Newcastle United were in dire straits following Premier League relegation 16 years ago.
Kevin Nolan has opened up about wanting to stay and fight for Newcastle United following Premier League relegation.
In 2009, the Magpies unravelled as Alan Shearer failed to save his boyhood club in an eight-game managerial stint. Defeat at Aston Villa on the final day - courtesy of a Damien Duff own goal - condemned Newcastle to the Championship.
Nolan was just five months into his time at St James’ Park having arrived from Bolton Wanderers for £4million. A handful of games later, the former midfielder was facing a new reality in the Championship.
Kevin Nolan key for Newcastle United
It did not take long for Nolan - who arrived as Bolton captain - to become a leader in the dressing room. An embarrassing 6-1 defeat to Leyton Orient in pre-season led many to fear a possible back-to-back relegation at St James’ Park.
However, Nolan let rip at his teammates and urged anyone who wanted to leave to do so. He went on to score 18 goals across all competitions from midfield as Newcastle secured an instant Premier League return.
Newcastle United nearly missed out
But that almost was not the case. Following relegation, Nolan was offered the chance to rekindle his easy life at Bolton.
The Toon favourite felt an obligation to get the Magpies back into the big time given the disarray around the club. He told talkSPORT: “I did really have an opportunity to go back to Bolton at the end of the relegation season. Gary (Megson) was asking about me coming back. I didn't want to.
“I'm a great believer that you've got to put something to bed and I didn't want to go back. I had lots to prove to Newcastle. I wanted to prove myself at Newcastle and wanted it to be a successful spell. I didn't want to look back at my career and think, 'I jumped'.
“I was part of that relegation even though I didn't play as much as I would have liked and I wasn't part of the first six months of the season, but you're still part of it and I wanted to put that right and, thankfully, I was able to."
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Kevin Nolan on Newcastle United U-turn
Nolan discussed how his eventual Toon exit came about in 2011, with Newcastle reneging on a contract extension. He said earlier this year: “I’d gone to West Ham as a marquee signing. Scott Parker was going over to Tottenham, so I went in and took the captaincy off him.
“I was named as the club captain right away. I’d probably had my best season at Newcastle - 12 goals. I went and got a knock, and I was getting the knock I was supposed to be signing a new deal, and then they took the deal off.
“So that’s why it all transpired that I went to West Ham, because they (Newcastle) took the deal off. I still had two-and-a-half years left and I wanted to extend it for another two, but they took the deal away.”
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