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Mick Martin has revealed the incredible story of how Newcastle United let £25m-rated defender Seamus Coleman slip through their fingers.

The Republic of Ireland international has been linked with a mega-money move to Manchester United in recent days, and could end up as one of the summer’s biggest transfers.

However, United failed to listen to the advice of former Newcastle and Ireland star Martin back in the 2008/09 season.

Back then, Newcastle could have signed Coleman for as little as £150,000.

Martin told the Chronicle: “I was involved with the Irish national team with Giovanni Trapattoni and I remember somebody mentioned a kid called Seamus Coleman who played for Sligo Rovers.

“I went over and I watched him play.

“I had no affiliation to any football club, I was just working for the national team.

“He was involved with our Under-21 squad and the manager was a good colleague of mine called Don Givens.

“He used to play for QPR, Birmingham and in Switzerland.

“Don said to me: ‘Mick, he (Coleman) is a very good player – go in and see Joe Kinnear and tell him to take him’.

“Joe would have known Don because he played with us for Ireland.

“I went in and spoke to Joe and said: ‘I’ve seen this kid Coleman and Don rates him very highly and he said to me to tell you to go and sign him in the next week, don’t even look at him, pay £150,000 and they (Sligo) will carry him over to you because they’ve got no money’.”

And Martin made sure that those in control of the club at that time knew the score about one of Ireland’s best young players.

Martin went on: “I was in the training ground with Joe Kinnear and Dennis Wise and I told Dennis that Joe had taken a note of the kid’s name and that he should to.

“I told him to follow it up himself as director of football.

“On the way out I bumped into Chris Hughton and I said to him: ‘I’ve just been speaking to Joe and Dennis and told them about Coleman and I’d been recommended to tell Joe to sign him.’

(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

“I left the training ground and found out the chief scout at the time was Lil Fuccillo.

“So I rang him up and told him to take a note of Seamus Coleman.

“I said £150,000 to £200,000 would be money well spent.

“Anyway that was it, I told all four, the manager, the assistant, the director of football and the chief scout.

“And I don’t think anybody even went to see him.

“Now he could go to Man United for £25m.

“I got the expression they were the ones who wanted to say they had sourced these kids rather than Mick Martin recommending, I wouldn’t have cared a less if they mentioned me at all.

“I was so annoyed when I found out afterwards that within three or four weeks he’d gone to Everton.

“I think Everton paid £200,000 for him and looking back it was a mistake by Newcastle.”

Newcastle have signed players from France, Belgium and Holland in recent years, but are not renowned for signing players from the British isles.

Martin feels that United should have taken the advice on Coleman and added: “They were told they didn’t even have to look at him – just sign him.

“We’re people who have played over 50 times nationally and have been involved in the game since we retired.

“We know a player.

“Fellas like Coleman don’t come up very often.

“Players stand out in Ireland but you have to act quickly and trust the people who spoke to you.

“It didn’t happen for Newcastle but they were well aware of the scenario because I made them well aware.

“I wanted them to sign him but in the end he went to Everton.

“They never contacted Sligo and asked them about.

“It was a sad scenario.

“He’s a very good player and they missed the boat at the time.