Promotion would justify decision to join Rangers, says Simpson

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Danny Simpson believes promotion back to the Premier League with QPR would vindicate his decision to join them from Newcastle last summer.

The 27-year-old defender opted to drop down to the Championship and move to west London on a Bosman free transfer despite being offered a new contract at St James’ Park.

And a victory against Derby at Wembley in Saturday’s play-off final would give Simpson a chance to re-establish himself in the top flight.

“After leaving Newcastle, having played in pretty much all the games, and dropping down a league to QPR, as soon as I made that decision I had a point to prove,” he admitted.

“They [Newcastle] wanted to sign Mathieu Debuchy. I knew about it – there was no secret. I got on well with the manager and chairman.

“They offered me a contract but I didn’t want to go from playing every week to being a squad player. I wanted to play every Saturday, not just in cup games or if someone got injured.

“So we shook hands and I said ‘I gave my best for you this season’ and we parted ways. It’s one of them things in football, you just shake hands and move on.

“People probably wondered why I joined, but the group of players we’ve got, plus the chance to work with Harry Redknapp and to get QPR back into the Premier League, was why I came.

“Hopefully now I can prove that I did make the right decision.”

Simpson, who started his career at Manchester United, is one of several Rangers players with top-level experience.

But he has not played at Wembley before and expects to feel “good nerves” ahead of this weekend’s all-important game.

He added: “I’ve played Champions League games with Manchester United, the quarter-finals of the Europa League with Newcastle, as well as Newcastle-Sunderland in the league.

“What you get for getting through this one is massive; not just for me and the players but for the fans, for next season, for the manager and the staff and everyone involved with QPR.

“At the end of the day we all want to play in the Premier League.”

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