Boss Roy Keane has praised academy head Sammy Morgan and U18s coach Chris Kiwomya after handing professional contracts to all seven of this season’s final year scholars last week.

Centre-half Tom Eastman, midfielders Luke Hyam, David Cawley, Jamie Griffiths and Billy Clark, and striker Ronan Murray have all been handed one-year deals, while full-back Seb Dunbar is contracted until September.

Keane told the club site: “It's reward for the good work that Sammy Morgan and Chris Kiwomya have done at the academy to see all seven getting contracts.

"The boys have done well, but contracts mean little to me. It's about what they do next season that counts.

"Getting a professional contract is the easy part. They will be out of the comfort zone of the academy now and it will be about how they progress next season.

"The hard work really starts for them now and we will be looking at the boys playing regularly in the reserves next season and staking their claim for a place in the first team."

Eastman is likely to be the first of the seven to make his league debut having been on the bench for the last two matches.

Photo: Action Images

bedsitfc added 07:54 - Apr 16 Someone will be on here later wanting keane sacked because all seven is not enough
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Zero2Hero added 08:02 - Apr 16 Good news... Let's hope they can cut the mustard next season
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tractorboybig added 08:03 - Apr 16 Two more staff about to be sacked.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 08:05 - Apr 16 Great news, lets hope they all progress well, surely this can only be for the good of Town.
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MyBlueHeaven added 08:32 - Apr 16 all seven signed professional contracts? that's rubbish. keane out!
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Harwich_Blue added 08:37 - Apr 16 I may be proved wrong by statistics but it seems to me that Keane has proved to be a manager that promotes youth more so than many previously, Eastman Smith Wikham Oconner etc this season alone, its encouraging and shows that he clearly undertands he importance of youth - I may be shot down but its about opinions and I like his approach in this area
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Baggins78 added 09:18 - Apr 16 Good work Keano, I agree Harwich it seems as though he's putting a real emphasis on bringing through younger players. Once he gets his squad of players who want to play do well for him, players like Norris, Murphy, Walters Leadbitter etc then we'll be a much better team next year
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welshtractorboy added 10:16 - Apr 16 Good news--remember the majority of players came through our youth system in the seventies we went on to achieve great things and moments we will never forget-----Keano Keano---get off his back,the good times are not far away
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8ashblue added 10:24 - Apr 16 This is good news and maybe will allow them to focus more on their fitness, technique etc. It can only be good for the Club if the youth is given a chance (providing they're good enough) and maybe we'll see the benefits next season.
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tractorboybig added 11:14 - Apr 16 welsh tractorboy. what are you on????? the good times are light years away.
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tom_the_blue added 12:21 - Apr 16 tractorboybig do you have to be so negative all the time? He's only showing some positivity and you jump on his back for that! Show some SUPPORT or go post your negative drivel on the Norwich site.
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jamesy_itfc_keano added 12:33 - Apr 16 So much for Keane ruining our club ! Some people need to wake up on here and see that keane is getting the balance right between giving young players a chance and needing the experienced players.
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Wickets added 12:37 - Apr 16 Yes I agree with you Harwich blue but lets not forget that Smith and Wikham first played under Magilton,he was hammed by some for not using our younger players, he also brought on Trotter.
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Sparky85 added 13:00 - Apr 16 Very good news, always good to hear the youth policy doing well with the talent we have produced over the years. Only 1 worrying comment really, Keane - "Contracts mean little to me" Suppose this is the way football is nowadays
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MyBlueHeaven added 13:51 - Apr 16 @sparky85... you're taken that out of context. keane's saying that having a contract means nothing as it's about performing as a player - in training, on the pitch etc. as for other post(er)s praising keane's approach to youth. he's not different from any of our three previous managers. the club develop young players with potential, those they like/who cut it get offered terms. this happens at this time every season - regardless of who's the manager. in last 10 years there's been a very steady stream of players coming through from the academy. some fall away ending up perhaps in non-league or, worse still, scottish football. some flirt with first team success but end up in lower leagues. and then one or two fully make it. i don't see this changing with Keane or whoever we have as manager. it's football.

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welshtractorboy added 14:17 - Apr 16 Well said tom the blue----We are on the way up next season will be another divison away from the NOOOOOOOOOch scum
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Mark added 17:09 - Apr 16 This has to be a real positive at the end of a negative season. I think developing young players always has been Ipswich's best chance of success, and put with the investment to the squad from Marcus Evans we really should be looking at promotion in the coming years. I am patient about that, just so long as we see good football in the meantime and do not blow too much money on unsuitable players again like this season.

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