TWTD understands that striker Brett Pitman and midfielder Kevin Bru have been told they can leave Town if they find themselves new clubs over the summer.

The duo have been unable to establish themselves as regulars this season with Bru making 16 starts and 12 sub appearances, scoring once, and Pitman netting four times in 14 starts and nine games from the bench. Both have a year remaining on their Town contracts.

Pitman, 29, joined the Blues in the summer of 2015 on a free transfer from AFC Bournemouth following their promotion to the Premier League.

The one-time Bristol City frontman was last season’s top scorer on 11 goals but was again in and out of the starting XI.

In total Jersey-born Pitman has made 42 starts and 28 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring 15 times.

Bru, 28, signed for Town in the summer of 2014 after a trial having left Bulgarian side Levski Sofia.

The Paris-born Mauritius international has made 59 starts and 35 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring four goals.

That Bru and Pitman are being allowed to move on comes as no surprise with Town boss Mick McCarthy expecting a summer of change at Portman Road, viewing the close season as “a real opportunity to freshen [the squad] up”.

The Blues manager is keen to bring in a number of new players with the full-time recruitment of loan midfielder Emyr Huws from Cardiff City also among his summer plans, while we understand McCarthy is also keen to sign striker Dominic Samuel, who has been on loan from Reading, on a permanent basis.

Yesterday, out-of-contract central defender Christophe Berra’s departure was confirmed with various reports this morning claiming the 32-year-old Scotland international’s return to his hometown club Hearts will be confirmed in the next few days.

The Blues are also again linked with Hearts’ Scotland international right-back Callum Paterson, who was previously mentioned in connection with the Blues as part of a swap deal with Berra in January.

However, with Town keen to keep hold of short-term signing Jordan Spence and with Josh Emmanuel also at the club, a move for another right-back seems unlikely at this stage.

Photo: TWTD

BlueNomad added 11:46 - May 10 May be that they don't want to stay, and the reasons may not be football related. Whatever has gone on neither have shown us they would be part of an improving squad. Pitman's attitude on the pitch has been poor for a long while. More wages freed up!
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Brownie added 11:50 - May 10 I think this is positive news IF we sign some players as well. Bru had a season when you never really noticed him when playing or missed him when he wasn't. Brett can finish but I have to be honest never really inspired me. Best of luck to both of them though an onwards & upwards for us.....hopefully..
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Tractorboy1985 added 11:51 - May 10 In a footballing team pitman would score 20 league goals.. he scored double figures the season Bournemouth went up and was a bit part player.. unfortunately under the current management we will never see the best of pits.. no good slumping the ball up to him.. he's a poacher and gets himself in great positions but with v little service from our pathetic midfield I will not be surprised to see him go.. and probably come back to bite us on the ar$e

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Bluetone added 11:53 - May 10 A clear indication if McCarthy is still here (God forbid) he will once again settle for hoofball.
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martin587 added 12:01 - May 10 Let's be honest Brett has found it hard going playing to this style of football,he needs the ball on the ground which he won't get under MM.So for him it would be best if he found a club that suits his style,but good luck to him as I think in a footballing team he would be able to score At least 15 goals per season. As for Bru,I don't think he is really the answer.Yes a good brain but not under this regime,then that's just my opinion for what it's worth.🤔

11

blueshamrock added 12:01 - May 10 Hopefully anouther 16 or so will be leaving with them, not many deserve to be kept based on the sham that was last Season
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walberblue added 12:09 - May 10 why did you sign them?? who are you going to get with no money?? who's decision making does this throw into doubt?? this is the team Bottom six mick has crafted over 5 years? emperor's new clothing......we have no squad. for god's sake get someone new into to start again. why give the club to an egotistical nobody who has achieve nothing in 5 years... absolutely nothing....WE HAVE NO PLAYERS AFTER 5 YEARS (except a tattoo addicted overweight 35 year old make weight right back)

1

bostonusablue added 12:17 - May 10 Pitman should be let go because of his terrible haircut.
-4

walberblue added 12:17 - May 10 lets get rid of moore, hyam, mcg, bishop, taylor, skuse , best, digby, coke, williams, douglas,rowe, diag, samuel. oh who is the common denominator and architect of under achievement?? Mick "i'll sign anything cheap" McCarthy What has he been allowed to do to to ITFC??? Get him out of of Porstman road and for god sake don't let him sign anymore crap. Please get a new man and start again. How much has all the failed signings cost btw??

