"It never goes away", Chris Hughton exclusive as he lifts lid on his time at Newcastle United

Chris Hughton's place in Tyneside folklore was assured in 2010 when he carefully guided Newcastle United back to the Premier League.

The Magpies won the Coca-Cola Championship 12 years ago and made it look easy - but the reality was that Hughton, using a calm approach and excellent man-management, turned focus on to the pitch amid a political mess and fan protests at St James' Park.

At the time Newcastle were touted to follow Leeds down the divisions after a long run in the top-flight instead they took the division by storm, spending very little on transfers and bedding in youngsters like Andy Carroll and Tim Krul into the team.

On the final home game of the season a banner at the Gallowgate End unfurled to read: "Hughton is a Geordie."

That place in local folklore was more than assured and even now Hughton gets frequent reminders of his time at Newcastle.

Hughton told Chronicle Live: "To be honest it's a strange thought process for me.

"I don't look back on my time at Newcastle - because it's always there with me, once you've been part of the club it never goes away.

"For me, there were so many firsts.

"It was the first time I'd worked away from London, Newcastle was my first stint away from the capital.

"It was my first role as a manager and first foray into management.

"And it was my first time in the Championship.

"So for me, Newcastle is always with me, always there, it was an incredible time.

"What you tend to look at once you get older are the good times.

"The disappointing moments you almost try to eradicate.

"And of course I was at the club when we got relegation, I don't think about that, I think of the better times.

"How much I enjoyed living in the area and how welcome the Geordie public made me feel.

"And