waalwijk below them in the table meaning that a relegation play-off looked on the cards.

But the government’s decision to ban events from taking place until 1 September at the very least left the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) declaring the 2019/20 season null and void, with no promotion or relegation and no league champions declared.

It meant that ADO will not face the drop or a relegation play-off, which led to reports that Pardew would receive his bonus in full after taking charge earlier this season.

But Pardew has now hit back to clarify that he made a swift decision to reject the bonus in order for it to go to those who will be hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, as well as those who are fighting the outbreak on the front line.

“When I signed for ADO there was a bonus clause in my contract for avoiding relegation, however, the figure is not the one being reported by the press,” Pardew said in a statement.

“These clauses are standard practice in the majority of managers’ contracts around the world.

“It was my understanding that this clause would only be activated if we had finished the season and ADO had avoided relegation.

“However, on a technicality issue with regard to the way the Dutch season ended, I was informed ADO intended to pay the bonus.

“I immediately contacted the club and told them not to pay me the money and to either give it to the non-playing staff at the club or donate it to the Netherlands’ health service to help in their efforts to beat Covid-19.

“I hope that this clears up any misunderstandings caused by the press reports.

“The thoughts and prayers of myself and my family are with everyone around the world who has suffered or are suffering from this terrible virus.”