SIMMO: WHY I'M LEAVING

Friday 20 February 2004, 14:05

Steve Simonsen has revealed the reasons behind his decision to turn down the offer of a contract extension at Goodison Park and end his six-season association with Everton.

Blues boss David Moyes had offered the 24-year-old the chance to extend his stay for a further season but made it clear that he would be third choice behind Nigel Martyn and Richard Wright.

But after spending the bulk of his time on Merseyside in a similar position he felt that now was the right time a fresh start as he recognises that he needs to be playing regular first team football.

He told evertonfc.com: "I've just played the one first-team game and a handful of reserve team games, but you've got to take every chance to play that's offered to you. Hopefully, there are people out there watching.

"I've turned down a one-year extension to my contract. I feel that the time is right to move and I need to be out there playing first-team football. I feel as though I wouldn't be doing myself justice playing in the reserves and just sitting around on the bench the odd time - that's just the way it is.

"Every professional footballer wants to play and I'm no different. I came here as a very young lad and I've gained a lot of useful experience, which will hopefully stand me in good stead in the future."

Simonsen arrived at Goodison from Tranmere Rovers in September 1998 for a British record fee for a goalkeeper of £3.3 million and he was tipped to become a future England international.

However, opportunities were few and far between, though he did breakthrough to become first choice during the 2001/2002 campaign and was still there when Moyes arrived as boss nearly two years ago.

Simonsen then dropped down the pecking order to second-choice when Richard Wright arrived later that year and further again still when Nigel Martyn was drafted in from Leeds 12 months later.

Moyes added: "I've said to Steve that if he would like to stay a year, I would sort it out for him, if he wanted to do that. But at the moment, I think he would rather go and ply his trade elsewhere. I've got no problem with that at all."

Simonsen, who has been linked with a move to Celtic and Sunderland in recent weeks, has spoken at length with his manager over his current predicament and both understand the other's situation.

Moyes will now start planning for Everton's goalkeeping future without Simonsen in mind, whilst the player himself will begin a search for a new club.

"In my last few games, I just want to show people what I can do - that's all you can ever do," Simonsen said. "You've got to progress when you get the chance and hopefully, I'll be able to do that.

"The manager understands my situation. But he wants a third-choice goalkeeper and I reluctantly turned that position down. That's the way it is. He understands it and I understand it as well.

"The gaffer explained his point of view to me. He's brought Nigel and Richard in and he sees them as the first-team goalkeepers. Obviously, I'd be third choice. I've sat and done that for long enough now and as I've said before the time is right for me to move on and progress in my career."