Source: Northern_Echo
Perch is Newcastle’s first summer recruit
JAMES Perch is delighted to have put his play-off misery behind him by becoming Newcastle United's first summer signing ahead of their return to the Premier League.[LNB] Perch penned a four-year deal at St James' Park yesterday after agreeing to leave Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee which is understood to be around £1m.[LNB] The versatile 24-year-old, whose contract at the City Ground was due to expire next summer, suffered play-off heartbreak two months ago as Forest lost out to eventual winners Blackpool at the semi-final stage.[LNB] However, he will realise his ambition of appearing in the Premier League next month after Magpies manager Chris Hughton agreed a deal to take him to the North-East.[LNB] We faltered at the last hurdle with Forest, but it's brilliant to be a Premier League player now, said Perch, who made more than 200 first-team appearances for Forest after joining as a trainee in 2003.[LNB] Hopefully, I can get some games under my belt and get training with the lads.[LNB] The aura around the place is massive.[LNB] The players they have got here to have got relegated and then come straight back up shows great courage.[LNB] Perch came close to joining Newcastle in January, only for Forest to reject the Magpies' initial offer of around £750,000.[LNB] Hughton was disappointed to have missed out at that stage, but was quick to renew his attempts to secure a deal after Forest failed to achieve promotion in May.[LNB] JAMES Perch is delighted to have put his play-off misery behind him by becoming Newcastle United's first summer signing ahead of their return to the Premier League.[LNB]
