Newcastle United full-back Danny Simpson has revealed that he came within an hour of rejoining the Blues last summer before moving to St James’ Park. The former Manchester United man had previously been on loan at Portman Road in the 2007/08 season, making seven starts and one sub appearance.

The 23-year-old told the Newcastle programme for yesterday’s game: “I was close to signing for Ipswich in the summer, but it fell through at the last minute.

“I was literally an hour away from it going through and, for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. I was on my way there, fully expecting to sign for Ipswich and excited at the prospect, but deals break down at the last minute quite often. That’s football for you.”

Simpson says he is delighted that he subsequently joined the Magpies, initially on loan before his switch from Old Trafford was made permanent in January: “Thankfully, my agent got a call from Chris [Hughton] and a few days later I was on my way to Newcastle on loan. And now look; nine months later and I’m back in the Premiership, so I’m absolutely buzzing.”

Meanwhile, a newspaper in the North-East has perhaps inevitably speculated that Nicky Butt could interest the Blues this summer. Roy Keane’s former Manchester United team-mate has announced that he will be leaving St James’ Park, having ended his six-year career with the Magpies by holding aloft the Championship trophy yesterday.

Ex-England international Butt, 35, is a free agent and is very much the type of experienced campaigner that Keane has said he will be targeting in the summer.

Elsewhere, Town owner and chairman Marcus Evans's fortune is estimated at £510 million in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List, up from £400 million in last year's list.

Given that Evans wholly owns his companies, assessing his worth is a near impossible task with other previous estimates putting the figure above a billion.

Photo: Action Images

Suffolk_n_Good added 12:09 - Apr 25 Shame it didn't go through!!! Not sure how I feel about the possibility of Nicky Butt signing, I believe we should be building a quality team for the future, not someone who is coming to the end of their career (I.E Ivan Campo) (who did nothing IMO) I understand why Keane feels we need an older head or 2 but believe we should invest in a younger mature player, someone in the mold of Matt Holland.

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Suffolk_n_Good added 12:11 - Apr 25 PS, adding Nicky Butt thats 4 players we have now been "linked with" I predict we will hit 50 "linked with" before the new season starts!!!
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buryblue77 added 12:15 - Apr 25 Yes we should be building a squad for the future, and that's what Keane is trying to do, but if this speculation is true he could well be a good addition and provide some excellent experience that every club needs (look at his former team mates at Man Utd who came through when he did, still going well) He may not have the legs to play every game but I for one would welcome him here.

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blu_dru added 12:29 - Apr 25 Nicky Butt would be an amazing addition, soooo much experience winning titles and playing at the world cup etc.. wouldnt play every game but still think the other players would learn alot from him
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finidigeorge88 added 12:34 - Apr 25 Rik Waller would be a better signing than Nicky Butt and probably faster..
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Blueknight85 added 12:51 - Apr 25 every team needs an old hand we don't have one at the moment Nicky butt would be a great player to have just in the squad if nothing else. We had to bring Tony Mowbray out of retirement the season we won the play off's because the team was missing "the old hand" and we have been missing it since Jason de vos went to. I think i read butt wants to go into coaching so if him and Keane get along i wouldnt rule out a years contract as a player/coach. To compare Nicky but to Ivan Campo though is laughable lol

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PimsNumber1 added 13:03 - Apr 25 Nicky butt is fully fit and determined. Not like Campo .
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Mungo added 13:42 - Apr 25 Nicky Butt could be an interesting one. Very experienced but has only been a fringe player at Newcastle this season. Getting on a bit but an old head like that can make all the difference (recent examples being Phillips & Carr at Birmingham, Alexander at Burnley, etc) I'm not convinced Keane is looking to break up the Leadbitter/Norris partnership, so suggests he may be looking at a 5 man midfield again...

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naa added 13:46 - Apr 25 mungo: I really hope is looking to break up Norris and Leadbitter, as it just doesn't work. Waaaaay too similar with no creativity. Butt would add a bit more passing ability but I hope it's not at the expense of playing two strikers, we can't keep playing Wickham on his own up front, he's only 17.
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mightytown added 13:51 - Apr 25 nicky butt could be a useful addition to the squad, this is however just speculation. also, would he be interested in relocating from the north to suffolk, with his family in wat remains of his career? an interesting one, he wouldnt be a regular but i would look upon his signing as a positive move, bringing balance to the squad in terms of experience and ability. could be worth a punt.

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stinkiusminkius added 13:55 - Apr 25 Hmmmmm, butt, Norris and leadbitter in midfield. How very exciting. Or perhaps not. But it is only rumour so let's hope not.
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Mark added 15:14 - Apr 25 It is a shame Simpson did not sign for us, as he would have been a better right-back that Rosenior has proved to be (despite a promising start). As for Butt, I don't see how we can accommodate another defensive central midfielder when we already have Norris and Leadbitter. We must bring in some attacking players to turn these home draws into victories. I sort of understand why Keane wants experienced campaigners, but usually older players are best suited to centre back (where we have the Delaney-McAuley pairing) and central midfield (where we have Norris and Leadbitter). Our money will be limited and I really would focus it on a left-sided midfielder and striker.

