"It has been well documented what the situation was when Bobby came to the club in 1999 but the transformation since then has been remarkable and this has been down to the gaffer and the way he runs the club.
"We seem to be getting better each season and, hopefully, that will continue next time round.
"Obviously, I have worked with a lot of managers - top managers - throughout my career. But the difference with Bobby is that he is hands-on with everything he does.
"He's not one of those managers who just turns up at the training pitch and then goes home.
"He wants to be involved with everything, whether it's on the training pitch or in the office. He must work a 12-hour day.
"In terms of Newcastle and the direction the club is going, I think you can safely say that a lot of it is down to Bobby.
"When he first arrived he used to call me Sheedy because of Kevin Sheedy. He had scored for the Republic of Ireland against England in the World Cup, so I think he must have had him on the brain.
"It's a bit of a coincidence though, because when I was a boy I was an Everton supporter and being left-footed Kevin Sheedy was one of my heroes - so I didn't mind too much.
"In any case, you get what you see with Bobby. The way you see him on the television is how he is in the changing room.
"He's just so enthusiastic about football."