His arrival was officially announced in a brief statement which tellingly included comments from managing director Derek Llambias, but neither of the two central characters in the latest episode of Tyneside’s long-running soap opera - Kinnear and Pardew.

Kinnear, of course, had his say on several occasions during the hiatus between his revelation and the official confirmation of his appointment with a series of proclamations which did little to enhance his reputation in the eyes of dismayed Magpies fans.

But Pardew’s silence spoke volumes as he found an extra tier of management placed between himself and club owner Mike Ashley.

Pardew must restore the fortunes of a club which slipped from Champions League challengers to relegation contenders in the space of 12 agonising months.

Kinnear’s arrival was formally acknowledged in a brief statement by Llambias which said: “The Board is pleased to welcome Joe back to the club.

“Joe has many years of experience working within the game, and this experience will be of great benefit to the club in achieving our objectives over the coming seasons.”

Few details of the former Wimbledon manager’s remit as “senior executive in charge of all football-related matters” were revealed, other than the fact both Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr will work under him.

However, Kinnear has indicated he will head up Newcastle’s recruitment arm as they attempt to strengthen a relatively small squad which struggled to handle the demands of domestic and European competition last season.

Pardew has freely admitted the club’s youngsters failed to have the impact he had expected, and has indicated he will be looking to recruit experience.

In particular, he needs to strengthen a striking division weakened in recent years by the departures of Andy Carroll and Demba Ba.

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has been mentioned in dispatches and while there is an interest, a reported fee of £6million for a 29-year-old whose current salary is significantly in excess of the figures on offer at St James’ is unlikely to be met with any great enthusiasm in the boardroom.

Kinnear, Pardew and Carr face the task of reaching agreement over how best to implement the latest phase of Ashley’s blueprint with some fans sceptical over their chances of doing so.

Mark Jensen, editor of online fanzine www.themag.co.uk, said: “If you take as the truth what Joe Kinnear says, then Newcastle in a week’s time will be able to start planning what they are going to be able to do in the transfer market.

“If what he is saying is the truth, Newcastle’s transfer strategy is effectively going to be written on the back of a cigarette packet.

“Any concept that Newcastle have a detailed overall five-year plan, you have to take a leap of faith to think that.

“They just live from day to day, week to week and they react to whatever situation.”