A number of West Ham fans have been left delighted after a report stated that former defender and Irons cult hero James Collins is set to secure a free transfer to Ipswich in the near-future.
Reliable inside source ExWHUemployee, a reputable font of knowledge regarding the Hammers, has claimed that following his departure from the London Stadium at the end of his contract earlier this summer, he is set to join the Tractor Boys in England’s second tier.
James Collins is expected to seal a move to Ipswich in the coming days. Location wise it’s a good move for him ?
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) September 4, 2018
With the 35-year-old a firm favourite of the West Ham faithful, they took to Twitter to voice their joy at seeing him secure a move, with many believing it was a good switch for him to make.
This is Futbol has rounded up a selection of the supporters’ tweets:
Top man..they’re gonna love him.
— Al Bundy (@AlBundy37279026) September 4, 2018
Will always be a club legend! All the best Ginger Pele ??
— Billy Cridland (@BCridland) September 4, 2018
Wish him nothing but the best, great signing on and off the pitch
— LasVegasWestHamUtd (@WestHaminVegas) September 4, 2018
thanks ex good luck to ginger
— boleyn badges (@boleynbadges) September 4, 2018
Good club for him as well mate…
— ?????? ? ????????? ? (@PW57WHU) September 4, 2018
Great news for ginge,wishing him all the best and hopefully he will be back some day on a coaching level
— Paul ayres (@Paulayres16) September 4, 2018
Great news, good luck ginge ????
— Kieren Tree (@tree_kieren) September 4, 2018
Great for him, he still has something to give a shaky defence and 100% commitment. Would have loved us to keep him as a sub and to inspire the current team until they settle and gel. Wonder if he’ll go into coaching afterwards?
— martyn (@kelling73) September 4, 2018
Opinion
Collins will always be well thought of at the Hammers, and there will be some fans who will still think he could have done a job in the Premier League this season. However, with the likes of Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena joining, they were right to let him leave, and in Ipswich he will be joining a side who could do with his experience of the top flight in a bid to make a success of their Championship campaign. It will be interesting to see whether he is used as a regular starter or simply as backup by the Tractor Boys, for if he becomes a real force to be reckoned with at the back then there could well be a bunch of second tier sides ruing the fact they let the opportunity of signing him on a free pass them by. Still, this is not yet a done deal and there could be one last twist in Collins’ future.