Newcastle boss explains Nolan exit

Alan PARDEW has admitted Newcastle decided to sell Kevin Nolan because they did not believe the skipper had another five years in him at the top level.

The 29-year-old left for relegated West Ham in a 4?million move last month after failing to win the long-term contract he was looking for, much to the horror of Magpies fans who saw their inspirational captain score 12 goals last season.

Pardew was disappointed to lose Nolan, who had two years remaining on his existing deal, but added: "Kevin didn't want to stay, that's the end of the debate. Kevin couldn't get a contract for four or five years.

"My opinion is that we couldn't give Kevin a five-year contract because if Kevin isn't playing first-team football, he isn't going to be the leader that we want, I am convinced of that. Kevin is so full-on as the captain of a club and at the level he has gone to now, he will easily cope with that and he will come back to the Premier League.

"But in four or five years' time, Kevin needs to be doing the business in the first team, and we couldn't and I couldn't see that possibly happening here at Newcastle, and we had to make a decision on that."