Yorwerth's Thanks to Williams and O'Neill
Tuesday, 25th Aug 2015 06:00

Josh Yorwerth has thanked ex-Town skipper Geraint Williams and current assistant academy director Lee O’Neill for pointing him in the direction of Portman Road.

Williams, who cost £650,000 from Derby in 1992 and clocked up 264 appearances in his six years as an Ipswich midfielder, is the current manager of the Welsh U21, U19 and U17 sides and O’Neill is a member of his backroom staff when the games come round.

Yorwerth explained: “Geraint had a chat with me about Ipswich when we were together for the U21 game against Bulgaria in March.

“I had already been told by Cardiff that they would not be offering me a new contract so I knew I was going to be a free agent in the summer.

“Lee is the sports scientist with the Welsh U21 squad and he knew about me as well. I came up to Ipswich for a few of days to train. I trained with Sparky [Town U21 coach Mark Kennedy] and the gaffer, Mick McCarthy.

“Geraint comes to training and to games, I keep in touch with him a lot and he has been a big help to me.

“When we played against Bulgaria the scouts and other people at the game knew I was going to be out of contract.

“Lee mentioned it to Ipswich so I came up for a week or so and trained. I was here when Ipswich were in the play-offs.

“This is a very big club and in Mick McCarthy they have a very good manager. When the chance came I didn’t even have to think about it.

“It will be good for me and after two years at this club working under Mick McCarthy I think I will be a very, very good defender. He will improve my game a great deal, I’m sure of it.”

The frustration of not advancing at Cardiff has been replaced with a new zest for football with Town, where he is adamant he is benefiting and improving every day he turns up at the Playford Road training HQ.

He added: “I am learning new stuff every single day. I mean, I sometimes go into training and I’m feeling a bit nervous because of what’s expected of you. The standard is so high and that’s how it should be.

“It’s what I never got back in Cardiff because I never trained with men in a competitive environment like I do here.

“It can only do me good and I’m really pleased with how things are going. I’ve already improved 100 per cent, things like knowing when to play football and when to kick the ball long, winning your one-v-one battles, getting the right side of people and getting your positioning right. My game has improved a hell of a lot and will continue to do so while I’m here.”

Photo: Action Images

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