Town manager Roy Keane says finishing anywhere other than in the top six next season will be unacceptable. The Blues ended Keane's first season in charge in a disappointing 15th place in the Championship.

Keane told the club site: “There were expectations that we would be up there challenging for promotion when I arrived at the club, but that's what Ipswich Town should be aiming for.

"Players have to deal with those expectations, just like managers do. I'd rather aim the bar high and go for it.

"We came up short last season though, particularly at the start and there will be no room for error next year.

"I keep saying I live in the real world. Having another poor start or repeating the mistakes we made last year won't be tolerated.

"I know what is expected. It's competing in the top six. I've heard people mention mid-table. It's got to be the top six. Anything else is not acceptable."

Meanwhile, former Blue Darren Ambrose’s £750,000 move from Crystal Palace to QPR is now in doubt with the CPFC 2010 consortium close to completing the deal to buy the Eagles and keen to keep the midfielder.

Ambrose has already agreed personal terms and has undergone a medical at Loftus Road but, given the change of circumstances at Selhurst Park, Rangers, managed by ex-Palace boss Neil Warnock, may now have to up their offer for the former England U21 international.

Photo: Action Images

IpswichElvis added 12:21 - Jun 2 I think it's time for Roy's medicine again. Unless him and Tony are talking about their fantasy football league !!!!!
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joeippy01 added 12:35 - Jun 2 haha!
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naa added 13:02 - Jun 2 I must admit, I have no idea what the point of this comment was. It's obvious that we should be aiming for top 6 - regardless of his claims before last season. It's what Magilton was aiming for in his second year in charge before ME came along with his money, it's what RK was brought in for, so clearly that's what we should be aiming for. What a totally obvious thing to say. I'm bored of RK's comments. It's all just words, and meaningless. Tell us how you intend to improve from last year Roy. Tell us what your learned tactically. Tell us anything. The only times he's hinted at tactics he's implied that he wants us to be more boring and cynical. So maybe I'm glad he doesn't talk about that after all, as it would depress me too much. He just loves to hear his own voice sometimes.

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DMFHI added 13:06 - Jun 2 After listening to his all his big talk for nigh on 2 years; I sincerely hope that if we ain't doing well in the first 3 months he'll do one. The guy seems to be ripping the club apart; no sort of man manager at all. He might be able to excuse that if we were beating all in front of us; but results are no better than before he came.. Pressure's on for him, for sure; if he fails at Ipswich he'll be damaged goods.

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Blueknight85 added 13:41 - Jun 2 i would accept 7th place if its only 1 point off 6th ;)
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ITFCKeano added 14:01 - Jun 2 Being an ITFC football manger seems so simple to some of the less informed members of the forum. Of course, they will be the first in the queue for the job as world class replacements when RK goes and the Chairman is looking to fill his boots with his replacement. BTW, incase some of you have forgotten, just because some of you want world class players to come knocking on PM doors, just consider our wage limit, we're in the championship and players have to want to come here instead of staying where they are on possibly better deals, be of the right age range, fit into the managers plans, fit into the club, uproot and move to Ipswich and be fit, motivated and be available or we pay silly over inflated prices to coax them here and pay clubs for them. Oh, by the way, they also have to want to get of their butts and play like they're paid to. Other than that, simples isnt it?

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naa added 14:31 - Jun 2 ITFCKeano: who's asking for world-class players? I think people have been using the word 'good' which isn't much to ask is it? Seeing as RK has let perfectly decent players like D. Wright go and side-lined others like Garvan we assume he has players up his sleeve that are better. As for players not playing to their best. Yep, true. But it's largely the manager's responsibility to get them motivated. That may be through man-management, but sometimes it can be as simple as playing a balanced, stable team with tactics that everyone is comfortable with. I certainly had no idea what our tactics were meant to be last year and I certainly had no idea what his favoured 16 was (let alone 11), so I suspect it's possible that may have made things harder for some players too.

