Norwood: Ipswich is a Premier League Club Monday, 10th Jun 2019 20:07 New striker James Norwood believes Town is a Premier League club and wants to help the Blues, who will play League One football for the first time in 62 years in 2019/20, to get back to the top flight. The 28-year-old’s long-anticipated Bosman free move from Tranmere was confirmed this evening, the 32-goal frontman signing a three-year deal with the club having an option for a further season. “Ipswich is a Premier League club and I want to help them get back to that level,” Norwood insisted when speaking to iFollow Ipswich. “I’ve looked around the stadium and it’s unbelievable. Looking at the size of the crowds last season, the facilities. I just can’t wait for pre-season to start now. “I had three or four Championship clubs make offers but I spoke with Paul Lambert and he told me how he saw me fitting into his team. “It’s a massive club and I have seen how the fans get behind the team and I know what that can do for a football club. It was a no-brainer for me really. “I’ve come here to achieve things. I have had two promotions [with Tranmere] and Ipswich have got a good chance of going up next season, and I want to be part of that.” We understand Hull City were among the Championship clubs to show interest in Norwood, who has increased his Tranmere weekly wage - agreed in December 2016 during their time in the National League - by several times by joining the Blues. Norwood will meet up with his new team-mates when the squad return to Playford Road for pre-season training on June 24th.
Norwood has also said his goodbyes to everyone at Tranmere after four seasons at Prenton Park. “It has been a special journey and obviously last season was incredible. I am so happy we have achieved promotion to League One and the club can only kick on from this point," he told the Rovers official website. “It has been a new home for me, the memories will stay with me forever. This is a massive club and the way we have won back-to-back promotions is a really special story. Tranmere Rovers will always have a special place in my heart. “The club and the fans have stuck with me through some tough times. I have built up an amazing relationship with the Super White Army [SWA]. “It is something so special and incredible to share a personal relationship with the fans and I can’t thank them enough. I don’t think they realise how important they are, they are the driving force behind this club. “Tranmere have a chairman [Mark Palios] doing everything he can to get the players closer to the fans every year and you can now see the results. “We have been achieving things that Tranmere should be achieving and it is certainly a club moving in the right direction.
"A key factor for me now is that both my mum and dad are retired. I wanted to be closer to them, my family and my friends. “I phoned the chairman and told him everything and I said I would like to come back in some capacity one day, whether it is a player, a coach or a fan. "This is a place that will always hold a place in my heart, and I want to see the club continue to do well. I would love to one day pull on the famous white shirt again! “There is a togetherness at Tranmere Rovers which I don’t think too many football clubs have. I will always be a Tranmere Rovers supporter now and I hope we go and get three in a row!” “I can’t thank you all enough, from the chairman, to Nicola [Palios, co-owner and vice-chairman], to the manager [Micky Mellon], the lads and of course, the fans.” Chairman Palios added: “James came to Prenton Park when the club was at its lowest ebb and in his four years more than fulfilled his contract, playing a major part in the club’s return to the EFL and then to League One. “The SWA appreciated his efforts for the cause and, of course, his goals. Whilst we made every effort to keep him, we respect his decision to move on and wish him well for the future. “From Nicola’s and my personal perspective, James symbolises the last five years of effort by all that constitutes Tranmere Rovers Football Club and we wish him success.” Manager Mellon said: “We'd like to thank James for all of his fantastic effort. I've enjoyed working with him. "I have loved watching his development at Tranmere Rovers over the last few years and we wish him well on his ongoing journey, except when he plays against Tranmere. “He will always have a special place in the memories of the staff and the fans.”
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