He didn't seem to bust a gut to get back in the prem last time, Shearer drew up a plan for the club to get re-promoted. He never called Shearer back, players left the club with no one really coming in.
No information from the club was coming out in the local press or media in general, the club was left to drift and it was up to Hughton to start the season with players who were left over after the sales.
Luckily for us and fortunate for him, we had Hughton, Barton, Nolan, Smith Harper and a few others who seemed to give a damn.
That pre season before promotion, the club was drifting.