Midfielder Alan Judge has revealed his daughter Emily requiring surgery in London was chief among the reasons a summer move to QPR appealed to him.

The Blues turned down a number of offers from the Championship side for Republic of Ireland international Judge, who had signed a new contract at Portman Road in April.

“QPR did come in for me. I know it was said that the move did appeal to me and, yes, it would have meant playing in the Championship but there were a number of other reasons why I would have been interested and they are personal reasons,” Judge said in a lengthy interview in Saturday’s programme.

“My daughter Emily needs two operations and she needs those operations in London and I was living five minutes away from the hospital.

“You ask any parent what comes into your mind first - your family, your kids. The welfare of my family is number one for me. Always will be. I’ve kept it quiet until now. Only a few people know about it at the club.

“I don’t want to go into the details of the surgery. There are two stages but they are big operations.

“I had to think about everything as a parent as much as a footballer and that’s why I felt staying in London and going to QPR was maybe the right thing to ask about. Sometimes more important things than football take over.

“I spoke to the owner and he said he understood my situation but wanted me to stay and that was the end of it. I was happy to get on with it from there.

“I can understand it that the fans can get disappointed if they hear a player wants to leave. They are entitled to their opinions but sometimes they are not aware of the full facts.

“I heard some comments that I didn’t care about the club and all that but those people don’t know me. I’m not like that. I’ve always given everything wherever I’ve been.

“When the supporters watched me play against Sunderland they probably though ‘Crikey, what’s going on with him?’. It was the same at Peterborough. I sat outside the dressing room after that game and thought to myself ‘I can’t even cross a ball’.

"The gaffer overheard me talking to myself and he knew where my head was and said it will come right in time.

“I feel I’m getting there now though. I’ve got over the [wrist] injury which put me back six weeks and my family have moved down to Ipswich this week which is massive for us as a family.

“My daughter will have her operations at the end of September so there is still the worry over that naturally but life is a bit calmer now and that will help my football.”

Photo: TWTD

DifferentGravy added 18:03 - Aug 30 Always thought Judge a very tidy player. It was no surprise that offers came in from championship teams and, without prior knowledge, it was a disappointment that potentially he would be leaving, having only just signed for us. You want to hold onto your best assets but sometimes letting the player move on is the best thing all round. It must(and still is) a very difficult scenario for Judgey/club. Completely understand your head might be all over the place and wishing you, daughter and family the very best........but dont ever doubt your ability. The blues fans are right behind you!

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TimmyH added 18:19 - Aug 30 Do sort of agree with you @cat - we forget these players are on money and have been on money joe public can only generally dream about (without trying to be too hard) and no doubt private healthcare...why that should change the fact he needs to be really close to a hospital is a bit OTT...was he offered more money at QPR? If he was on a bigger contract with a Championship club outside London would he have still considered a move if lets say Brentford wanted him back?...if QPR hadn't gone hunting elsewhere would AJ have still been here?...that we will never know.

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londontractorboy57 added 20:08 - Aug 30 Arniem social media at it worst.
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Saxonblue74 added 21:45 - Aug 30 Arnie, kind of agree with you to a point. I do, of course, sympathise with AJ and his family. However, we must have the best spin doctor at PR since Alistair Campbell!! Perhaps Judges form of late can be linked to his family affairs which would of course be entirely understandable. In all honesty I don't believe it would warrant a change of clubs and location between two clubs in relatively close proximity.

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EatonBlue added 23:06 - Aug 30 I wish you and your daughter all the best. Hopefully the Club will give you some compassionate leave next month.
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algarvefan added 00:31 - Aug 31 We all get family problems and depending on the seriousness it will have an effect at work, I understand this. However if I had those problems a job move would be the last thing I would consider. For me regardless of the above I have not yet seen enough last season or this of Judge to think he is a wonderful player, the jury with me is still out and he has yet to prove himself.

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I_AM_GOD added 07:19 - Aug 31 Having recently been through a year long battle to protect my little girl from a harmful situation, it consumes your life. It does affect your work severely as the mental strain is far harder than the physical strain. Add in travelling, especially in London, and I can totally appreciate where he is coming from. Keeping that a secret to protect your family is another pressure on its own. Let's hope we see his form now return, although there could be more ups and downs on this road his family is on. Please give him the time to deal with it as a human when there are.

