The 27-year-old, who spent the end of last season captaining the Midlands outfit, was stunned to find out on holiday that he was no longer needed after four years at the club.
Now the free agent is contemplating his future.
Alan Pardew took him to West Ham and groomed him into becoming the skipper of his team, and the player has often praised the Toon boss for "encouraging" his career.
Could he end up at Newcastle?
Nigel Reo-Coker: "Before Gerard Houllier was taken ill and left the club, he said he wanted to sit me down this summer and negotiate a new deal.
"When the season ended, there was no contact from Villa to renegotiate my contract.
"We never sat down together, which I was told would happen.
"While on holiday, I was getting texts from friends and reading tweets I'd been released.
"I was disappointed. It should've been handled better and with more respect.
"It's a new chapter. I want to go to a club where I can challenge for things either in the Premier League or abroad."
NU-MAD COMPETITION
We are offering FIVE copies of the new book 'Magpies In Europe' in our European competition. Simply answer the three questions and e-mail your answers to us.
1) What European competition did Newcastle Utd win in 1969?
2) Who did Newcastle Utd play in the final of that competition?
3) Tino Asprilla scored a hat-trick against which Spanish club?
SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
The winners will be drawn next Wednesday July 13th and published on this website
