Ambrose pens Selhurst contract (From News Shopper)

Ambrose pens Selhurst contract

5:20pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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DARREN Ambrose has joined Crystal Palace from Charlton in a two-year deal.

Eagles boss Neil Warnock revealed his delight in signing a versatile player in preparation for the new Championship campaign, which is set to kick off on August 8 against Plymouth.

He told the Crystal Palace website: “I have been after Darren for years. I was even prepared to offer up to £1m before he went up to Newcastle in 2003 when I was at Sheffield.

“I have always thought he was a quality player and we have missed a dead ball specialist since Ben Watson went.

“His dead ball quality is very good and he can play five out of six positions whether that is four-four-two or four-three-three.

“So he is very flexible and all I am asking him to do is play with a smile on his face because I think he has been down in the doldrums the last couple of years.”

The newly signed midfielder started his career at Ipswich in 2001 and played over 30 games before attracting the attention of then Premiership outfit Newcastle United, who paid in the region of £1m for him in 2003.

His tenure on Tyneside saw him score five goals in 37 games and play under the stewardship of Graeme Souness and Sir Bobby Robson.

In between 2003-2005, Ambrose made 10 appearances for the England under-21s and with first team chances being limited at Newcastle, he returned to the south east with Charlton’s Alan Curbishley winning the race for his signature.

In is first season at The Valley he scored three goals as the Addicks finished 13th in the league.

But the following year saw him play under three different managers in less than a season, a campaign which would eventually end in relegation from the top flight for the Addicks.

An unsuccessful season in the 2007/08 saw Ambrose’s team fail to qualify for the play-offs with an 11th placed finish in the league, but he still managed find the net nine times, including a brace against his former club Ipswich.

The 25 year-old even spent a spell on loan last year with the Tractor Boys but after making nine appearances he returned to the Valley in January.

Just like in 2007, Ambrose felt the pain of relegation, this time not from the Premiership but to League One after the Addicks finished bottom of the Championship.

During his four-year stay in SE7 he made 112 appearances, scoring 13 goals.