Former United star wants to know who rules roost

Jun 19 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

STEVE Howey wants to know who rules the roost at St James’ Park after seeing former team-mate Kevin Nolan quit Newcastle in a blaze of fury.

Just three weeks after telling the Sunday Sun he wanted to stay on Tyneside for the rest of his career, a disenchanted Nolan felt he had “no choice” but to swap the North East for the East End after contract talks broke down.

Snubbing a three-year deal which would see his wages bumped to £50,000 a week if the club break into the top 10, Nolan chose to move to West Ham for a guaranteed five-year deal worth in excess of £55,000 a week.

It is a conflict neither side appeared to anticipate in the run-up to the summer, but events snowballed after the campaign concluded.

While United manager Alan Pardew is putting a brave face on it, there is no doubt losing his skipper and 12-goal top scorer is a blow.

The Toon chief has insisted the club must “move on” from the sale, but outspoken former Toon Army hero Howey – speaking before the weekend’s double signings – believes Pardew is being left in a tricky position by matters being taken out of his control.

A shocked Howey told the Sunday Sun: “Quite simply it is a bad, bad decision from the football club. I say football club because I do not know how much Alan (Pardew) has had to do with it.

“To me, it looks like they have gone above his head.

“Did the manager of Newcastle United want to sell one of his best players? I don’t think he did.

“Did he want to sell Andy Carroll? No he didn’t – although that was a fantastic deal for the club.

“Alan said he wanted to keep Nobby at the football club but now he has gone and you wonder who is next.

“I think he has done a good job at Newcastle and the fans support him, but it makes his job harder to lose a top player.

“I know it happens at football clubs these days, but for me it is an untenable situation if the manager cannot make those sort of decisions.”