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tom_the_blue added 15:14 - Apr 25 Butt holding (sounds pervy, but you know what I mean) would allow norris and leadbitter to get forward, and would work very well if we had two very creative wingers, which we lack. However, those three may win enough ball to allow Martin to be given an opputunity on the left without needing to work back and tackle as much. We would then need a creative right winger and with Wickham up top, that could be a good system.

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MarkITFC added 15:26 - Apr 25 Nicky Butt , yes please , sort of player we need and will be a very good sqaud player. and on a free , we have nothing to lose.
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jas0999 added 15:29 - Apr 25 Butt would be a good signing. Experienced, a leader and a winner. It may mean Norris having to go.
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itfckieren added 15:47 - Apr 25 I would not be disappointed to see norris go.. For me he doesnt do enough. Nicky butt would be a great addition, especially for nothing. At times we are 'too nice' we need a bit of aggression in the team
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renoble added 15:50 - Apr 25 Love the fact you're discussing Norris going. He's one of the few players that Keane has singled out for praise and said that he'll never leave him out. Dreamland...
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Mark added 16:21 - Apr 25 Butt wouldn't be free though will he, as after his signing on fee, agent's fee and a year's wages he would well cost the best part of £1M. £1M is the transfer fee being quoted for Gary Hooper, the 22-year-old striker who has scored 43 goals in 79 games for Scunthorpe. I know who I would rather have!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 16:32 - Apr 25 Blueknight85, I'm not for one minute suggesting that Ivan Campo is better than Nicky Butt, that is laughable, my point is when older players come in & have nothing to prove, are their hearts really in it, (like Campo) is it not better to invest in a player who still has a desire & can be successful not only in a promotion push but also from there on should we gain promotion.

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Wickets added 18:14 - Apr 25 Suffolk just think about the type of person your talking about, If there is truth in this story ,you can be sure Butt would give it 100%. Campo was 100% waste of time!!
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fifeblue added 18:16 - Apr 25 "Rik Waller would be a better signing than Nicky Butt and probably faster" Fats Waller would be a better signing than Nicky Butt and probably faster!
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Blueknight85 added 18:24 - Apr 25 suffolk as my pont stated we dont have an experienced old hand in the squad the closest thing we have is Delaney, I also said i would expect it to be his move into coaching as a player/coach if it happened as he wants to move into coaching, Which means it would be an investment in coaching staff as well as having him in the squad for a year as an installation of experience confidence and as a role model. Mark i don't see the vallidation n your point why would we be forced to chose between Hooper and butt if we did actually try to sign butt? and Hopper ontop of his transfer fee would also have agent fees .. signing on fees and probably a top up clause of some description. I also don't feel Norris or Leadbitter would need to go i imagine Butt if he did join the playing staff would be a squad player playing when others are not available or playing kak etc. everyone allways seems to be so 2 dimensional and only thinks of the first 11 the Norris/Leadbitter pairing is also not a dud one lacking attacking potential...both are capable attacking players its pretty much why magilton got Norris if i remember correctly they maybe just have not have the freedom to do so recently. There is also plenty of room to bring in Central midfielders to the squad as colback, collin heally, alan quinn, and.... arguebly owen garven and trotter will all be gone all players who have been CM options leaving only Norris/Leadbitter and at a stretch Billy clark and Lee martin so it is perfectly plausible that a CM would be looked at. We should allready have one new winger in the mould of Civelli if his pre season goes well

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richietoon added 18:39 - Apr 25 Hi lads,my hope is Nicky will retire as his legs actually went about 2 seasons ago.I'd prefer to remember him as the great player he was and would hate him to go to you or anyone else and struggle.If he was offered a coach or even player/coach role that would be different otherwise you'd be better spending your money elsewhere(just my opinion).Hopefully see you in the prem 11/12.HWTL

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WadzillaBhoy added 19:31 - Apr 25 Nicky Butt played well yesterday I thought, the benefit of having older players around is that they coach the youngsters and even if he didn't many games his experience in training will help. Also as a free agent we'd just have to consider wages, sign him up I say! Pele even said Nicky Butt was the best player he'd ever seen!
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WadzillaBhoy added 19:36 - Apr 25 @FifeBlue - since when do CM's have to be fast? Usually speed is only an asset to a winger, as there is space to attack with pace on the flanks. Whereas if you try to run through the middle its too congested to make an impact. Therefore speed isnt critical merely a bonus, however his experience more than makes up for it.
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