Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan has rejected a new contract offer from the club.

The midfielder has been awaiting a proposal for a number of weeks but it has been reported that the offer has fallen short of his expectations. Nolan currently has two years to run on his present contract.

Meanwhile, St James’s Park has declined to offer fellow midfielder Joey Barton a new deal and Alan Smith has been told he can leave the club as they enter the final year of their contracts.

Nolan joined Newcastle from Bolton in 2009 on a £4m fee.