Alan Pardew has been explaining the reasons behind his decision to leave Newcastle United for Crystal Palace.

The 53-year-old was announced as the Palace boss on Saturday, and he takes charge of his first Premier League game in the hot seat this weekend with the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park.

Pardew had been boss at St James Park since 2010, but has been subject to very public criticism from sections of the Magpies faithful after a poor start to the season.

That criticism remained despite Pardew turning results around, and he left Newcastle in mid-table but with some Geordies please to see the back of him.

However, he insists the criticism contributed nothing to the decision to move, it was simply that the time was right.

He said: “It was difficult to leave Newcastle United because it is a big club.

“It is a club run on fairly tight financial margins – our net-spend was one of the lowest – and we had to work hard at transfers because the funding.

“But because of the size of the club, it was sometimes difficult for the fans to understand that you need to build slowly, which I did in the four years I was there.

“I understand the football community having some concerns as to why I left.

“For me, personally and professionally, it was the right time, and I think it was the right time for Newcastle too.”

He added: “It was my decision. Steve Parish [Palace co-chairman] met the clause in the contract, therefore I had a decision to make and I thought it was the right decision for me, and I hope for Crystal Palace, but also for Newcastle.

“I have left a good club with a good base of young players, and some fantastic professionals who I am going to miss – the staff and players have been phenomenal.

Pardew announces his immediate Crystal Palace plan

For the latest Palace news, follow @ylgsport

“The fans have also been great, there has been a lot of talk, wide of the mark, about the criticism, but when you lose games there will be criticism from the stands.

“But never once did I sense that outside the ground. I had tremendous support during my time there.

“I want to thank Mike [Ashley] for helping me grow as a manager. You cannot help but grow as a manager at Newcastle because of the nature of the club.”

Pardew also dismissed claims that he decided to leave because the club was about to be sold.

"Mike never suggested to me that he was going to sell the club, I had not heard that and it was just a rumour and it was never in the decision," he added.

"It was a simple equation, Palace met the clause and the decision was down to me."