On-loan duo Billy Clarke and Liam Trotter say their futures are up in the air now that Roy Keane has taken over as Town boss from Jim Magilton. The out-of-contract pair are currently spending the last few weeks of the season at Brentford and Scunthorpe respectively.

Clarke, who has scored four goals in six games for the Bees, had been told he would be released by Magilton, however, new manager Keane, like Clarke born in Cork, could see things differently.

Jai Reason, currently on loan at Cambridge, Kurt Robinson, with Rushden at present, and Ed Upson were also told they had no Town future by the previous boss, while Dan Harding, spending the second half of the season at Reading, seemed certain to join them out of the Portman Road exit.

Republic of Ireland U21 international Clarke said prior to Keane's confirmation as the new man in charge that he has no idea where he will be playing his football next season: "I've done well whenever I've been, but regardless of what I think, it is up to whoever manages the club next year as to where I'll be. It is completely out of my hands.

"I've been told I can leave Ipswich. I've had six great years there and it has come to an end, but that happens in football. Hopefully something can get sorted before the end of the season.

"I haven't a clue where I'll end up. It could be here, Ipswich or Timbuktu. Nothing his been said to me so far. We'll probably get Saturday out of the way and then find out about the rest of my career.”

Trotter is also amongst the 13 players out of contract and was yet to learn whether the old regime were keen to keep him on. The midfielder would like Keane to try to catch him in action before the end of the season: "I hope the new manager will come and see the next couple of games, starting with Friday at Leicester."

The Ipswich-born academy product says the swiftness of Keane's appointment surprised him: "It all came very quickly, I only found out on Wednesday afternoon that the manager had been sacked and at the end of the night found that Roy Keane was going to be appointed.

"It was quick and they obviously had someone in mind. It was a little bit of a surprise to be honest.

"He's proven that he can get teams up, he got Sunderland up and kept them in the Premier League.

"Obviously he was a fantastic player, but only time will tell if he's going to be a success at Ipswich."

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