SWINDON TOWN: Returning to say 'goodbye' (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Returning to say 'goodbye'

7:30am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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SIMON Cox is expecting to walk off the County Ground pitch battered and bruised later this month, but as he heads out of Wiltshire for probably the final time he will do so with a smile on his face.

Town entertain West Brom on Tuesday, July 28, in their penultimate pre-season friendly before the 2009/10 campaign kicks off, and the fixture will pit Cox’s new employers against his former side.

The 22-year-old is desperate to feature in order to say goodbye to the Town faithful who worshipped him over the past two seasons, and will also take the opportunity for some farewells with ex-colleagues and friends.

However, he knows Town boss Danny Wilson will offer him no favours once the whistle is blown.

“I’ve no doubt that he will probably tell them to kick me up in the air, but that won’t bother me,” joked the 32-goal striker.

“I would love to play in that game, just to go back and see old faces.

“It all got done quite quickly and I haven’t really said any goodbyes yet.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of people but it’s not the same as being there and saying goodbye.

“However, I’ll get the chance to do that after the game.

“I’ve had a lot of messages from the players and staff wishing me all the best so I think they were all happy for me.

“Some people might think it will be weird to see me in a different coloured shirt, but times change and people move on.”

Cox was forced to deal with months of speculation linking him with a move away from Swindon before his £1.9million transfer to the Baggies was finally completed earlier this week.

Derby County, Huddersfield Town and Leicester City were all among those mentioned in the chase for his signature, but the forward revealed West Brom signalled their intent by putting their money where their mouth is.

“When I was at Swindon I got bored of the speculation because I read pretty much every day in every paper that I was linked with another club,” Cox told the Advertiser.

“It was just getting boring because no-one had put any money on the table to put it where their mouth was.

“There was a lot of speculation but probably only two or three offers that came in. A lot of people phoned up the club and asked what the situation was.

“West Brom came in and the chairman (Andrew Fitton) had a few dealings with them because it wasn’t where the mark was that they had put in first.

“But they got there in the end and that was pleasing for me because now I’ve got the opportunity to play and enjoy myself.’’ He added: “I’ve got the opportunity to play in a higher league with a big club, and I’ll take that.”