Derek Llambias: "Chris was a really good guy - look what he's doing with Birmingham.
"He's done an incredible job with a club in crisis, and he's pushed it through.
"He's got the skill factors. I wish him good luck for the future.
"We had a different view of where we wanted to be and what sort of character we needed to push this dressing room further.
"That was the decision. It wasn't a question of skill fits or somebody doing a bad job. We needed to kick on - that's what happened.
"Alan, we felt, had all the ingredients for what we needed for us personally.
"We fall out with Alan Pardew, don't worry! Then we have a little hug and we are OK again.
"If you are all lovey-dovey all the time, it just won't work."