Reportage - 7/Feb/10
NOLAN SETS TOON FIVE-YEAR TARGET - Magpies must be patient - Martin Hardy, News of the World
KEVIN NOLAN has told Newcastle fans it will be five years before the club is ready to start signing marquee players again.
Chris Hughton's side blew away promotion rivals Cardiff 5-1 on Friday night with six January signings in their ranks.
But Nolan is still adamant team spirit is the key to Toon's revival.
He said: "We want it so when people come in they buy into what Newcastle is all about.
"We intend to slowly build this club back to where it deserves to be.
"If we can do that in the nexty five years it will bring superstars back to the club with European football.
"We want it in the DNA of the club first, to get us back up and to make sure what happened last season never happens again."
The Magpies showed their class on Friday to prove they are right on track for an instant return to the top flight.
Nolan added: "We had a good meeting with the new players to tell them what this club is all about now, to tell them what we have set up at the beginning of the season, what we expect.
"We wanted them to buy into it and, from their first display, you can see they have done that
"Chris and Colin told them what we were about and as a player's committee we have given them advice, on things like where to live, things like that and we want them settled so they can get the performances on the pitch.
"It is the best camaraderie I have experienced. It is what this club needed. I don't think it has been here for a long, long time.
"They haven't had it since Alan Shearer, Gary Speed and Rob Lee were here. I spoke to Speedo about it and he said there is nothing better than being up here with a group of lads who are doing their best for the club. He said the fans would love you.
"The bowling trip was for the banter, for team spirit and to get to know the new players. We acted like kids for two hours.
"The meeting at the training ground was the basics of what we set out to achieve, what people thought would happen and how we have used that to our favour.
"We are doing well but we won't get carried away. We have a spirit and determination to stay where we are and get promoted and we don't want to give it up. We had to make new signings and fair play to Mike (Ashley) he has put his hand in his pocket and done that."
Chris Hughton's side blew away promotion rivals Cardiff 5-1 on Friday night with six January signings in their ranks.
But Nolan is still adamant team spirit is the key to Toon's revival.
He said: "We want it so when people come in they buy into what Newcastle is all about.
"We intend to slowly build this club back to where it deserves to be.
"If we can do that in the nexty five years it will bring superstars back to the club with European football.
"We want it in the DNA of the club first, to get us back up and to make sure what happened last season never happens again."
The Magpies showed their class on Friday to prove they are right on track for an instant return to the top flight.
Nolan added: "We had a good meeting with the new players to tell them what this club is all about now, to tell them what we have set up at the beginning of the season, what we expect.
"We wanted them to buy into it and, from their first display, you can see they have done that
"Chris and Colin told them what we were about and as a player's committee we have given them advice, on things like where to live, things like that and we want them settled so they can get the performances on the pitch.
"It is the best camaraderie I have experienced. It is what this club needed. I don't think it has been here for a long, long time.
"They haven't had it since Alan Shearer, Gary Speed and Rob Lee were here. I spoke to Speedo about it and he said there is nothing better than being up here with a group of lads who are doing their best for the club. He said the fans would love you.
"The bowling trip was for the banter, for team spirit and to get to know the new players. We acted like kids for two hours.
"The meeting at the training ground was the basics of what we set out to achieve, what people thought would happen and how we have used that to our favour.
"We are doing well but we won't get carried away. We have a spirit and determination to stay where we are and get promoted and we don't want to give it up. We had to make new signings and fair play to Mike (Ashley) he has put his hand in his pocket and done that."