Loan midfielder Paul Green says he’d love to be back at Portman Road when the Blues squad start their 2014/15 pre-season programme at the end of June.

The 31-year-old is out of contract at parent club Leeds this summer and Town boss Mick McCarthy is going to bide his time before making offers to Green, fellow loanee Frazer Richardson and Stephen Hunt, who signed a short-term deal midway through the season.

“No footballer looks forward to pre-season but it would be great to come back here and be with the lads,” Green said after scoring the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 final day victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road, his second goal for the Blues.

“There is a terrific team spirit here - a real togetherness with everyone pulling in the right direction. It all bodes well for Ipswich and I believe they can do even better next season and make that top six.”

He’s pleased he made his loan move from Elland Road in February: “I’m glad I joined. From not getting into the squad at Leeds to playing and scoring goals for Ipswich, it’s what players want to do.

“To help a team win games is exactly what I want to do and I was not able to do that Leeds but I have here. The gaffer has given me a chance here and hopefully I have repaid his faith.

“It has been a stop-start season for me. For some strange reason I wasn’t getting in the squad at Leeds so coming here to try and help Ipswich get into the play-offs was a big boost for me.

“When you are training week-in, week-out then not getting into the squad, it is intensely demoralising. I enjoyed my first year at Leeds but the second didn’t work out.”

Reflecting on Town’s campaign overall, he added: “It has been a great season. Obviously it is disappointing we have not reached the play-offs but compared to last season when Ipswich were fighting relegation this is a big improvement. It is a total transformation.

“It bodes well for next season. The gaffer will look to bring in new players to strengthen the squad and that can only be good.”

Meanwhile, Hunt, whose freekick led to Green’s goal on Saturday, says he hopes to return to Portman Road for 2014/15, tweeting: “It's been a pleasure to play for this club. To the players, staff, fans and the town, if I'm not back, all the best. Hope to be back.”

The Town squad are due back at Playford Road on June 26th and 27th for tests and assessment with pre-season getting underway in earnest the following week.

The Blues will spend a week training at the Carton House hotel in County Kildare before playing a single friendly in Ireland, against Shelbourne at Tolka Park, Dublin.

Photo: Action Images

Len_Brennan added 07:35 - May 5 I wouldn't be distraught if we signed any of the 3 mentioned here full time; I just would prefer we got someone better. Green has done ok to be fair, but we have Hyam & Skuse for the defensive midfielder role - although Green does offer a greater goal scoring option. Also, it sounds like Tabb is staying & with Woody, hopefully getting more of a look in next season, we really only need to be looking at getting in the creative force that we ahave been crying out for. I kind of like Hunt & he has had some good games for us where he was very effective and he has bags of experience, including at Prem level. Unfortunately he has also had some shockers for us & it seems that he is only capable of being picked for every other game at best. Knowing that his wage demands were a problem last season & it being likely that he was one of our top earners despite a reduced wage agreement, he would not offer value to us next season. As I say, I like him, but unless a pay as you play deal is an option perhaps, we need to look elsewhere. Richardson seems a decent player with a good attitude. If we are going to play with 4 across the back next season, we need to bring in someone at right back who is better than Chambers. Clearly Mick only sees him as back up to an out of position centre half, so he is not a first team option. I was interested to see Mick flirting with the 3 centre back idea against Wednesday though, as I do see Elliot Hewitt as a really good prospect as a right wing back. He is a good player, but he was exposed defensively a few times at the start of the season & I did agree with dropping him & moving Chambers over to tighten it up a bit. But a year on & with good experience from his loan to a Division 1 club (even though he played a bit in midfield), he could well be a revolation for us.

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StuartBrett8 added 08:08 - May 5 A midfield pairing of Green and Skuse would do for me, at last Green is making runs into the box and getting on the end of things :)
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SouperJim added 08:27 - May 5 If they can maintain their form, I'd be happy enough to see all three in our squad next season as they have all done ok and we are low on numbers. With that said, the trouble with signing 30+ year old loanees on permanent deals is often only 1 in 3, at best, will be able to replicate (or improve upon) their form once they have a contract. Jay Tabb and Jimmy Bullard are recent examples.

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TheSelkirk added 11:22 - May 5 Skuse has been disappointing in the second half of the season but Green seems to have got better every game. He brings a little more bite and strength into midfield but, as has been said by many here before, we do still need a creative midfielder and wide (flair) players to support him. I haven't been overly impressed with Hunt or Anderson either to be honest. Busy, yes but not particularly productive recently. Wouldn't look to take either for next season. It does seem to me that most teams that comes to PR attack with pace from midfield and I would really like to see one or two players of that ilk in the Town line up next season. That said, from where we were last season, to where we are now, can only be looked upon as a huge and welcome improvement. Just hoping that we have some the funds and shrewd signings to kick on next season.

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TheSelkirk added 11:47 - May 5 .......and I'm afraid that Tabb should make his way too. Shame though, showed real promise at the start.
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Jblue added 12:14 - May 5 He'll be Tabb MK 2.... plays half decent for contract and ends up being even worse next year, sorry to say.
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footyblue added 14:18 - May 5 @ lenbrennanhewitt was solid for those 5 games and i think he was given a raw deal, we certainly didn't tighten up as you say far from it in fact as teams exploited us down the right hand side. square pegs in round holes just don't work
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Len_Brennan added 15:06 - May 5 Disagree with you Footyblue. Chambers was a marked improvement defensively. Yes he was not the answer as a right back & was exploited by good wingers, but he is a fundamentally good defender & Hewitt still has plenty to learn. My preference would be for neither of them starting as right back due to the signing of a natural in that position. Football is a game of opinions of course.

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BlueLight added 15:59 - May 5 Chris Eagles has been released by Bolton today, would be a good signing. Tough in the tackle, can pick a pass and scores his fair share of goals. Sort of player we need.
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Ipswichbusiness added 16:51 - May 6 I don't rate Green or Richardson and I have my doubts about Tabb. Hewitt and Veseli should be good enough at right-back. The priority signing is Williams; I accept that it would be probably a season long loan with a recall, but that would be better than most of the options.
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