New signing Jimmy Bullard says it was an easy decision to rejoin the Blues once he knew Town wanted him on a permanent basis in the wake of the termination of his Hull contract. Free agent Bullard, who was on loan at Portman Road last season, has signed a two-year deal.

Bullard says he is delighted to return to Town, for whom he scored five goals in 16 appearances during the second half of the last campaign: “I enjoyed myself so much here last year and as soon as I knew Ipswich were interested, it was a fairly easy decision for me.

“I enjoyed my football here, I know the staff, I know Paul really well and Marcus Evans has put his faith in me.

"I got on so well with the fans here, I just enjoyed my time. All that made it an easy decision for me. It’s very nice to be amongst friends and playing football."

The 32-year-old was pleased to be reunited with team-mates from Town and elsewhere: “There are a few new faces from last season, but a lot of old friends as well like David Stockdale [who he played with at Fulham] and Ibrahima Sonko [team-mate at Hull].

“Even Andy Liddell is the fitness coach. I used to play with him at Wigan, so it’s a bit strange having him on the coaching staff! But it’s been good.”

Bullard admits that he was interested in a possible return to the Premier League but says that no such move was ultimately on the table: “I’ve always said I’d like to play at the highest level but it didn’t quite happen.

“There were talks held with QPR a couple of times but didn’t really materialise for either side really, so I had to look elsewhere.”

The midfielder says he’s been told not to talk about his Tigers exit, which was due to an alleged disciplinary transgression on the club’s pre-season trip to Slovenia: “There’s not too much I can say on that. My lawyers are dealing with it at the minute, so I’ve been told to say that. It’s in my lawyers’ hands.

“I enjoyed my time at Hull, I’ve always said that. I wish all the boys the best, that’s all I’ve got to say on the matter.”

The ongoing situation with his former club — he says he doesn’t know the timescale for its resolution — meant he had to abandon his usual policy of representing himself in transfer dealings and appoint an agent, Simon Dent: “I felt like I had to get an agent, and get some lawyers and solicitors involved in the whole situation. I needed to have an agent really.”

The one-time England call-up is on a significantly lower wage than his £45,000-a-week contract at Hull but says football is more important to him than money: “I’ve taken a pay cut but I’m just happy I’ll be playing football now, which I always wanted to do. Here I am at Ipswich and over the moon!"

A former Peterborough player, Bullard is confident that the Blues can turn things around after last week's 7-1 reverse to his old club: “Like the gaffer says, it’s really early in the season. Obviously you don’t want to lose like that, but it happens in football and I’m sure we’ll kick on now.”

Photo: Action Images

BrightBlue added 18:41 - Aug 25 Delighted to have you back Jimmy. Your personality is infectious and will spread through the team, squad, fans and everyone and everything at ITFC! Can't wait for Saturday to come!
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bluearmy4life added 18:48 - Aug 25 Welcome home Jimmy. Little prediction if I may JB To finish his career with town in the premier league? Gotta be worth a go!
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BurleyForever added 18:59 - Aug 25 Must give him the Captains armband which surely that Leadbetter must go b4 transfer deadline. Could this be our 3 Musketeers.(JB,DM & Sonko) if so playoff's will be easy
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paulnstar added 19:35 - Aug 25 thats it we will win every game now jimmys here ,champions we will be .oh i just woke up ,whats that ,we lost 5 2 and 7 1 to two league one teams reality sucks
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fourth added 19:39 - Aug 25 Paul Jewell is an incredibly brave man. He now has at least 6 "difficult" characters to deal with. But not many of them will sulk and disappear under pressure. Jimmy Bullard is a remarkable signing and we can expect his precision to make opportunities for some excellent players. Now who is going to be strong enough on the pitch to demand respect as Captain? This is going to be a fascinating season, starting with disorganisation and moving towards joy.

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RegencyBlue added 19:40 - Aug 25 Keep him fit and this will be a hell of a signing!
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tractordamage added 19:53 - Aug 25 Awesome to have him back. A happy workplace is a productive one, so the whole team will be better off with Jimmy B around. Onwards and Upwards...COYB!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:55 - Aug 25 h32. Great to see you looking on the positive side, now get down to PR & cheer our beloved team onwards & upwards. We can really start to turn this season around. COYB.
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fourth added 20:18 - Aug 25 Now. That T shirt Jimmy, gives a strong message It says Sex Pistols, Malcolm Mclaren, Refusal to be ordinary. Damn you. And then CREATIVITY with Vivienne Westwood.In a couldn't give a b-r way. Of course he might have just grabbed from the floor what was available at 8 am. and is a meek line-towerin the DHSS.
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TimmyH added 20:18 - Aug 25 yep good to see him back! let's hope he stays injury free.
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Roystheboy added 20:19 - Aug 25 ITFC NEW SONG................... OLLIE & JERRY..... THERE's NO STOPPIN US.......................... Have a listen people..........
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Blue_75 added 20:26 - Aug 25 Welcome back Jimmy and Daryl and welcome Ibrahima! Looking forward to Saturday - just hope we get a little luck and then start to build some positive momentum! Us fans need to generate some consistent noise at Portman Road - we've been too quiet for too long! Keep those "Blue Army" chants going just a bit longer! COYB!!!!!
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dizbon added 20:30 - Aug 25 great to have jimmy back. he'll do the team good in the dressing room as well as on the pitch. looking forward to sat
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fourth added 20:30 - Aug 25 Right Game on Now it's all in PJ's court. No-one else
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Marcus added 20:59 - Aug 25 Yay, I can proudly say I have hair just like Jimmy Bullard! . . . . . . (just not on my head)
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ipswichm8 added 21:10 - Aug 25 well done ipswich for signing jimmy bullard and well done jimmy for chosing ipswich
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titanicclown added 21:34 - Aug 25 YEEEEES!!!! BEST MIDFIELDER IN THE LEAGUE.................... GET IN THERE!!
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ClassyCranson added 21:55 - Aug 25 Really pleased, top effort by the owner and manager to get him in.
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bugledog123 added 21:56 - Aug 25 Great news! Welcome back Jimmy B!
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power19 added 22:11 - Aug 25 Kennedy geting shot (JF not Mark), Mandela being released and Jimmy signing for ITFC!!!!!!!!!! Lost for words...........
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PlymouthBlue62 added 22:13 - Aug 25 Great stuff, so pleased he's with us, the man is a legend! UTT! COYB!!
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GTRKing added 23:27 - Aug 25 Now thanks to jimmy I don't have to keep re adding him on fifa 11. Can't wait till sat I told u august will be **** but after will be good. We going up team needs to work together & Jimmy please stay fit. A RB Is a must & maybe a CB. Leeds will be tough but 3-2 or 2-1 to town i bet.
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Ambertigerfan added 00:55 - Aug 26 Any "easy decision" by Bullard is based on one thing: money. Do not be surprised if he cries off injured after two games and you're saddled with 30,000 a week for the next two years. Clearly no Premiership team would give Bullard a long contract, probably pay as you play. No bitterness here just a prediction based on Hull City's experience. I hope the prediction is false; time will tell. Good luck with Bullard, when he can be bothered to apply himself he's a real talent! Crystal knees never harden. He's no Paul Mariner!

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arablue added 00:57 - Aug 26 Wanted to join the curly brigade , tho am a bit challenged on the hair side of things...BUT, who cares coz WE'VE GOT JIMMY!!!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 01:15 - Aug 26 ummm, it's handy that the Aston Martin dealer also accepts "faith" "and Marcus Evans has put his faith in me."
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