Magpies’ boss Nolan destined for bright future

I ALWAYS had a lot of time for Kevin Nolan – a top guy, terrific goalscorer and inspirational leader of men.

He did so much to bring Newcastle straight back into the Premier League under Chris Hughton and scored a stunning hat-trick against Sunderland to cement his place in Geordie folklore. We remember those who serve us well.

Thus it is good Nolan (pictured left) is still a Magpie as manager of Notts County, the oldest club in the world, and he is making a real fist of it.

So much so owner Alan Hardy, who appointed him in January, has already prophesied Nolan will become a Premier League manager and even England manager.

Meanwhile, he has handed him a new bumper three-year contract to try to take Notts County into the Championship before he is poached by a club higher up the pyramid.

Earlier this week the top two clubs in League Two, County and Exeter City, met at St James Park and it proved significant for the Magpies.

Exeter had won every home game without conceding a goal but Nolan’s County thrashed them 3-0 to go three points clear at the summit.

This confrontation came on the back of County pulling in a whopping 11,672 crowd for their 4-1 derby victory over Lincoln City.

Still only 35, a babe in managerial terms, Kevin Nolan is a typical Scouser of humour and vigour who does indeed appear to have a promising future as a boss.

Go to it, my son. We are with you.