Andros Townsend has pleaded with Newcastle United fans to understand his decision to leave after he completed a move to Crystal Palace.

The England winger landed at St. James' Park in the winter transfer window earlier this year from Tottenham Hotspur as Newcastle looked to pull away from the Premier League's relegation zone.




Despite Townsend impressing, he could not help Newcastle avoid relegation and now he has left the club to ensure he continues in the Premier League.

However, the winger is keen to depart St. James' Park on good terms with the fans and has opened up on his decision to leave, pleading with Newcastle fans to understand his reasoning.
 

 

I’d like to put on record my sincerest thanks to the manager, board and fans of Newcastle United for the warmth and support they have shown me since I joined in January. Please believe me when I say that this has been an incredibly difficult decision and one I have not taken lightly. I signed for Newcastle fully aware of the task at hand and it was my absolute desire to keep the club in the Premier League. I hope the fans could see that from day one I gave everything I possibly could during the season and never once gave up on the fight for survival. That’s why it was so hard when despite those efforts we fell short. The future for Newcastle is very bright, with some great young players and an outstanding Manager who I have the utmost respect for. However, after talking at length with the Manager and Managing Director I have made the decision to leave the club based purely on footballing reasons, with my wish to remain in the Premier League. I remain humbled by the support of the fans during my time at Newcastle and wish everyone associated with the club success for the future. The fans deserve a winning team and I fully expect to see the club promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Thank You.

A photo posted by Andros Townsend (@officialtownsend) on


The former Spurs man posted a photograph of himself in action for Newcastle and wrote: "I’d like to put on record my sincerest thanks to the manager, board and fans of Newcastle United for the warmth and support they have shown me since I joined in January.

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"Please believe me when I say that this has been an incredibly difficult decision and one I have not taken lightly.

"I signed for Newcastle fully aware of the task at hand and it was my absolute desire to keep the club in the Premier League", Townsend continued.

"I hope the fans could see that from day one I gave everything I possibly could during the season and never once gave up on the fight for survival. That’s why it was so hard when despite those efforts we fell short."

And Townsend insists that while he is confident the future for the Magpies will be bright, he was keen to make sure he continues playing in the Premier League, which he will now do with Palace.

"The future for Newcastle is very bright, with some great young players and an outstanding Manager who I have the utmost respect for.

"However, after talking at length with the Manager and Managing Director I have made the decision to leave the club based purely on footballing reasons, with my wish to remain in the Premier League.

"I remain humbled by the support of the fans during my time at Newcastle and wish everyone associated with the club success for the future. The fans deserve a winning team and I fully expect to see the club promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Thank You."

Townsend has cost Crystal Palace a fee of £13m, having Newcastle a £1m profit on the £12m paid to Spurs for his signature, while the winger has signed a five-year contract at Selhurst Park.