Former Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has explained how he was forced out of St. James’ Park this summer.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Steven Taylor has suggested that he was forced out of Newcastle United this summer.
Newcastle went through wholesale changes this summer and along with a host of arrivals, the Magpies allowed a number of players to leave St. James’ Park as well.
The departures of the likes of Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum and Tim Krul grabbed the headlines but academy product Steven Taylor being allowed to leave perhaps took people by a bit of surprise.
Taylor has been associated with Newcastle since 1995, and although the defender has struggled with injuries over the past few seasons it was believed that the 30-year-old would be handed a chance to revive his career in the Championship this season.
As it turned out, though, Newcastle did not offer Taylor a new contract and the defender now finds himself plying his trade for Major League Soccer outfit Portland Timbers.
Now Taylor has gone on to speak out regarding his unceremonious exit from St. James’ Park and has suggested that he was forced out due to the fact that the Magpies have turned into a ‘business club’ who only value their assets.
Taylor was quoted saying to the Chronicle, “Newcastle United is a business club. You can bring in players who are worth money, but I didn’t cost anything. You have to get assets to keep the value.
“I had been loyal to Newcastle since I was a nine year old lad, so to come out of that was a big risk. However, I do hope they do bounce back. They have had a hard few years and I want to wish them all the best – but I want to focus on my new life.”
While Taylor may feel a bit aggrieved at being dispensed by his boyhood club, the decision taken by Newcastle is understandable as the defender had simply been unable to keep himself fit over the last few seasons.
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