Out-of-favour Shane O’Connor has conceded that he may have to leave Portman Road in order to play regular football. The 21-year-old was left out of the 23-man squad which travelled to Holland for the pre-season tour last week with his only appearance under Paul Jewell’s management coming as a 74th minute sub in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg defeat at Arsenal.

O’Connor, who turned down a loan move to Hereford United last November, says he’s happy at Town but is realistic about his prospects: “I want to be playing for Ipswich and I will keep knocking on the door of the squad and the first team.

“I think I could do well in the Championship but different managers like different things and you have to respect that.

“I am not really sure what is going to happen. I am at an age where I want and need to be playing.”

The Republic of Ireland U21 international, who has made 15 starts and seven sub appearances for the Blues, has another year remaining on his contract. A player with Roy Keane's old Rockmount club as a youngster, O'Connor joined Town after a trial in the summer of 2009 having been released by Liverpool’s academy during the previous campaign.

Meanwhile, Doncaster striker Billy Sharp continues to be linked with the Blues in the wake of Town making an offer for a third new frontman of the summer. Boss Paul Jewell was still waiting for a response from the mystery player’s club as of Thursday evening, while an initial bid for a winger had been turned down.

Former Sheffield United man Sharp was the subject of an unsuccessful £2.3 million offer earlier in the summer, Jewell subsequently turning his attention to Michael Chopra and ruling out further overtures for the 25-year-old, who recently opted against a £3.25 million switch to Southampton.

Earlier in the week, the Doncaster media dismissed claims that Sharp and James Coppinger, also the subject of a previous Town bid, were the targets of Town’s more recent two offers.

Photo: Action Images

Zippy_is_a_blue added 17:44 - Jul 16 Can't believe this, seemed to be out of favour with Keane and now PJ. Agree .... midfielder!
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Karlosfandangal added 17:59 - Jul 16 Live in Peterborough and have heard from 3 different people that Posh have turned down a bid for Boyd Could that be the winger we are after, would prefer Treacy as Posh fans dont seem that bother if he goes
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depressed added 18:10 - Jul 16 Good luck to the lad if he has to move on... but Jewell has got this one wrong. Quality player and at the right age !!
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Mungo added 18:26 - Jul 16 Given the increasing competition on the left side of the pitch, I think Shane will benefit from going out on loan somewhere for a few months (like Lee Martin did last year) to get some first team experience with a view to either forcing his way into the first team on his return or setting himself up with a move elsewhere...
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jonju11 added 18:56 - Jul 16 This could be a real PJ faux pas!! Whenever I have seen him he shows plenty of fight & desire & certainly more of a positive @ left back than recent encumbents. Also tenacious in mid field. With recent 30+ signings (not a bad thing in overall picture) we should be looking to bring the youngsters with us. I hope that I am wrong.
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TractorBeezer added 19:15 - Jul 16 Phil, let's have a poll on whether we should retain Shane. Thanks
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Garv added 19:32 - Jul 16 I think we all know what the results of said poll would be!
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bigfatjoe87 added 19:41 - Jul 16 Glad so many people agree with me will be sad to see him leave hope he stays and gets a chance although pj does seem to be stubborn in this respect
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TractorBeezer added 19:52 - Jul 16 Garv, exactly! Perhaps if Paul and his staff take a look on this site, it might help the lad a bit.
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happybeingblue added 20:03 - Jul 16 be a mistake to let him go looks like a footballer rather than others weve had play down that side recently o dear etc! Dan harding will be back down here next season as well as tarrico with soton and brighton,harding was good too,be nice if we had a full back that could actually attack!!
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Daleyitfc added 20:04 - Jul 16 This will be a personality clash with Jewell, I'm sure. And it looks like Jewell is not a big enough man to overlook that. Maybe the next manager in 2012 will do better.
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tractorboy2434 added 20:13 - Jul 16 He has too much pace, we only want older, slower players.
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nkotb_sect5 added 21:07 - Jul 16 Cant remember exactly what happened when keane dropped him. Attitude issue? My vote would be .. good luck elsewhere, as had a chance and blew it! Bit like Jaime Peters, not quite good enough.
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Pabs added 21:14 - Jul 16 Think he's a decent and versatile player. Think he played left midfield against Leicester and was excellent, should be given a fair crack
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perrymason added 21:24 - Jul 16 not happy about this. Like almost everyone else on here, I rate this young lad. Very disappointed.
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BehindBlueEyes added 22:11 - Jul 16 Some of you are on cloud cuckooland. He had one good game against Leicester in the snow and hasn't appeared since. Obviously someone with his "undoubted" talent would show that week in and week out in training to not one but two managers but no. Both have decided he doesn't give them enough and armchair FM 2010/2011 players masquerading as supporters think they know better than coaches that see them day in day out.

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broomfield123 added 22:13 - Jul 16 I know its exciting signing new players but it would be more exciting to see the likes of oconner make the grade with us lot. Maybe our new jaimie clapham
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broomfield123 added 22:14 - Jul 16 I know its exciting signing new players but it would be more exciting to see the likes of oconner make the grade with us lot. Maybe our new jaimie clapham
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TractorBeezer added 23:33 - Jul 16 Haarlem_Blue Do you actually have your own opinion of Shane's abilities based on his 22 appearances...or do you merely take the position that managers are right 100% of the time. As for those of us in cuckooland...I counted 34 versus 5 others (of which 3 didn't really take a position). Hmmmm
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Karlosfandangal added 23:59 - Jul 16 Damian Atkinson mark 2
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carsey added 00:02 - Jul 17 I reckon there has to be a personality thing here cause there is no way this boy would not be in the 1st team squad otherwise. He is a million miles better than anything else we had down the left last season, snow or no snow. IMO PJ has this seriously wrong or there is something going on. Haarlem_Blue - this is an opinion based on what I know Thats what this site is about opinion. Everyone has one and they should be abused for stating it. In the end PJ will make his decision and we will live with it.

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ericgates added 00:18 - Jul 17 ...or even Dalian Atkinson!
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happybeingblue added 00:40 - Jul 17 maybe shane came back overweight etc,bit like pablo and the GROIN STRAIN OF LAST SUMMER- he had been munching too much paella! over the summer,maybe shanes had too many guinness or tatos! as we are all jumpin to assumptions! its all prozone bol--cks these days,wonder if they used that on gazza back in his prime! he werent a bad player eh!
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DiamondGezzer added 06:22 - Jul 17 A great shame he's been left out in the cold, just like Peters. I don't believe PJ is a fool [ can't really justify saying that about Keane ], there has to be some reason he has been overlooked. Don't believe for one moment its ability so all I can concur is an attitude problem, or a bad influence on the other young lads.
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4dy added 06:43 - Jul 17 must be something shane is not doing as to the reason this latest rumour has come up.looked promising when he played.come on shane get yer finger out.
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