RICHARD Wright has admitted he was “desperate” to leave West Ham United and return to hometown club Ipswich Town.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper re-joined the Championship side – where he started his career and made 291 appearances between 1995 and 2001 – on a two-year deal on Monday.

And the England international admitted he could not wait to swap the Upton Park substitutes bench for the number one jersey at Portman Road.

“It's great to be back here and it feels like I've come home,” Wright, who made just three Carling Cup appearances during his single season with the Hammers, told Ipswich Town's official website.

“It seems like the move has gone on forever. I was desperate for the deal to be finished and the last weekend has been the longest of my life.

“I thought everything was going to be done on Friday, but it dragged on.

“Doubts cross your mind about whether things are going to happen when a move drags on and I was literally waiting by the fax machine at the club for the forms to come in from West Ham so that I could see the move completed.”

Wright joined the Irons on a free transfer after being released by Everton at the end of the 2006/07 season.

However, despite his pedigree, the Ipswich-born stopper failed to dislodge Robert Green and was eventually sent out on loan to Southampton in March.

He made seven appearances during a short but successful stay at St Mary's, helping the Saints stave off relegation to League One on the final day of last season.

The taste of first-team action whetted Wright's appetite, and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley chose not to stand in the former Arsenal player's way, allowing him to move back to Suffolk for an undisclosed fee.

Now, Wright cannot wait to help Jim Magilton's side challenge for a place in the Premier League.

“I'm joining at an exciting time,” he added.

“The club is moving in the right direction and everything is ready for the Premier League.

“It will be difficult. The Championship is clearly a tough league, but there is a lot of good feeling about the place.

“You can sense that everyone is very positive that we can get back in the Premier League very soon and that's my first priority coming here, to help Ipswich win promotion.”

Wright helped the Tractor Boys to promotion to the top-flight in 2000, when they beat Barnsley 4-2 in the play-off final at Wembley.

The following season, his last at Portman Road, the goalkeeper was part of George Burley's side as Ipswich finished fifth in the Premier League table before leaving for Arsenal for £6million.