Newcastle centre back Ciaran Clark has revealed it wasn’t a hard decision to leave Aston Villa in the summer. The 26 year old had spent the best part of 16 years at the Midlands side but he felt he needed a fresh challenge.
The defender told the Evening Chronicle that once he heard that the Magpies had matched his £5m release clause, he couldn’t wait to sign for the Tyneside club:
“For me, it wasn’t a hard decision at all, to be honest. It all happened pretty quickly. As soon as I found out that the buyout clause had been met, straight away I wanted to get up the road and come and see what the place was about then got things sorted. Thankfully they did, and I am fully settled in now and ready to go.”
One of the major reasons behind Clark’s enthusiasm to leave Villa Park was the instability both at board room level and with the managerial staff with the Villans having appointed four managers in under two years; the latest being Roberto Matteo who arrivd under new Chinese ownership in the summer:
“For myself, I’d seen a lot of stuff at Aston Villa and been through a lot of managers. Obviously, you never know what is going to happen or what is around the corner.I felt there was stability here and that I can improve my game here as well.”
Clark has been in and out of the Magpies side under Rafa Benitez since the start of the season with the Magpies boss favouring Chancel Mbemba and Jamaal Lascelles as his first choice centre half pairing so far this campaign.
