Newcastle star wants to stay

Thursday, 08/12/2011

Danny Simpson wants to commit himself to Newcastle.

The former Manchester United defender is out of contract next summer and boss Alan Pardew has expressed his desire to keep the improving star.

In an exclusive interview with Shoot, Simpson said: "I am happy here, Newcastle are happy with me and want me to stay.

"Everyone in football now knows that contracts don't get sorted overnight. I am pretty sure in the next few weeks or early in the New Year something will get sorted.

"The main thing is I am happy here and Newcastle are happy with me and my performances and happy with the way I am progressing."

Simpson, who will celebrate his 25th birthday the day Newcastle take on Man United at St. James' Park on January 4, admits that it's the fans and the Geordies who have made him want to stay on Tyneside.

"This is the longest I have ever lived away from Manchester and I feel it's part of my life now," revealed the Salford-born player.

"Everywhere I go in Newcastle the people are so friendly and so passionate about football, they ask about my family, how I am doing... when people accept you like that it makes things a lot easier.

"I really do love this city and until you live here you don't realise what the people and place are like."

Simpson has been offered a long-term deal to stay with the Magpies but it is understood the final terms have still got to be agreed.

The full interview with Danny Simpson appears in the next edition of Shoot, available on app at iTunes and www.pocketmags later this month.

* Danny Simpson has just released his own app game called Danny Boy. It's quickly become a cult game among his team-mates and Newcastle fans and is available through iTunes. More details on the game will appear with the interview.

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