'I would be open to it' - Ex-West Brom, Southampton and Charlton boss keen for Championship manager's job

Former West Brom manager Alan Pardew has addressed the rumours linking him with a job at the Baggies Championship rivals.

Earlier this week it was reported that Pardew was in talks over a return to English football. He hasn't managed a club in England since his ill-fated spell at the Hawthorns which saw the club relegated in 2018.

The 62-year-old has managed in the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Greece since being replaced by Darren Moore six years ago. Burnley are on the hunt for a new manager after Vincent Kompany left for Bayern Munich and Pardew emerged as a key contender.

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard is the favourite the role whilst it is understood that interim head coach Craig Bellamy has backing within the club to take on the role on a permanent basis after a stint as caretaker in Kompany's absence. Pardew admitted that it would be a 'great opportunity' and he was open to a return to management.

“Well it obviously isn’t me,” said Pardew as he appeared on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan show. “Otherwise it would be officially announced!”

“It’s nice to be linked with them, if nothing else,” he added. "I think the squad is good enough, the ownership is well organised and have got finances to - maybe they’re in a better position than Leicester were last year to rebound.

“So I think whoever gets the job, it’s going to be a great opportunity."

Pardew has been in football management for 25-years after starting with Reading in 1999. He won promotion with the Royals in 2002 and three years later helped West Ham United get back to to the Premier League by winning the play-offs in 2005.

His other accomplishments include being a two-time FA Cup runner up with the Hammers and Crystal Palace as well as winning the EFL Trophy with Southampton in 2010.

He added: "For myself, it’s a great challenge that I would like to do because I’d like to take a team back to the Prem."

“I did it, I set teams up to go back to the Prem. West Ham, Southampton. So yeah, I would be open to it."

“Whether that’s known, and that’s the rumour that’s gone out rather than the actual link, I don’t know.”

Asked if he had spoken to Burnley after it was suggested by The Sun that he had, he wasn't giving anything away. Pardew smiled and said: "“I wouldn’t tell you if I had!"