Jimmy Bullard signs for Ipswich
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Your support makes all the difference.Ipswich have fought off competition from Barclays Premier League clubs to sign out-of-contract midfielder Jimmy Bullard.
Bullard saw his deal terminated by Hull last week, with the 32-year-old having not featured for the Tigers this term after being suspended following an incident on a pre-season trip to Slovenia.
His availability alerted a handful of top-flight clubs - including QPR, with whom he held talks - but Bullard has opted to pen a two-year deal with npower Championship side Ipswich, where he enjoyed a successful three-month loan spell last season.
And manager Paul Jewell is delighted with the reunion, telling the club's official website: "We had been chipping away at Jimmy and Hull all summer to try to sort something out but Hull were adamant that he wouldn't be going out on loan again unless someone paid his wages.
"He had a few clubs to talk to but Jimmy made it clear that if we could sort out a deal then coming here would be his preference.
"It's a great feeling to know that even though he had the opportunity to go to a Premier League team he still wanted the opportunity to come here.
"Hopefully he can do what he did for us last year and beyond."
The move is sure to delight Ipswich supporters, who voted Bullard their Player of the Year last season despite spending only three months at Portman Road.
Bullard's arrival comes on the same day Daryl Murphy will complete a season-long loan move to Ipswich from Celtic.
The striker, who has represented the Republic of Ireland nine times, returns to Suffolk having enjoyed five months on loan at Portman Road from Sunderland in 2009/10.
Murphy completed a switch from the Stadium of Light to Celtic last summer, scoring three times in 21 appearances in his debut campaign north of the border, although he is yet to feature this season.
And the 28-year-old has not ruled out remaining at Ipswich beyond next May.
"I'm looking forward to playing for the club again and we will see how it goes from there," Murphy told Town's official website.
"If I do well and the manager wants to extend my stay beyond the year then I certainly would be interested but for now all I want to concentrate on is playing games."
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