Danny Simpson still grateful for Hughton's gamble

Dec 14 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

DANNY Simpson has paid tribute to former boss Chris Hughton for “saving his career” – as he predicts a possible charge for Europe under new boss Alan Pardew.

The Newcastle United defender admits he shared the general dressing room disappointment at seeing Hughton axed last week, especially because Simpson felt the former United chief took a gamble on him when others wouldn’t.

Frozen out at Manchester United, he had endured a tough spell at Blackburn Rovers and several Championship clubs had passed up the opportunity to take him on loan. But Hughton gave him the benefit of the doubt and now just over 12 months later he is in England contention.

Although mindful of the need to “move on” under Pardew, Simpson wants to place on record his appreciation for Hughton – one of the favourites to land the Blackburn job after Sam Allardyce’s shock sacking.

“The result was a good way to end a different week. It was so important we got it after everything that had gone on and it showed how strong and together we are as a squad,” he told The Journal.

“It was a tough week and obviously Chris was a crucial guy in my career so I was disappointed that he left and I told him when we saw him at the training ground how much he’d done for me.

“I thanked him for everything he did for me. He took a chance on me when my career was pretty much at rock bottom. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me because I’d been offered round a few clubs and no-one wanted me. I had a reputation, I think, from when I was a younger player and that was maybe following me around. But Chris took advice from a couple of people and said he’d give me a chance on loan.

“I was grateful to him and I told him that. I’m playing in the Premier League because of him and he just replied that he knows I’m a young player who is still learning and told me if I keep working hard then I can go far. It meant a lot.”