Chris Hughton says his eventful spell in charge of Newcastle helped him become a better manager.

The ex-Spurs stalwart guided tonight's Amex visitors to the Championship title seven years ago in his first managerial post.

He was unceremoniously axed early the following season in the Premier League, but has gone on to build a good reputation with Birmingham, Norwich and now Albion.

Newcastle went straight back up under Hughton with 102 points, 30 wins and only four defeats.

He said: "I was there for just under three years, not all the time as manager.

"I enjoyed living in the area. It was very much transitional times at the club.

"It was a very good period for me and certainly one I will never forget.

 

"In any player or manager's career you look back on big moments and that was a very big moment for myself.

"It was my first managerial role, so it was very special for me, but more importantly it was very special for the club."

Hughton has been credited by former Newcastle players like ex-Albion loan keeper Steve Harper with guiding Newcastle through troubled times in dignified fashion.

"It has certainly helped shape my career, there's no doubt about that," Hughton said. "It's very nice to hear those quotes from ex-players, but they were also very valuable for me.

"It was an incredibly good group that I had and, what ever I was able to give them, they were able to give me more.

"Certainly, if I look at my managerial career, it's the role that gave me that opportunity.

"I feel that I've developed as a manager over that period of time and going through what we went through in that season and the season after certainly gives you a grasp of what management is about, the ups and downs. I'd like to think I'm a better manager for it."