Kevin Nolan (talking to the Sunday Mirror): "I envisaged spending the rest of my career at the club. I was settled, happy and I adored the supporters.
"Perhaps I was just naive. I thought I had a good relationship with the board. But when it all came to a head in the summer I knew my time was coming to an end.
"I was captain of a huge club and played with a smashing group of lads I had untold respect for.
"But ultimately I was forced out because I lost trust in key people at the club and when you lose trust in people it's almost impossible to regain it.
"From January and shortly following the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool, I was involved in ongoing discussions about signing a new contract between four and five years.
"I discussed the deal at length with managing director Derek Llambias and even shook hands on it. In my book when you do that man-to-man you expect them to see it through.
"But what we talked about and what they finally offered me was laughable. They did a U-turn on what we agreed. They showed me no respect. I felt totally betrayed.
"Then they had the nerve to claim I rejected a new contract. What contract? A deferred option to increase my deal by 12 months with a bonus that hinged on the success of the team on the pitch the following season.
"Perhaps I was just naive. I thought I had a good relationship with the board. But when it all came to a head in the summer I knew my time was coming to an end.
"I had given the club everything but they didn't want to give me anything in return, just broken promises. I simply couldn't work with people like that. There was no way back for me."