And that desire helped him see past all the controversy and sanction the signings of Argentina World Cup stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

Pardew does not advocate severing West Ham from their community roots and the club’s proud history of developing some of the best players in England.

But it does mean that in changing times West Ham have to be a leader and not a follower, however controversial that may sometimes be.

In a ground-breaking move West Ham effectively struck the transfer deal for Tevez and Mascherano not with Corinthians but with Kia Joorabchian, the financier who controls the careers of both players.

Joorabchian bought the pair for Corinthians after his former company Media Sports Investment had taken over running of the Brazilian club in a 10-year deal.

Joorabchian is thought to have recently been involved in “exploratory” takeover talks with West Ham.

Critics have argued the influence of outside agencies – from so-called "super-agents" through to businessmen like Joorabchian – is bad for the game.

But Pardew insists his responsibility as manager is to exploit football’s changing trends for the good of West Ham, not to sit back and moralise about them.

“You don’t turn down the opportunity to bring two world-class players to your club,” said Pardew.

“We want to challenge the big teams in this division and this a route to doing that.

“People don’t like change and the Premier League and the transfer system, not just at West Ham but at all clubs, is changing rapidly.

“The role of agencies in buying players is changing. Whether that is for good or bad is not for me to decide, but it is changing.

“This deal was put to me as the manager and I thought it was a fantastic move for us to take us to the next level.

“It is accepted for what it is and anything else above that is not relevant for me.

“As a coach or manager you have the opportunity to work with these two world-class football players and I absolutely want them at this football club.

“If you are asking me whether it was a strategic move for us I’d say no. But the opportunity arose and we are so pleased they are here.”

West Ham have kept all financial details of the transfers confidential. Even though the players have signed four-year contracts Pardew faces an uphill battle trying to keep them on board beyond next summer.

Tevez and Mascherano were paraded with their new claret and blue jerseys yesterday, standing right next to the ’Academy of Football’ sign on the perimeter of the pitch at Upton Park.

Pardew has assured supporters this deal will not trample all over that tradition and set a precedent for West Ham turning to short-term overseas signings at the expense of their famed youth academy.

Pardew said: “Four or five of our best players, world-class players, who play for England are not at this club.

“Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, John Terry – the players West Ham have produced are second to none and we are still producing them.

“We have Nigel Reo-Coker and Anton Ferdinand. Nigel is the captain of the Under-21s.

“We have James Tompkins and Jamie Spence down below who are both captains of England teams. So our supply line has not stopped.

“But what do we want to be? I don’t want to be a mediocre club. It doesn’t interest me.

“I want success wherever I go. I am at West Ham and I love it here and I think we have done a pretty good job. These players wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t already had great success.

“We have signed these two guys and what great signings they are. No-one has said this is a temporary measure.

“We have a great team for a whole season and at the end of the season we will review and hopefully we will have had such success these guys will stay with us not just for one year but two or three."