Former NUFC striker Daryl Murphy completed a £2m move to Nottingham Forest last week and the Irishman has opened up about his reasons behind leaving Tyneside, also paying tribute to Rafa Benitez and the Geordie faithful.
Murphy signed a three-year deal with Forest – a contract too good to turn down for a 34-year old – and said the following about his Newcastle exit when speaking to the Nottingham Post:
“It was a difficult decision but, if I am being realistic, I would have had to wait for my chance at Newcastle.”
“I need to be playing. I want to be playing football and hopefully I can come here and get games.”
“It was brilliant there. I thank the manager – I can’t thank the manager and the fans enough.”
Daryl then commented on his role at St. James’ Park last season and how he fared when given a chance, suggesting he has made the right decision to join Forest despite it being a ‘difficult decision’ to leave Newcastle:
“They took to me, I had to bide my time when I first signed, because they were playing well and winning games.”
“I just needed to be ready.”
“When my chance came, I did well, I scored a couple of goals and we won the league in the end, which was great.”
“But I am definitely very happy to be here, I am just looking forward to getting going now, really.”
Murphy was a consummate professional, solid character and often delivered when given his chance in the team, scoring some vital goals that fully justified his £3m signing from Ipswich this time last summer.
We wish him all the best in his future ventures with Nottingham Forest.
