Temuri Ketsbaia has recalled the moment that Sir Bobby Robson told him he wasn't getting a squad number at Newcastle United.
The moment came at the start of the 2000/01 season after the club had just signed Carl Cort from Wimbledon for £7million.
But the Georgian international forward insisted he was clear with Robson about his position. He told the Chronicle: "I didn't want to leave the club.
"I had two years left on my contract and I was so disappointed.
"It was pre-season and there were 25 players having their medicals but I wasn't in the squad.
"I felt so disappointed.
"I said then: 'You aren't looking at me as a footballer who can help the team'.
"I told them: 'If I'm not wanted you have to let me leave'.
"We had a good talk and I didn't want to leave but I wanted to play, I was 31 and needed it.
"It wasn't enough for me just sitting around and picking up the money - I wanted to play.
"To be honest I made a rash decision because not everybody at the club wanted me to go."
But Ketsbaia insists - despite reports at the time over a bust-up - that he left on good terms.
He said: "I spoke with Bobby before I left.
"I signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers and I spoke to Bobby.
"I finished on good terms with everybody. I didn't want to leave the club with problems and I didn't want to create one.
"I just left the club.
"I heard rumours that once said I made the wrong decision to go to Wolves.
"I never said that.
"I am glad I had this opportunity to go to a big club and they had fantastic fans.
"I did my best for them but they also had problems - they had one coach after another.
"When coaches come and go they always want their own players - people are coming or going and it doesn't matter if you are a good player or a bad one.
"That was the situation, I played one year there and then I went to Scotland to play for Dundee.
"I enjoyed it up there.
"They played me every week and I did well."
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