Boss is Ferry happy with Simon (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Boss is Ferry happy with Simon

6:00am Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in npower League Two Table & Results By Sam Morshead

PAOLO Di Canio has praised midfielder Simon Ferry for forcing his way into the Swindon manager’s thoughts last season.

Di Canio admitted that he considered offloading the Scot at the beginning of the campaign before the former Celtic man applied himself to the Italian’s training methods, and ended up making 54 appearances for the Robins, as they stormed to the League Two title.

Reflecting on Ferry’s emergence from fringe player to talisman, Di Canio expressed his admiration of the 24-year-old.

“If they stay, someone can win the battle,” he told the Advertiser. “At the beginning, Simon Ferry won the battle.

“I said to him ‘you know that you can go because I cannot guarantee the place’, but he said ‘no, I want to stay, I want to battle.’

“But it’s difficult and there are not many others. In 10, nine are not going to win the battle in this way because I have my opinion, and for sure someone would realise to go in some place where they have a request.

“It’s a mutual exchange. This year they helped me to win, I helped them to be a better player.”

Meanwhile, Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson has revealed that Town have previously courted Posh forward Nicky Ajose.

Rumours were rife on the internet yesterday linking the young frontman with a move to the County Ground, and Ferguson said Swindon have taken a look at the 20-year-old in the past.

"I was aware of some interest from Swindon towards the end of last season, but nothing happened,” he said.

“I've heard nothing so far this summer."

It has emerged that former Town defender Alberto Comazzi is amongst the players who are being questioned by officials in Italy over accusations of match-fixing.

Comazzi, who turned out five times for the Robins during the early part of last season before being sent back to Italy, was named in his native country earlier this month as one of 61 individuals set to be probed by the authorities.