Sam Allardyce’s aim as West Ham United manager will be to give the club a swift return to the Premier League and signing former employee Kevin Nolan is a step in the right direction.

With the imminent departure of Scott Parker, Nolan is the ideal replacement because he is a natural leader who can get goals and of course he is Sam’s man from their time together at Bolton.

He managed 18 goals when his last club Newcastle were in the Championship as well as 12 in his first season back in the top flight last year. Not only that, he makes goals, works hard and can galvanise his fellow players to fight to win games, something Parker did in vain last year.

West Ham are the big winners in this move, even if the fee could rise from an alleged £1.5m to £4m. But Newcastle and possibly even Nolan himself are the losers.

It was not too long ago Nolan was being talked about for an England call-up. With Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard not getting any younger the chances may increase for a 28-year-old in his prime who captained a team to 12th place in their first year back in the Premier League. Playing in the Championship is not going to help his cause. Signing for West Ham is basically writing off is international ambitions.

If the Hammers don’t reach their goal and make a swift return to the Premier League, then Nolan may be remembered as a good Championship footballer over his top flight credentials, similar to the likes of Robert Earnshaw.

For Newcastle, Nolan’s departure will intensify their problem with leadership. This is never far from St James’ Park. The problems with leadership in the boardroom are well documented, they sacked a credible leader in manager Chris Hughton last year and now they have let their leader on the field go. Who do they go to next? Joey Barton? Some role model.

There is plenty of time for Nolan and his old mate Sam to do well at West Ham, get back in the Premier League quickly and then cement their place like Nolan did with the Magpies. But there is the feeling that the midfielder is compromising his personal glory to link up with Allardyce while Newcastle are going to regret letting him go.