Kevin Nolan: "We are all upset that Chris is going. He helped a lot of the lads here with their careers when he was a coach and then as manager.
"We will never forget our promotion from the Championship last season and we have to do what he told us. Stick together, make sure we keep the unity Chris has built up and get through this difficult period.
"It goes without saying we were shocked by the announcement.
"Chris was gutted about what had happened. You could see that.
"But it said so much about him that, even though he was obviously disappointed to be going, he was still telling me and Joey (Barton) that we had to make sure we had a good season.
"There was such dignity about the way he left, which is how he conducted himself while he was the manager."
