Kevin Nolan shares which former Newcastle United legend tried to talk him out of move to St James' Park

Kevin Nolan became a popular figure on Tyneside thanks to an impressive two-year spell at Newcastle United which saw him bring the club back into the Premier League after relegation.

The former Bolton man joined midway through the 2009 season for around £4 million with Newcastle in a bad way both on and off the pitch.

The Magpies were relegated that season but bounced back the following season after dominating the Championship under the guidance of Kevin Nolan.

However, as the man tells it, things could have been much different had he listened to a Newcastle United hero who warned him off the move.

Gary Speed tried to convince Kevin Nolan to change his mind before joining Newcastle

Nolan recently told the story of the day he headed to Newcastle to sign for the club to EFL Unfiltered, and it was a decision that didn't seem to go down well with his wife, and one that he did against the advice of Gary Speed.

"My missus was going to a concert that night. I had just bought it for her for Christmas. She was going to the Pussycat Dolls with all her friends. I bought her a box to go and watch them, and I'm packing a bag and she's like, 'Where are you going?' and I say, 'I'm going up to Newcastle to sign'. She goes, 'What?!'

"As I'm going down the stairs, she's shouting out the window, 'Where are you going?' Our baby, Jasmine, is running around, and all the girls are there getting ready to go out that night, and there's me jumping in the car with my brother and my dad to take me up to Newcastle. I just started driving off and she rang me: 'What do you mean you're going to Newcastle?' I said, 'I'm signing for Newcastle'.

"As I was on my way, Gary Speed rings me, too. He's going, 'I'm not too sure, you know?' So I'm like, 'Speedo. I've already said yes. I can't turn around.'

"He said, 'No, Nobby. I don't think it's the right one. It's a bad place there.' Obviously, they all knew. Al [Alan Shearer] was up there. He was still really good mates with Harpo [Steve Harper], Shay [Given] and all that. They were all still very pally. I went, 'Look, Speedo, I think I'm done at Bolton and I need a new challenge for myself. If I fail, I'll take it on my chin'."

Kevin Nolan had too much influence on the players for Mike Ashley's liking

We're glad Nolan is a man of integrity and wouldn't back out after giving his word, as we're not sure how things would have gone without him at the time.

Ultimately, the sour atmosphere around the club and the oppressive regime forced Nolan to leave the Magpies as he was seen as a man with too much influence on the players, something owner, Mike Ashley, didn't like.

He and several other players who were vocal in the dressing room about the state of the club didn't last long, unfortunately, as Mike Ashley cleaned house, condemning the club to more misery.