Agent blames Alan Pardew for midfielder’s failure at Newcastle United

The agent of Gaël Bigirimana has told the Coventry Telegraph that ex-Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew did not give the midfielder sufficient opportunities for him to succeed at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle United paid a sizeable £1 million to secure the services of Gaël Bigirimana from Coventry City during the summer of 2012 and the Magpies were certainly expecting big things from the promising midfielder at the time.

Unfortunately though, Bigirimana was unable to make enough of an impact at St. James’ Park and following four unsuccessful seasons with the Tyneside based outfit, the 22-year-old returned to Coventry this summer.

Bigirimana is now looking to revive his career at the Ricoh Arena and now agent, Lee Marsh, has gone on to explain why things did not quite work out for the Burundi international at Newcastle.

Marsh stated his belief that Bigirimana was not given enough opportunities by then Newcastle manager Alan Pardew and added that the youngster was made to feel like an outcast at the club.

Marsh told the Coventry Telegraph, “Alan Pardew told him he wasn’t going to play first-team football for him. When a manager tells you that, no matter how much money you’re on, you’re uncomfortable. Gael asked to give him ten minutes here and there as a sub, let him play his way into it but Pardew wouldn’t have it.

“It’s not fair for me to sit here and have a go at Pardew but when you have paid close on a million quid for a player that’s 19 years old – it’s like if it was your own son, you’d put your arm around him.

“He’d come from Coventry with an African background. He’s a caring kid, not a boozer, who likes the church – not everyone’s cup of tea in football where a lot of footballers still like the odd drink.

"Sometimes players don’t fit in to certain squads but it’s up to the management team to make them feel more welcome but I think he felt like a bit of an outcast.”