Zurab Khizanishvili (talking to Sports Writer Luke Edwards): “Maybe my style did not suit Sam Allardyce.
I know Sam likes different players.
“I knew from his time at Bolton, where he was a long time, he likes more athletic players, bigger than me, stronger than me. Not necessarily more intelligent players, but more physical, stronger players. That is his choice.
“I prefer playing football from the back. That is my opinion, that is the way I like to play, the way I have always played, the way I was brought up. Every previous manager has said to me ‘we like to play football.’
"You can’t play the long ball, every game, every minute, you have to decide on the pitch.
“We talked about Newcastle and he said there is no question it is an unbelievable club, a massive club.
“He said really good things.
“But yes, he made it clear I was not really part of his plans. We talked about it and he was a really straight guy so I respect him for that.
“Maybe he liked me (as a person) but not so much my football, so it was a footballing decision. Outside the football, we are friends.”