JUST IN: Newcastle United star refused exit after telling team-mates to get out
Kevin Nolan Opens Up on Rejecting Move Away from Newcastle to Help Club Recover From Relegation
Former Newcastle United midfielder Kevin Nolan has candidly revealed that he chose to remain at the club during one of its darkest periods because he felt a personal responsibility to help turn things around following their devastating relegation from the Premier League in 2009.
At the time, Newcastle was in turmoil. The club’s ownership was uncertain, with Mike Ashley openly looking to sell. There was no permanent manager in place, and numerous senior players were unsure about their futures at St. James’ Park. With morale at rock bottom, the situation appeared bleak, both on and off the pitch.
In a sign of how bad things had become, Newcastle suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Leyton Orient in a pre-season friendly just weeks before the start of the Championship campaign. That loss, which took place at Brisbane Road, became a defining moment for Nolan.
Speaking in a past interview with ChronicleLive, the former club captain recalled sensing that several players that day had mentally checked out and no longer wanted to represent the black and white shirt. The manner of the loss—and the apathy of some teammates—sparked an impassioned reaction from Nolan.
After the match, he delivered a furious and heartfelt speech in the dressing room, confronting those who lacked commitment. He reportedly told his teammates that if anyone didn’t want to stay and fight for the club, he would personally assist them in finding the exit door. For Nolan, there was no room for passengers—he was determined to only move forward with players who genuinely wanted to help Newcastle bounce back.
In the weeks that followed, a number of high-profile departures followed. Habib Beye, Sebastien Bassong, Damien Duff, and Obafemi Martins all left the club before the transfer window closed. Geremi also moved on a few months later. Despite the exodus, Nolan was unwavering in his decision to remain on Tyneside.
Reflecting on that turbulent period during a recent interview with talkSPORT, Nolan revealed that he had the opportunity to return to his former club, Bolton Wanderers, where he had spent the bulk of his career before joining Newcastle. Then-manager Gary Megson was keen to bring him back to the Reebok Stadium, but Nolan declined the offer.
“I could have gone back to Bolton at the end of that relegation season,” Nolan said. “Gary was interested and asked about bringing me back, but I didn’t want to leave. I’m a firm believer in finishing what you start, and I felt I had something to prove at Newcastle.”
Nolan admitted that although he hadn’t been involved during the first half of the relegation campaign—having joined midway through the season—he still felt accountable for the club’s failure. “I didn’t play as much as I would have liked in that first season, but I was part of the squad, and that made me feel responsible. I didn’t want to be one of those players who ran away from the challenge. I wanted to stay, fight, and make it right.”
His decision ultimately proved to be a wise one. Nolan played a crucial role in Newcastle’s immediate promotion back to the Premier League, forming a strong midfield presence and contributing both on and off the pitch as a leader. His commitment and attitude won over the fans and helped to restore pride in the badge during a rebuilding phase.
Looking back, Nolan has no regrets. “I didn’t want to look back at my career and think, ‘I bailed when things got tough.’ I stayed, I helped us come back up, and I’ll always be proud of that.”