DESPITE being an ex-Norwich City player, David Wright today looked to Ipswich Town fans to give his career a lift.The 26-year-old defender signed a three-and-a-half year contract at Portman Road last night following a reported £250,000 move from Premiership Wigan.

By Elvin King

DESPITE being an ex-Norwich City player, David Wright today looked to Ipswich Town fans to give his career a lift.

The 26-year-old defender signed a three-and-a-half year contract at Portman Road last night following a reported £250,000 move from Premiership Wigan.

“At the JB Stadium we struggled to get people into the ground,” said Wright. “Even for the big games the place was not filled as Wigan is a rugby league town.

“Crowds did go up from 6,000 to 15,000 during my time at the club, and I am certainly not knocking Wigan's supporters.

“But I have played at Ipswich enough times to know what an atmosphere the fans can create at Portman Road. This can only help to make me a better player.”

Wright's last game in Suffolk was when Joe Royle's Town went top of the Championship in December 2004 and he remembers it well.

“It was the one and only time we flew to a game,” he said. “After our 2-1 defeat manager Paul Jewell banned further flights and we returned to the coach.”

Wright will make his Town debut tomorrow at the Stadium of Light and he is hoping to change Town's luck.

“My record there is two wins and a draw and I am looking to continue this run of good results,” said the player who learned his trade at the famed Crewe academy.

“I was there from nine to 23 and was taught the right habits. Being booked just once this confirms that I was educated not to go to ground.”

Wright played five games on loan in the autumn of 2005 for Norwich City, but does not expect this to be a problem.

“I don't imagine you can mention Norwich around here, but I enjoyed my short time there.

“I don't expect this to be problem for Ipswich fans.

“Dean Ashton, who I knew from my Crewe days, was at Carrow Road and we had a few wins.”

With a couple of flights back and forth to the north east and having been stuck in a jam on the A14 after a medical at Stowmarket yesterday, Wright is looking to get back to playing.

“I spoke to Jim Magilton after Wigan's FA Cup defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday night - and it has moved quite quickly from there,” added Wright, who is married with two children.

“I was not really playing week in week out and as a footballer you want to be playing every game.

“Leaving the Premiership was hard but after I spoke with the manager and the chairman at Ipswich and heard about their ambition I was excited and felt if I was going to leave then this was the right club to come to.

“They want Premiership football and that matches my ambition to go back to the top flight.”

Magilton said: “If I could have identified a right back from the start it would have been David Wright.

“He brings quality and value for money. We will reap the benefits of David's best years.”

Town chief executive Derek Bowden added: “David's signing signals the board's intention to support the manager.

“Hopefully there will me more signings to come in the coming days and as we have said before we have no reason to sell any players.”

Magilton today confirmed that bringing in a striker is his top priority - and that he is waiting to hear the result of a recent bid.

“Something is pending,” said Magilton, “but any newcomer will not be here in time to play tomorrow - perhaps in Tuesday's FA Cup replay against Chester.”