Former Newcastle midfielder Kevin Nolan turned 37 today, but many Magpies supporters focused on topics away from that when the official United Twitter account posted a Happy Birthday message to the Englishman.
Nolan made the last of his 91 Magpies appearances on May 7, 2011, as the Toon ensured Birmingham would leave Tyneside without the spoils, as we emerged 2-1 victors in our penultimate home game of the Premier League season.
The former England youth international did not score or assist either of our goals that day, but found the net 30 times across his two-and-a-half years at St James’ Park, while also assisting nine goals.
He would leave us for West Ham United in the summer of 2011, though, with whom he would go on to record the second-most appearances at a single club of his career with 157, to 293 with Bolton Wanderers.
Altogether, Nolan made 555 senior club appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 106 goals, registered 36 assists, and was issued 117 yellow cards and six red cards.
Many fans reacting to the club’s tweet, however, took it as a chance to continue showing their displeasure in the lack of communication from the club regarding Rafa Benitez’s contract saga, and the rumoured takeover by the Bin Zayed Group established by Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
It has since been confirmed that Benitez will leave United when his contract expires at the end of the week, after rumours began to immerge suggesting the Spaniard was bound for the exit door as club chiefs had become resigned to his departure.
The word from the Times was that Managing Director Lee Charnley and Mike Ashley will begin the search for his replacement soon, as Benitez would not work under our current owner any longer following a complete breakdown of trust.
Here’s how some Newcastle fans responded when the club posted a Happy Birthday message to Nolan…
So sad and disappointed with the club I supported since 16 years ago, went from 3rd in the league to fighting relegation, zero ambition, totally destroyed by Mike Ashley????
— KJ (@JieroTeoh) June 24, 2019
Great to see that ex players’ birthdays are more valued than communicating with fans on the latest ongoings at this embarrassment of a club. Sort it out man.
— Alex Jenks (@alexj7190) June 24, 2019
As much as I loved Nolan when he was here… Surely @NUFC should be communicating to the fans about more pressing matters. In fact don’t bother posting anything other than Rafa’s future or the takeover.. absolute circus
— Graeme Bell (@GraemeBell_NUFC) June 24, 2019
ARE YOU SERIOUS! HONESTLY THIS CLUB IS A MESS AND AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR US FANS
— The Half Geordie (@TheHalfGeordie) June 24, 2019
You won’t get away with this you SCUM!!!!!
— The Geordie Boot Boy #NUFC (@BootGeordie) June 24, 2019
You are a disgrace especially the way you treat the fans not like you care about them anyway you just care about the money
— Liam (@LiamNUFC1998) June 24, 2019
Happy birthday to Nolan, but seriously why don’t you tell fans what is going on in terms of
1)Rafa
2)takeover— Lassa Blanc (@lassablanc) June 24, 2019
Is that the same Kevin Nolan Mike Ashley jettisoned just like he is Rafa Benitez and he did Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer et al? Disgusting club. #nufc
— – (@sf49ersman) June 24, 2019