Gary Speed: “They’re back where they belong, which is very important. The longer you stay down, the harder it is to get up. They’re back where they and the fans belong, and it’s fantastic.
“In hindsight, what happened last season will be a good learning curve in the sense they’ll go up and be stronger for it. I’m delighted they’re back up at the first time of asking.
“They seem to have a fantastic team spirit – that counts for a lot.
"If they can carry that into the Premier League and if the off-the-field stuff is in order, which I’m sure it will be, it’s an opportunity for Newcastle, which is brilliant.”
"Chris Hughton is an inspiration to me, especially with me being a coach now.
“He was a coach for a long time. He did his apprenticeship, and it’s obviously stood him in good stead.
“It’s a difficult job – make no bones about it – but he’s done it exceptionally well, and thoroughly deserves what he’s got.”