Town new boy Liam Feeney is already thinking about the possibility of staying at Portman Road beyond his loan deal through to the end of the season.

With his contract at parent club Bolton due to expire in the summer Feeney is resigned to the fact that he will be on the move and admits the prospect of a permanent link-up with Ipswich is tempting.

The 29-year-old Londoner said: “With my contract up in a few months I wasn’t thinking I’d be in a long queue waiting to be fixed up.

“I was pretty confident in my own ability that it would work out fine. I’ve been playing well this season for Bolton and now I’ve come here I want to continue that.

“If I can do well for Ipswich we might get something sorted here. It’s a nice situation for me to be in, coming from a club that is struggling to a club that is pushing for promotion.

“I just want to make sure I play to the best of my ability and hope the rest can take care of itself.”

Feeney was sad that his departure on loan to Town coincided with Bolton boss Neil Lennon also moving on from the Macron Stadium and he added: “It was pretty sad to be honest because he had a very hard job there.

“It was a bit like trying to work with his hands tied behind his back. There was no money in the club and I felt for him.

“Tuesday was a really weird day because around the same time I found out I was coming to Ipswich on loan I heard he was trying to sort out his future and was actually leaving the club.

"We said our farewells and it was a strange, even crazy, day — but that’s football for you.”

Meanwhile, Feeney could yet join the strong Republic of Ireland contingent at Portman Road, although he is also eligible to play for Northern Ireland and had even discussed the possibility with ex-boss Lennon, who represented his country at senior level on 40 occasions.

Feeney said: “I’m eligible to play for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through my grandparents.

“One is from the north and the other from the south — a mixed marriage. I had a few conversations with Neil Lennon about it but there isn’t really anything to report.

“It’s at the back of my mind and both countries have done really well to qualify for the European Championship in France this summer, but it’s not something I’m spending too much time thinking about.

“If it ever comes to having a choice to make I would obviously need to have a serious think about it.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

hoppy added 06:52 - Mar 18 Mick's no fool, and we are the horses after all... Excited about this signing and that we look as though we're getting something decent off the Trotters...
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BotesdaleBlue added 07:35 - Mar 18 Lets hope this all works out, as we certainly need a creative and goal scoring boost. It's good news that his contract is up at the end of the season as this opens up the opportunity of him moving to us on a free, as we know ME doesn't really do transfer fees in the main.
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HarryS_H added 08:43 - Mar 18 Nice to see someone with bags of confidence and seemingly up for a promotion fight!
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brittaniaman added 09:01 - Mar 18 According to the Bolton Telegraph he was in line to be there player of the year ! also the fans are unhappy about him going, we are Doomed now they are saying ?? Let us all hope he will help to do the business for us ??
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Cakeman added 09:21 - Mar 18 Great post Hoppy 😊
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tempzzzz added 11:09 - Mar 18 Really excited for Saturday now. After the poor performance, despite the win on Tuesday night, I wasn't particularly excited about watching us again Saturday. Now I am really looking forward to seeing some pace in the side. Lets just hope he has good eyesight so he can see the hoof balls coming in for him lol
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Bluebell added 11:22 - Mar 18 Mick is certainly doing well this half of the season with Foley, Pringle and hopefully Feeney making their marks on the team. I can see AMN will be warming the bench from now on although Arsene Wenger won't be pleased with that. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's game!
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Seasider added 17:36 - Mar 18 Liam says there was no money in the club and for Neil Lennon it was like trying to work with your hands tied behind your back. Mick knows all about that Liam but think you will be paid!!!
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