Town boss George Burley has ruled out any chance of him becoming manager of Scotland. Craig Brown resigned at the weekend as his side failed to make the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

Burley said: "The only thing I am interested in is having a good season with Ipswich Town."

The Town manager joins Sir Alex Ferguson in quickly quashing any stories suggesting he might be the man for the Scotland job.

Burley has also denied that Arsenal have been on to Town regarding Hermann Hreidarsson and reports that the Blues are interested in Chester City left-back Chris Blackburn.

Amir Karic says a Serie A club want to take him on a long-term loan but that Town are preventing this. The Slovenian is currently training with the reserves and looks a long way from a first team place.

Karic said: "A club from Serie A wanted to take me on a season's loan but as I understand it the Gaffer said no. I don't know why he didn't want me to go but if I'm nt going to get a chance with Ipswich then it would make sense for me to go out on loan."

George Burley, however, says Town have had no contact regarding Karic: "We have not had a definite ofer to take Amir on loan but if we did we would be more than happy to allow him to go. He needs first team football and he is not involved in our first team."

Karic went on loan to Crystal Palace last season and made three appearances before returing early. He is unhappy with the lack of chances he has had since moving to Portman Road and feels a move to Italy would do him good. In the year he has been here he has made three appearances as sub, all in the Worthington Cup. Meanwhile he has continued to play for Slovenia, although he missed this weekend's game with the Faroe Islands due to a mix-up over yellow cards.

However, the former NK Maribor player is still keen to prove he can make it in England: "I'm still determined to show I can play in the English league. If not with Ipswich then somewhere else."

The Academy sides lost one and won one at the weekend with the U19s involved in a particularly high-scoring match.

They won 6-3 at West Ham with the goals coming from Guy Bonwick, Darren Ambrose, Darren Bent, Alan Connell (2) and Matt Robinson.

The U17s lost 3-1 at home to the Hammers with the Town goal scored by Dean Bowditch.

Photo: Action Images

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