Hughton guided the club back into the Premier League last season after they were relegated under the stewardship of fans’ favourite Alan Shearer, and had impressed this season with the club sitting in 11th.
Captain Kevin Nolan said: “we are all upset that Chris is going. He helped a lot of the lads here with their careers when he was a coach and then as manager. We will never forget our promotion from the Championship last season and we have to do what he told us. It goes without saying we were shocked by the announcement.”
