ANTOINE SIBIERSKI has revealed the personal torment he went through after deciding to leave Newcastle United, where he claims he would have had to take a 60 per cent basic wage cut if he had stayed.

Sibierski, a goalscorer for Wigan in their 3-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday, had been hoping to stay at St James' Park.

The Frenchman scored eight goals in his season on Tyneside and the fans took him to their hearts after his free transfer from Manchester City.

Sibierski would have preferred to remain at Newcastle, but he feels he was left with little option but to leave after the way he was treated by former chairman Freddy Shepherd.

"Glenn Roeder his former boss and I agreed that there would be a two-year contract, but then we started getting some bad results so we decided to wait until May and I would sign then," explained the 33-year-old.

"Even when Glenn got the sack two games before the end of the season, the club still agreed about the contract. However now it was only one year rather than the two Glenn had offered me.

"Freddy Shepherd also wanted to give me only 40 per cent of my wages and the other 60 based on appearances. If I'd been injured all year, or crap, I could have understood it, but that was not the case. It was a lack of consideration and respect.

"I was very sad for a month. But I've signed for two years at Wigan and I want to enjoy the last years of my career."

Sibierski - who has three in three for his new club - scored Wigan's final goal in the comprehensive victory over Sunderland and it was the perfect way to silence the visitors' boo-boys.

Because of his Magpies' past, the Wearside fans gave him a tough time but the likeable forward had the last word - dedicating his 68th minute penalty to the Newcastle supporters.

"I heard what the fans were shouting so of course I'm happy to score against them," said Sibierski. "I did not want to show them that I was upset by what they were shouting. They booed me virtually every time I touched the ball, but I didn't want to respond.

"The best way to respond in a situation like that is to play well and to score. That's what I did. So now they are more upset than I ever could have been during the game.

"Hopefully the Newcastle fans will be pleased to see that I scored against Sunderland."