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Steven Taylor has claimed Newcastle United being a ‘business club’ was the real reason he left the club in the summer.

The centre half left the club at the end of last season after 21 years at United, but injury and increased competition for places restricted the former England under-21 captain to just 25 starts in three years.

Taylor was offered a new pay-as-you-play deal at the club but the 30-year-old claims the fact he wasn’t signed for a transfer fee, and thus wasn’t a financial asset, was the real reason he left on a free transfer.

“Newcastle United is a business club,” said Taylor.

“You can bring in players who are worth money, but I didn’t cost anything. You have to get assets to keep the value.

“I had been loyal to Newcastle since I was a nine year old lad, so to come out of that was a big risk.

“However, I do hope they do bounce back. They have had a hard few years and I want to wish them all the best - but I want to focus on my new life.”

Taylor has since signed for MLS side Portland Timbers, but almost signed for an unnamed club in Turkey before terrifyingly being caught up in the country’s Military Coup.

“A Turkish club came in for me and got me out there,” explained Taylor.

“I’d agreed nearly everything until that night we went to a restaurant in Istanbul and everyone suddenly started leaving.

“I had my dad ringing and texting me to ask if everything was OK – I didn’t realise what was going on.

“I couldn’t get back to the hotel as the military came in and blocked us off.

“It was a nerve-racking thing, but the Turkish people looked after us. I got back to the hotel the next day.”