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WickedBlue added 15:13 - Jun 2 I find it amazing how many morons we have for supporters.....
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fifeblue added 15:24 - Jun 2 Wicked boy, Daleyitfc. Wicked boy.
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devontractorboy added 15:39 - Jun 2 Yatta Yatta, same old crap from Keane, no new players, loads leaving/left. This season will be the same crap as last, should have been fired by now, all the rest of you pro Keaners are living in 'Cloud Cookoo Land'.
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callmeted added 16:02 - Jun 2 Now to begin with I am not anti nor pro Keane just an ITFC fan of many years but I am pretty sure that RK is responding to a press question. I would not imagine that he called a press conference to announce that we should be at least top 6. If he declared we will win the league he may as well provide the rope as well as there is a lynch mob ready. Also i hadnt realised that the transfer window had closed nor that ALL the good players had already gone. We missed Ambrose. Wow!! As for It is "the same old crap" another piece of negativity usually by the same people. The same ones who quoted back in March "mark my words we will be relegated"

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Lightningboy added 16:24 - Jun 2 The problem isn't the players - it's our clueless "manager"...i'm sure George Burley could turn our current squad into play-off contenders blind-folded...seriously can't see Keane doing anything again this season - sorry if that upsets a few of you on here but it's my view and i've been proven horribly right so far...so much for "my work begins now" - isn't that what he said on the last day of the season?..and what exactly has he done in that last 5 weeks???

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dobbie73 added 16:28 - Jun 2 Lol, like the sarcasm Callmeted! Good point re: press question too, makes sense. My initial thoughts were that Keano was trying to put across an upbeat, positive message. Maybe some of our more pessimistic supporters would have preferred a "we are definitely going for 4th bottom next season" message?! Seems that WHATEVER Keano says, some people will always find fault with it ... Boo to the boo boys! The season is barely over, the World Cup hasn't started yet, but already Keano has been hung, drawn, quartered, bagged and tagged. Boo to that too. COYB!!

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denhamblue added 16:51 - Jun 2 so ,who are these players ,who going to get the top 6 finsh?I know its early doors,but it looks like the obvious,last minute bargain,bottom of barrel,no one else wants signings are comming our way,um id say sbout 5 minutes before the season starts.0h,unless another team,like doncaster,outbid us by 10p!
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IpswichElvis added 16:56 - Jun 2 Our beloved leader was quoted above as saying " I'd rather aim the bar high and go for it". If that is the case, why is he not saying that finishing outside of the top 2 is unacceptable??? I do think that the Pro-Keane dimwits are living in cloud cuckoo land without a shadow of a doubt. We will be lucky to finish in the top 10.
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sereneblue added 17:05 - Jun 2 At last ITFCkeano speaks some sense.Probably Bluechick should take note along with her misjudged allies.Probably she sholud get her magic wand from her kitchen draw and give it to Roy to help produce this world class team,because its that easy!
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granadablue added 17:51 - Jun 2 Tbh I think the problem is that most Prem experienced players won't sign a deal awith a Championship club this early in the pre-season. Most of them would prefer to wait until later to see if any other prem clubs come knocking on their door. I think we might get some real quality into the club this summer, but i think we might have to wait til mid July to get it. According to Redknapp someone's snapped Joe Cole up on a free from under spurs noses, culd it be Roy????? hahaha lol.

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Dan_Lummis added 18:05 - Jun 2 Whether we finish 6th, 1st, 12th or 24th, i will still be singing and still will support my team. Whether you love or loathe Keano, for christ sake just support the team? Getting on his back isn't going to help him and certainly won't the players. We all have different opinions on here, each and every one of us, but we all support town, so lets have a bit of optimism for a change! There is still plenty of time to get players in and im sure there will be some players were pleased with and some were not but we get behind the team. To all the anti-keaners, he said we would be up in 2 years, he's only had 1? so lets give him time and see how the season goes? I agree last season was terrible, but lets put it behind us and look forward to a fresh new season :) Blue AAAAAAAAAAAArmy

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Johnny_Boy added 18:05 - Jun 2 I'd take 9th if I'm brutally honest.
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naaridge1coly7 added 18:18 - Jun 2 get rid now save the embarrasment of impending failure.....i still hear the chimes of judge me after ten games......and any 'half decent manager' can finish in the top half,yeah roy i still agree.......... just go and leave us to get a decent manager in,im still predicting a return by george burley......watch this space......
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bluearmy4life added 18:57 - Jun 2 We need to sign some players first before we can even think about where we might finish next season! Narwich have signed three already whilst keane is sunbathing on a beach counting his millions somewhere. The first 10 games are cruical next season for keane!
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jas0999 added 19:36 - Jun 2 Totally agree Roy.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:39 - Jun 2 keane says he sets the bar high ! yet having said prem in two seasons he now says, top six , think that is lowering it a tad . Keano instead of making pointless statements, get the players you ''have in mind '' on the team sheet instead of the dream sheet .
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SurreyITFC added 20:14 - Jun 2 Keano Keano Keano!!!!!!!!!
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truethurstonblue added 20:49 - Jun 2 New players on board and promotion are the order of the season ahead...anything less will not be tolerated.
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