Former Newcastle United captain Bobby Moncur has admitted that he is disappointed with the timing of Fabricio Coloccini's decision to leave the club.

The 30-year-old defender recently revealed that he was eager to move back to his native Argentina for 'personal reasons'.

"What's disappointing for me as an ex-captain is that he has chosen this time to go," Moncur told the Newcastle Chronicle.

"Something has happened, because he did seem to be particularly happy not long ago.

"I'm disappointed that as club captain, when you really need him, he's the one that's maybe going to leave."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew claimed on Saturday that he was confident of persuading Coloccini to stay at St James' Park.