Town defender Alex Bruce’s proposed £200,000 move to Sheffield United has fallen through. According to reports in Sheffield, Blues boss Roy Keane has called off the deal with the central defender having been expected to complete the switch early this week.

Bruce was reported to have agreed personal terms with the Blades over the weekend, but the Republic of Ireland international was back training at Playford Road today.

Town manager Roy Keane may have decided against allowing Bruce to move on with Damien Delaney out of action for three months with a serious thigh injury and with little senior cover for likely first choices Gareth McAuley and Tommy Smith.

Bruce is understood to want to leave to play first team football and, if the Blues were to sign another experienced centre-half, the former Birmingham man could still be on his way out of the club - perhaps reviving the Blades move - before the season starts.

Meanwhile, Cardiff left-back Mark Kennedy is yet to undergo a medical at Town and his £75,000 move from the Welsh club will not be concluded today. Contrary to reports, Kennedy wasn't at Portman Road over the weekend.

On Saturday, Cardiff boss Dave Jones revealed that the Blues have offered the former Irish international a two-year deal.

Photo: Action Images

bontcho added 18:24 - Jul 26 Sounds like a move for a defender coming into the club has fallen through.......
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jas0999 added 18:38 - Jul 26 Yep, agreed boncho - assume the season long loan move for a player has fallen through. This is very disappointing if true. Bruce is not the answer. Also worrying that Kennedy hasn't signed yet - will any deals be oncluded this week?
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SouperJim added 18:39 - Jul 26 My thoughts exactly, probably the cardiff centre back we were linked with.
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bedsitfc added 18:45 - Jul 26 bugger
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Mark added 18:49 - Jul 26 Yes, I suspect one of our deals has fallen through which isn't good for Ipswich or Bruce himself, who must be rather frustrated at the plug being pulled on this at the last minute. Bruce is not good enough to take us forwards, but he is a reasonable defender who has enough ability to stand in for our first choice centre backs. He can play right back to (covering Peters), but I don't like him there. I suppose there is no point selling him for £200K if we have to spend £500K to bring in a player of similar ability.

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jas0999 added 18:52 - Jul 26 Mark - good point - I am sure this is also very diappointing for Bruce himself. At the end of the day, I wish the guy well, even though I don't think he is good enough.
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RetroBlue added 18:59 - Jul 26 Oh buggar ...SUFC have obviously watched the dvd's of Bruce then !
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John_Warks_Tash added 19:05 - Jul 26 Mark & jas0999- I couldn't agree more with both you're comments. I'm sure Bruce will be disappointed as he obviously wants to leave. Personally I thought he was going to Sheff Utd as back up there and not first team. That's besides the point I guess, but I'm sure Bruce will give it his all while he's here. He's ability is questionable yes, but the one thing you can't doubt about Bruce is his detrimination. I'm intrigued as to the identity of the player we've missed out on? If that is the reason for the U-turn which I'm certain it is.

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mripswichtown added 19:06 - Jul 26 the bruce move fallen through doesnt mean we are not getting Kennedy, maybe some other reason.
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SouperJim added 19:08 - Jul 26 It's a pity as I think Bruce is a) below average due to his god awful positional sense and b) an ego-maniac and complete mercenary with even less loyalty than most pro footballers, despite c) most fans apparently viewing him as some kind of badge kissing 110% commited hero due to the frequency with which he has to make last ditch tackles. However, if the move for his replacement has fallen through (what with delaney injured) it's a sensible move to hang on to him for now. I'm sure that won't stop some from engaging flounce mode once again and calling our preseason a shambles tho.

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scottrock added 19:17 - Jul 26 I am a Town fan and always will be and I have never posted a negative comment, but (you knew it was coming), I am seriously concerned at the lack of transfer action. We desperately need a proven striker who can knock them in week after week (and I would love it to be Priskin, but don't think it is) and I am concerned that we are supposed to be signing a ex target of Big Fat Joe in Kennedy. I am excited about the new season starting, but without that elusive goalscorer I do think we're gonna struggle, even with the most promising youngster out there in young Connor. Am I alone in these fears?!!

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Liverpool_blu added 19:23 - Jul 26 Does anyone know what is actually going on at Portman Road. All this secrecy from Keane. He should just come out and clarify who is in,out and save all these rumours.
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bluearmy4life added 19:28 - Jul 26 We don't seem to be getting any luck in the transfer market at all at the moment. I hope are luck changes quickly!!!
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mripswichtown added 19:39 - Jul 26 everyonr seems to be jumping to the conclusion that because the bruce deal is off we arnt getting Kennedy, we will see in a few days.
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fourth added 19:41 - Jul 26 We seem to be living in a very small world. Remember Arnold Mûhren? Great players from a wide ambit. How is it that Ipswich Town is forced into Republic of Ireland shot gun marriages? In whose interest is this reducing the world to dribs and brabs? You know how it is...you can't get on with people in the real world, so you force yourself on yr family. Is Ipswich Town to become little Ireland. A miserable little nonentity?

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bontcho added 19:43 - Jul 26 mripswichtown, no i don't think it's linked to Kennedy - they plan different positions. i suspect another player was going to be bought in and that folded so Keane pulled the plug on this one. My guess Bruce will go once he's got a replacement sorted but not before.
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danknott added 19:51 - Jul 26 look boys things are on the up, Keano's contract finishes in less than a year!!! woop woop!! only joking!!! COYB COYB
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StowTractorBoy added 19:51 - Jul 26 How would you feel if you were Bruce now, knowing that you are not wanted but expected to give your all if selected. The sorry state of affairs continues and whilst I continue to support Keane players obviously do not want to come to Ipswich for varying reasons. At the moment we certainly look a bottom six team at best - we have no right back only one central defender who is good enough (Smith will come I hope). We have no pace in the team whatsoever and are relying on a 17 year old to score our goals. At best you can only expect the lad to play two thirds of the season with at most a 12 goal haul. For me this is very very worrying - I cling on to the hope that we can do a Blackpool against all the odds, but I would not bank on it. Unlike some I am not looking forward to the season at all but will be there through thick and thin.

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mripswichtown added 19:56 - Jul 26 you have a good point bontcho that maybe the case.
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SiBo added 20:05 - Jul 26 mmmm Disappointing coz I think your right, it probably means another deal has fallen through.
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Mungo added 20:12 - Jul 26 This is surprising and I'm not sure I see how we benefit from it. Yes Bruce can provide cover at CB, but he doesn't want to be here and calling off the deal now can only unsettle him further. He has never been able to play well with McAuley at the best of times, and I would have thought Tommy Smith will be ahead of him now? Should have let him go. Would have been better for both player and club. Other players are available...

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GeorgiDoundarov added 20:14 - Jul 26 Oh shnute! That is awful!!! I cant' understand how Bruce was allowed to go to discuss his personal terms over the week-end if Keane wants him to stay to cover for Delaney?! The injury was known long before that?! Something else is going on and I don't quite catch it....
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SeriouslyDelusional added 20:44 - Jul 26 Maybe the deal that's fallen through was for a right back (Finnan? shame if that's the case) and Keane is keeping hold of Bruce for RB cover?
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WickedBlue added 21:09 - Jul 26 I guess that....Sounds like.....I think we.....It looks like.....God give me strength... What we know...RK has called off the Bruce deal (Damn I was hoping we'd get rid of him).....What we don't know is why....And all the guesses in the world doesn't mean you know anything more....
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Skip73 added 21:36 - Jul 26 I know this has nothing to do with this story but Stephen Ireland is on his way out of Man City it would defo keep our Irish connections going, just a thought (or a dream)
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