Exit Confirmed: MIKE WILLIAMSON

Mike Williamson has today left Newcastle United to join Wolves for a transfer fee of £250,000.

Williamson, now 32, was signed from Portsmouth back in 2010 for a fee of £1m by then manager Chris Houghton. Back in 09/10 Newcastle were fighting their way, successfully, back to the Premier League after being relegated to the Championship the season before. After signing in the Winter transfer window he would become the regular partner of Coloccini for the remainder of the season, flanked at the time by Jose Enrique and Danny Simpson.

In total Mike would go on to play 170 times for the Magpies often vying for a place in the starting lineup with Steven Taylor, when fit, to partner Colo.

In recent times Mike has become a much maligned figure at St James Park, and at one point last season was accused by our managerial imposter John Carver of getting himself deliberately sent off for a challenge on Leicester’s Jamie Vardy.

Most fans who’ve watched Newcastle from that Championship winning side of 09/10 will point out that even as recently as this season we’ve had the same centre half partnership as six years ago. And it wasn’t really good enough then.

For that reason alone, most will recognise that Iron Mike has not failed Newcastle United, more that the club have failed him. For Mike has always given his best for the club. He has always tried, and that hasn't always been the case for some others. It’s not his fault that he was put on that team sheet week in week out.

Now Mike is off to Wolves, having already spent a loan spell there this season. And interestingly, judging the Wolves Twitter feed, their fans seem very happy to have him.

For our part, we'd thank him for all his efforts and wish him all the best for his future.