TOWN legend Fitzroy Simpson believes Simon Cox will be making a big-money exit from the County Ground sooner rather than later, and is tipping the striker to have a glittering career at the highest level.

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray revealed yesterday he has been keeping tabs on Cox, while Derby County and Leicester City are known admirers of the 27-goal front man.

Simpson himself left Swindon as a 22-year-old in March 1992 for Manchester City in a £500,000 deal, and went on to have a high-profile career including playing at the 1998 World Cup for Jamaica.

And he is confident Cox could also prosper at the next rung up the football ladder “His goalscoring record suggests that he should be on his way soon,” said Simpson, now aged 39. “Simon has done his apprenticeship at Reading and then had time at Northampton before he came to Swindon, and he’s found his bedding place here.

“I’ve watched him on quite a lot of occasions this season, and I think he deserves a shot at a higher level because of his superb work ethic and attitude.

“For players of Simon Cox’s quality, somewhere like Swindon is always a good bedding place, and unfortunately it’s the nature of the game that League One clubs are stepping stones for bigger and better things.

“Other teams will see Simon as an attractive option, and in my opinion he’s a top-end Championship player. He can go on to play at the highest level for sure.

“There’s always a danger of going somewhere and being stuck on the bench, but I’m sure his advisors will be aware of that. Simon is an intelligent boy as well and won’t go somewhere where he will not be able to progress his career.”

Simpson’s move to the Premiership in 1992 netted Town a hefty fee for a young player and he believes that, should Cox depart for pastures new, Swindon’s chiefs will ensure they get the best possible price for their prolific striker.

He said: “In todays terms my transfer fee would be the equivalent of about £2.5million, and I had played about 100 games so had done my grounding and was prepared for the move.

“I still regard myself as a Swindon fan, and it is important that we command the right amount for Coxy.

“The chairman and Danny Wilson are reluctant to see him go and I am sure that, when he does eventually go, we will get a good price for him.

“I could see him leaving this summer, and deservedly so.”