ADO Den Haag coach Alan Pardew has responded to a barrage of local criticism this week.

The former Crystal Palace and Newcastle United manager's leadership and suitability to the job has been questioned by pundits in Holland.

But Pardew was defiant yesterday, declaring: "It is unfortunate and misleading that all this is being said.

"Since I have been here there has been speculations. About players I have met, but also about problems between Dutch and English players. Of course I can only judge what I see and it is totally not true that there are two groups. That the English players are separate from the Dutch players. The English boys have been warmly welcomed.

"We can only get rid of these nonsense stories if we go grab points.

"As a trainer you are often criticised for the way you let your team play, but it has not often happened that I have been dismissed as a 'tactical nonsense'.

"I don't take the criticism personally. I know that, like the players, I am very determined to turn the tide quickly. I have been brought in to protect the team from relegation and I am trying to do that. In everything, systems, formations, we try to find the right balance for the team."

ADO have one point from their last four games and are second from bottom, five points behind 16th placed FC Zwolle.