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Dissboyitfc added 08:07 - Aug 31 My dear mother always said you shouldnt judge (pardon the pun) so will try not to! but heres the thing whilst i have every sympathy for judge and his family, any family member suffering is difficult but when it becomes a child it becomes even more unbearable and these must be simply awful times for all the family connected to this! And i can see how this would affect form etc. But i am not buying that the problems would be any easier if had a club closer to the hospital, utter rubbish IMO! Not having it! He would be able to spend as much time with his family and daughter whether he was with us or QPR! Many things have changed at our beloved club, but the one thing that hasnt is we are still a family club, look how the club looked after chopra for instance! The club would given him compassionate leave for sure as and when needed, that i am sure of, without a doubt! Not many on here have not suffered tragic times! He has played the sympathy card and imo its the wrong card to play! But i am not Judging!

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ArnieM added 08:28 - Aug 31 Out of interest, did people realise that last season Chambers was playing his football whilst his mother was / is seriously ill ? He is by all accounts very very close to his mother . I don't recall a single occasion where Chambers used social media to drum up support for his family plight or to “explain” to his critics why his game was not on it. And no point has he asked for a transfer to be nearer his family. Whilst I sympathise with Judges family situation I do think Judge has been very cute about this and has used social media to detract from his wish to leave Town as soon as a Championship club came calling - the ink not even dry on his new 2 year contract. Chambers has not pulled any such stunt, yet he has been much malinger by many on here for his form. Down mark at your leisure . It's all about opinions and I'm not the only one to feel Judge is being a little manipulative here.

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Dissboyitfc added 08:37 - Aug 31 agreed Arnie!
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BurleysGloryDays added 09:11 - Aug 31 ArnieM - you've got your POV on it, most who have been in that position profoundly disagree. Ultimately, no one is completely right or completely wrong, life isn't that simple. But I think it's very fair to say the guys absolutely should be cut as much slack as he needs. We're all different, chambers dealt with his situation his way, that's him. Respectable certainly, other schools of thought might suggest he should've spoken out. Judge has dealt with his situation his way, and fair enough too. Ultimately, it's water under the bridge. Let's sing for Judgey today to let him know we're right behind him. ITFC style!

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ArnieM added 10:03 - Aug 31 Yes I hope he gets back to his best for us too. And that his little girls eye operation goes well . That has never been an issue.
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warktheline added 10:19 - Aug 31 As per on this forum, so many ‘enjoy' an excuse or two, and look to take the moral high ground over anybody who ‘dares' to place perspective on a situation! Remember it's not all about the player, other parties such as the club and manager perspectives need full consideration! Let's not forget the club offered Judge a way forward in an attempt to rediscover his past form after a serious injury! Also I have no doubt that the club is taking good care of the player throughout his current difficulties! These lads are ‘professionals' and as such are ‘expected' to perform to high levels watched by paying supporters! All the best Judge to you and family going forward! Life is, for plenty extremely testing! Positive thoughts from all connected to Ipswich Town FC!

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roytheboy added 11:05 - Aug 31 You were always a good player, now we know also that you are a good caring Father too, God bless your Daughter Alan, my family all wish her well and hope that she is fully recovered very soon, I'm sure everyone at the club feels the same way.
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shortmarine1969 added 11:31 - Aug 31 Wishing Alans daughter the best of health and a speedy recovery...but i going with Arnie on this one as well , if the surgeries are major , which i have no doubt they are for any child to have surgery is for a parent "major" , the knowledge that these were upcoming has very likely been months..i.e after he signed for Ipswich , and as Arnie pointed . others have similar issues but dont go all over social media to make the point , a tad of deflection (on his form & wanting to leave so soon after joining) here i think. once again will re-iterate , nothing but best wishes to him and his daughter.

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Linkboy13 added 11:44 - Aug 31 Must be very difficult playing under that sort of pressure hope things turn out well for him and his family. Many other players would have put in transfer requests and downed tools so i think youve got to admire his attitude if anything he's been trying too hard which has resulted in him appearing in areas of the pitch where he shouldn't have been. So let's just get behind the lad come on judgy.

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