Premier League winner Danny Simpson has revealed how Leicester City have helped him through some tough times as he continues to search for a new club. The 35-year-old was part of City‘s title-winning side that also went on to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Simpson left the Foxes in 2019 and rejoined the club’s u23 side in early 2021 as a free agent before signing for former boss Nigel Pearson at Bristol City. The right-back described Pearson as a “top man” but featured just eight times for the Robins before leaving in March and is still searching for a new club. He says he has relied on support from City after struggling mentally at times and is looking for ways to help other players in a similar position.
Danny Simpson said: “I want to keep training and I don’t want to fall back into that place. I just think there could be programmes in place, or even courtesy calls, just to check where people are in life. It’s not on the clubs that have released you, that club will continue. You might have people that keep an eye on you like I’ve got someone at Leicester, who’s the welfare officer called Dale, and she’s amazing. She rings me once a week, but I don’t think that happens elsewhere. It helps, so I’m sure that can help other people. I think mentally and physically when you stop getting paid and you stop having a routine, it’s dangerous. I’ve highlighted the problems to the Premier League and they think it’s a really good idea to address it. They liked the idea that there should be like a sports academy or a set up where out-of-contract players, of all ages, can go to these training camps, as those players can get together, stay fit and have a record of the work they’ve been doing. The Premier League like the idea, so hopefully something can happen in the future, even if it’s not for me, then for others.”
Former Manchester United defender Simpson shared that he is part of a Whatsapp group with other free agents and had searched for pitches to hire out. After looking for places to train, he made a call to Leicester, who offered him the chance to use the club’s facilities.
Danny Simpson said: “I saw all my friends go back to their clubs in the summer and it affects you mentally. When you see them back in training, I didn’t even want to go on my Instagram because I was sick and tired. I know it sounds bad but I couldn’t like their pictures. I was struggling mentally and there wasn’t much help. I was lucky because eventually I grew a pair of balls and rang Leicester and I asked whether I could come back in and train and they let me, but some people don’t have that relationship with clubs.”
