The gap between the rich and the poor clubs in the Championship just gets wider and wider.

We need Murphy far more than Newcastle do, but good luck to him.

I'll be shocked if he makes more than 15 starts.

I think we'll go back in for Clayton Donaldson now?!

I just hope we spend the money on a permanent signing Rhodes would be amazing

Or Victor Anichebe.

But would prefer Jonathan Walters please!!!

John turning circle of an aircraft cArrier Walters. Jesus wept.

Competion on the bench more like! Like Murphy, bit surprised he's going tbh, considering all the stuff about family settled and all that. But hey, money talks I suppose, last big contract, everyone can understand that! Just disappointed its come to this! As for possible replacements, well Ipswich always has quiet deadline days, can only see the likes of Leon Best signing which just about sums up the lack of ambition!

3 mil for murphy, i'll take another 6 grant wards then

Honestly why are we surprised?
1. Murphy for next couple of years ( his last major contract) will pick up a significant pay rise, which will give greater financial security to his family when his playing career finishes. If this was you wouldn't you pursue the same?
2. Teams with parachute payments have a massive advantage over those without (not to mention in Newcastle case the extra match day revenue as they attract crowds nearly 3x ours). So yes in comparison we are a small club.
3. Sadly, and I wish it was different, as a size of club we are a lower mid table championship club. Half the club's have either higher attendences and/or parachute payments.
All these factors make it very difficult to compete at the top end, but we do. We should be thankful that we have consistently challenged and outperformed many clubs with greater resources.

Some of the names listed Nugent, Rhodes, even Bent, I would love to see here but sadly even those players come with massive wages which sadly are probably out of reach with our budget.

I watched Newcastle on the Chanel 5 highlights show last night. Can't see Murph getting much game time. The service to our strikers has been almost non existent for 3 years, so if provided chances he may get more goals, I just can't see him being used as more than a bit part sub.

Good luck to Murph, he always put in a shift & when played in his best position showed just how good he can be at Championship level. Sitting on the bench for much of the season won't help him with his ambitions for Ireland, but as itfcbam says, one last big payday contract is probably the right decision for him.
He was more valuable this time last season, but having made the playoffs & narrowly losing the semi, it would have shown real lack of desire for promotion to have let him go to a rival then, even at the reported £4.5m. Newcastle is somewhat more understandable than Sheffield Wednesday would have been also. The only real regret I have over it is that fact that we would probably have been in poll position to sign an ideal replacement for him then. We'd had a returning to fitness Chris Wood on loan, who started off a bit rusty but had played well in his last appearance for us. He moved to Leeds for £2m around the time we turned down the Murphy bid. Big strong mobile centre forward in his mid-20s & still £2.5m left over, could have worked.
I see Leon Best as a temporary replacement for McGoldrick, his own injury record would leave us far too vulnerable should he be given a full contract, although I have thought he was a decent striker at times when fit. I think we will definitely be bringing in a new young forward from the lower leagues thought, & will probably have to pay a fair fee for him, I just can't work out who that should be yet.

You can't blame him for moving to a club like Newcastle. My hope is we reinvest the full fee plus the wages saved - and Murphy would have been one of our top earners. No excuses Mr. Evans please. We need two or three new additions, ideally permanent signings.

I wish Murphy luck I think he'll need it! Hopefully this will lead to us playing a bit more on the grass instead of hoofing up to the big man!

For those people across the news stories that can't understand why Murphy wants to move... He has 2/3 years left playing football. By completing this love will earn him a decent signing on fee and well as at least doubling his wage. Not to mention the promotion bonuses he will receive.

Football is a short career, you can t blame a man for wanting to ensure security for him and his family. I think he realises he won't be a regular, but the main incentive for the move is money.

Good luck to him I say. Yes Ipswich have been good to him, but he's been good for us as well. I just we can attract a young and hungry striker from league 1/2 and he becomes an ITFC legend. A bit like Marcus Stewart, if we have to pay £2/3m then it's Gotta be worth it.

Best of luck Murph, hope it all goes well, thanks for you goals over the years the team will miss your hold up play.

Am I the only one who thinks we should have got more than £3m? Didn't we turn down £5m from
Middlesborough a year ago. In the year of silly money I think we could have got more.

So we get 3-mil,? He,ll be given funds be interestingto see how much he gets,i can imagine the chat M.M grovelling to get 5 bob for a i,ll get the best out of this donkey,i hope i,m wrong,may be hes got another grant ward in the wings,i wait with baited breath

£3 mil for a player now 33 with only a year left on his contract isn't a bad deal and good luck to Murh who's been been a good servant too the club. I see what happens next as a really big test of Marcus Evans long term commitment to the club. If this money plus a bit if required is invested in another 20 goal plus striker then fine, but if we end up with another end of career journeyman then or worse no one at all then that tells you all you need to know about ME long term plans.

Good luck to Murphy. Yes, he will get a pay rise, and yes, will not play as much. For a player his age this reduced playing time is no bad thing. He was picking up injuries last year due to persistant strains and niggles. As a week in week out one-up-front striker (as in the Derby last week) he has spent 90 minutes after 90 minutes running round chasing scraps and wearing himself into the ground, Indeed many on here have commented that he has looked weary. By going to a club where there is less individual pressure on him, and by playing less he can extend his career- hopefully to the world cup, and minimise his risk of long term injury or damage. Huge loss. A very intelligent footballer and team player. Will be missed in both penalty boxes.