IT was never going to be easy for Kevin Nolan to succeed at St James' Park. As Joe Kinnear's first major signing two-and-a-half years ago after the departure of Kevin Keegan, he was desperate to shine instantly.

In his first five months he was unable to do that. He could not halt the Magpies' slide to the Championship, but after joining West Ham United for £4m one of the key players in the club's revival has finally departed.

While there will be increased uncertainty among the remaining members of the squad following the departure of such a respected team captain, opinion among the supporters is likely to be divided.

There was an initial sense of disbelief on Wednesday that Newcastle had been willing to sell Nolan, but in less than 48 hours there has been a growing sense of acceptance.

Nolan was 28. While it is going to be difficult to replace the 12 goals he scored from midfield in the Premier League last season, there is some sense behind owner Mike Ashley's decision to move him on.

From a squad strengthening point of view it seems strange timing. Ahead of a second season in the top-flight after coming up from the Championship, this summer should have been about making slight adjustments.

Ashley is also effectively gambling on tearing up the team spirit on which the turnaround on Tyneside was built. By offloading Nolan and informing Joey Barton and Alan Smith they can leave, only goalkeeper Steve Harper of the influential quartet could be around by August.

Even then there are no guarantees. Harper's own future is likely to be the subject of increased speculation given manager Alan Pardew is known to have been impressed by younger shot-stoppers Tim Krul and Fraser Forster.

Beyond that, though, lies arguments to the contrary and justifiable reasons to let the former Bolton captain leave now rather than in the future.

Nolan will turn 29 on June 24 and with just two years remaining on his contract Newcastle know they will never be able to move him on again for the £3m fee -rising to £4m if they return to the Premier League - they will receive from the Hammers.

It could be claimed Newcastle would be better off keeping such a strong dressing room character beyond those two years - and the club actually agreed at one point.

Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias were prepared to offer him an extra two years, albeit heavily incentivised, on substantial Premier League wages. But Nolan's reluctance to sign ultimately led to the boardroom's decision to sell.

Only time will tell whether it was a wise decision. Pardew has been reassured he will be given the funding to bring in replacements - with Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta the early favourite - but it could be more about the atmosphere in the dressing room than the quality of players who come in.

Undoubtedly Pardew needs better players in his squad if Newcastle are to improve on last season's finish, but to be in the process of losing those who tightly knitted the dressing room together could be difficult to replace.

Now it will be down to Pardew to brighten the mood again. While Ashley and Llambias work on things behind the scenes, it will be the manager on the frontline who must prove there is life after his outgoing captain.