"When we went to Blyth, which is just north of Newcastle, for our FA Cup tie, I was told I was going to get it, and yet I've never signed so many autographs and posed for so many photos.
"There was the odd one shouting 'you fat *******' but I get that wherever I go!
"Newcastle had 26 points when I was sacked and we were 11th.
"There seems to be a perception put about that I did a bad job - even though, in our first 10 games, we had the best start for a decade.
"If you look at Kevin's and Joe's records, I think mine stands up against theirs."