1

walberblue added 12:20 - May 10 why are we giving these players away for nothing, again???
1

Ipswichbusiness added 12:28 - May 10 Both of these would be good Championship players in teams that played football on the deck, but find themselves in McCarthy hoof ball land. With Berra going as well we are likely to lose a lot of experience, but with them being bit part players that may not be so important. If we can use the space freed up by losing their salaries then some good may come of it, especially if McCarthy has to bring some of the younger lads on

7

bugledog123 added 12:31 - May 10 I don't think Pitman ever got a decent chance. Good luck to him.
14

Swn98 added 12:40 - May 10 walberblue they are going for nothing because apart from Bart, Webster they are like the rest of the squad worthless.
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floridaboy added 12:41 - May 10 Don't need Bru as Hyam should be fit. And he is one of our own as well!!!!
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tractorboybig added 12:47 - May 10 Bru was out of his depth and absolutely no loss. Pitman was a light weight who robbed our best striker in sears of the position.
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Lightningboy added 12:47 - May 10 I still think Pitman could knock in 15-20 goals a season in this division IF playing in a good attacking team & fully fit. Bru can go as far as i'm concerned - far too lightweight - i'd rather see our own youth given his game time ahead of him. Any news on the manager going yet?
10

martin587 added 12:48 - May 10 Just because Hyam is our own it doesn't mean he is better than the rest,doe's it.!! But let's just hope he has fully recovered from his injury and can prove he is worth a place in the squad next season. If he is then it's a bonus to both club and player.!🤔
6

StavangerBlue added 12:52 - May 10 We could sign C. Ronaldo up front but that would not work. Not even Ronaldo can score goals if the ball is 6ft above his head!!! MM out!! We need a manager with a positive attitude, a footballing brain, who is tactical, can train players, be passionate about the club and wants to win matches. I am fed up with Town playing for the 0-0 or 1-1 and avoiding risks (or worse letting in the late goal only to lose - regular event), the long balls from the back just blindly lumped up down the channel (Chambers and Knudsen do this regularly) giving away possession, the inability of the team to retain possession, the way we defend far too deep, why we play down the left side of the pitch but not the right!?! - no width, the fact we have little pace in the squad as a whole, the fact some players look unfit (Douglas looked like someones Dad having a kick around the local park at times), the ambition to play Academy players but then MM chooses not to, the feeling that you have more passion and commitment to the team than the players who look like they are just there for the pay cheque, the appearance of MM having a Plan A but no Plan B, often the appearance of having no tactical plan during games (Lincoln in the Cup a prime example), the fact he cannot introduce young players gradually (not at all OR like the team at RUFC too many where you learn nothing). Enough!

11

Jimmy86 added 12:56 - May 10 Pitman was never really a MM type player and was used purely as part of the Mings deal. He wasn't mobile enough to play as a lone striker and we never played to his strengths. Pitman is very similar to Mcgoldrick and is more a number 10, than an out and out striker. Disappointed about Bru, as I've always rated him. Played better in a 3 and was 1 of our more creative midfielders, however needed to be more consistent

5

Slambo added 12:59 - May 10 I'm quite surprised at the hostility Pitman is receiving on here. He may have been sulky and despondent in recent games, but, frankly, I would be too if I spent 90 minutes chasing lost causes or having the ball booted at my head and chest. The fact of the matter is we could have Sergio Aguero up front and it wouldn't matter a jot. Or midfield is non-existent and has been, well, since McCarthy took over. This is certainly the least creative side I ever remember seeing. I did some amateur data analysis the other and discovered that we averaged 3 shots on target per game this season. That's a shot every half an hour..!!! As for Bru, again, thought he was a tidy touch footballer - really good in closed spaces - and certainly think he was more of an asset than others...

8

howdonblue added 13:09 - May 10 Buy Samuel and let pitman go !! Nothing will change next season if this is anything to go by ! League 1 here we come
9

MooseJuice added 13:15 - May 10 I find it bizarre that some people on here think Brett Pitman isn't a good championship striker! The guy played nearly 40 times and scored 14 goals the season a very good Bournemouth team went up. Unfortunately for him his talent lies in his feet not in a 6'4" frame so was never going to flourish in a MM team. He'll score goals in a decent championship side next year of that I'm sure.

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bostonusablue added 13:22 - May 10 I just took a look at this seasons results to find out how many games we did not score in the first half, due to Dino's tactics. You just won't believe how many it was!! 30!!! Yes, in 30 games, including cup matches, we did not score in the first half. That stat is absolutely pathetic and should have McCarthy fired just for that. 30 games, people. Just remember that when you are singing his praises.

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carlisleaway added 13:23 - May 10 What are we keeping Moore for !! Come Mick give Bart an extended contract if you want the fans to support you.
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runaround added 13:30 - May 10 A shame but not surprising. Pitman is an excellent finisher but doesn't seem to fit in with our style of play & also looks better as a sub than starting. Bru was poor this year when I saw him
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