Newcastle’s Kevin Nolan reveals admiration for boss Alan Pardew & his happiness at club

EPL : Kevin Nolan , Newcastle United v Liverpool (Getty Images)

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Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan heaped praise on manager Alan Pardew, who replaced fan favourite Chris Hughton in December.

Pardew, the former West Ham, Southampton, Reading, and Charlton boss, took over at St James’ Park after the controversial sacking of Hughton, who was a popular figure on Tyneside.

But Nolan feels Pardew played an important part in steadying the ship, with the new man maintaining the squad’s focus during a testing period.

Nolan told NUFC TV: “Everyone was very unhappy with the treatment of Chris Hughton and how it went down, but the fact is the owners had a job to do and they thought they could get someone in who was going to take the club forward.

“I spoke to Alan Pardew – it was very well documented that he came to see me the day he took the job and he was introduced to the press and to the fans. He came to see me at my house, which I thought was a great move.

“We had worked too hard to get where we were at that point and we weren’t going to let a press report or things like that get in our way.”

Nolan pointed to Pardew’s mentality as a leader as being key to the Magpies’ continued success in the Premier League.

“The drive and desire the gaffer has for wanting to take this club forward matches what we have got in the dressing room,” he added.

Pardew is currently searching for players to help strengthen the squad and wishes to keep hold of many of his key personnel, with the futures of midfielder Joey Barton and full-back Jose Enrique undecided, but Nolan is more than happy to stay with the club.

He continued: “I have been able to get where I want just through hard work and dedication, and hopefully in the next couple of years, you are going to see the best of me again, and more of it.

“To be captain of this club, it really feels a great honour. It’s fantastic and I am absolutely delighted. Genuinely from the bottom of my heart, I love doing the captaincy bit and I love playing for this club.”