Kevin Nolan has spoken out about his last days at West Ham and puts Slaven Bilic and Jack Sullivan into focus.
The former captain recalls Slaven Bilic’s chat with him before leaving David Sullivan Junior’s cruel remarks about him, and his mate Andy Carroll plus his view on the whole Dimi Payet saga.
On leaving West Ham and that chat with Slav he said: ‘We had a chat and Slav wanted to keep me. But it was Mark Noble’s time to be the ca
ptain of the club. I didn’t want to be an enigma in the background. I wanted him to have that fresh start.
“David Sullivan and David Gold were fantastic with me. We came to an agreement. I was supposed to go to another club but pulled out because of owners. Then you find yourself in the wilderness. Looking back should I have done it? Probably not. I should have just stayed and earned it.’
Nolan also speaks about the time was the target of some remarkable posts on Twitter of chairman’s son by David Sullivan Jr, who was 17 at the time.
The youngster tweeted:’How the f— Nolan is playing above League 2 amazes me. Gives us all hope.”
Nolan commented: ‘He said something which a young lad would. He got a telling off for it from his dad, which is enough for me.
“He sent an apology to me and I offered him to come train with me any time he wanted. Then I’ll show you how unfit I am!” I’d get him being sick. He never took me up on the offer. I’ve seen his Instagram, he’s having too much of a good time at the minute!’
Nolan also gave his view on the Payet affair saying: 
“For all the good Dimitri Payet has done for West Ham United, this has overshadowed it 10 times over, and no fan will ever forgive him.
I’ve played with Dimitri, he is a lovely lad, got fantastic ability, but he has been really badly advised. The club has taken a stance and the players all believe strongly, because they have a good camaraderie and mentality. That is probably why you got the best performance of West Ham against Palace.”
On his good mate Andy Caroll he added:‘I have always said, and people sometimes laugh, “It’s cause he’s your mate”, but Andy Carroll is one of the most gifted footballers, in terms of everything.
“His feet are great, he can score all types of goals, his heading ability is second to none, and when he is fit he is unplayable. He should be involved in an England team because he gives you something no other centre forward has got.’
Hope he makes it as a coach maybe even for us one day. Great leadership skills unfortunate that he’d just reached that time in his career where the body doesnt do what the head tells it to do.
Had a lot of time for Nolan. Good leader who never let the club down. Scored some crucial goals. Captains in football maybe not as vital as in some sports but they can make a difference. In my opinion he did. And he had to take a fair bit of stick from the moaners who thought he should have been a cross between Platinin & Maradona, but still be prepared to help get us out of Championship.
Felt sorry for the geezer in his final year.He wernt going to turn down playing but fat sack shouldnt have put him in that situation.Fat head screwed him over the silly *******.
Top man in my book but always was for me, some of the fans very unkind to him, a true leader think he suffered just because some saw him as Sam’s man. Thanks for everything Kev.
Sticky fingers has just about got that right with his comment. Keg Nolan had a lot stick in his last season but he’s a top man. Not a bad word for WHU, only speaks well, would love to see him back on the coaching staff.
That should say Kev not Keg.
Agree with all comments he galvanised the dressing room when it was at its lowest also scored vital goals for me is an honest top bloke who was disgracefully booed by some morons calling themselves supporters would have him back at the club in an instant
I think it’s fair to say that Kevin Nolan was well passed his sell-by date in his last Season with us, but he had been a fine servant of the Club and a great Captain. Sullivan Junior’s tweet about him was disrespectful in the extreme and highlights a big problem with Sullivan kids being on twitter. Whatever they say is treated like it’s the word from the Club rather than an indulged teenager with more money than sense.
I would ban all officers of the Club, including David Gold, Karren Brady and the Sullivan sprogs from farting about on twitter!