Midfielder Alan Judge will not feature again this season having been told the Blues will not be taking up the one-year extension on his deal which would have been triggered automatically had he played one more game.

“It’s not ideal for us or Alan because I would have liked to have had him available for us over the rest of the season,” boss Paul Cook told the club website.

“I told him we are not in a position to trigger that extension to his contract and because of the situation, we won't be considering him for the remaining games.”

The 32-year-old has made 29 league starts this season and a 30th would have seen the Blues have to offer a further year at Portman Road.

Rumours regarding Judge's exit began to circulate on the TWTD Forum earlier this evening.

In total, the Republic of Ireland international made 75 starts and 16 sub appearances for Town, scoring eight times, having signed for a nominal fee from Brentford in January 2019.

Judge is one of 27 Blues pros whose deals are up at the end of the season - seven youngsters have already been told they can go - with Cook expected to launch a major overhaul in the summer to the extent that most of the current squad will depart.

Photo: TWTD

TractorFrog added 23:08 - Apr 15 What a shame. He hasn't really reached the level we expected during his time here, but I still think he's done a good job. This calendar year he has been one of our best performers. Good luck in the future, Alan Judge.
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RobsonWark added 23:27 - Apr 15 Chambers is still here FFS. Show him the door PC!
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Esseeja added 23:35 - Apr 15 Ever since Hyam broke this guy in half he was never the same player. Not too saddened to see him go because he was shocking for me, always misplaced every pass, he had a good shot on him inside the penalty area but otherwise not good enough but best of luck on future endeavours, Judge.
0

TractorRoyNo1 added 00:00 - Apr 16 We will really miss his goalscoring, 8 in 90 games - wow! That is closer to Paul Cooper than John Wark.
1

Portman_Pie added 00:13 - Apr 16 Zero regrets on this savvy decision. Good luck Alan - all the best for the future, and I hope you tie up a good deal to carry on elsewhere. However - not what we need from this day forward. Handsomely paid - probably circa 6-8k a week I imagine. For the good of the club - we need to take the position which Judge has occupied and make it a specialist player role. Judge has flitted between a left winger to a roaming forward, and a false 9. We have to identify players who are nailed on for the role they play and sit them there from now. El Mizouni has the energy to fill in and better Judge given a chance in my opinion. Either that - or get in a young (and cheaper) enthusiastic Prem club loanee. Ive got dreams of signing a couple of decent wingers this summer - Harness of Portsmouth would be a cracking signing, but Judge is no longer the type of player we can play out wide and expect 8-10 / 10 performances anymore. In short - a good decision and Well done Town...

6

armchaircritic59 added 00:16 - Apr 16 The Gamechanger guys appear to be decent people, but don't make the mistake of thinking they can't be ruthless when deemed neccessary. They wouldn't be where they are now otherwise. Whether we like it or not, football is now at least (at professional level), part business, part sport. We all need to get used to it.
3

Pencilpete added 00:17 - Apr 16 I think we all know several players time here is up .... Judge is one of the better ones imo but that doesn't really say that much at least he tried which is more than some others .... but when your most memorable moment in the shirt is being head butted by the Ref you know it hasnt gone great. All the best tho Judgey
1

Michael101 added 00:30 - Apr 16 Didn't mad Mick make the mistake of p!aying Douglas so We had To give him another year ?.perhaps we are starting to learn at last.
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Michael101 added 00:35 - Apr 16 Maybe may than as well ?? Or am I imagine thing's
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pennblue added 04:59 - Apr 16 For me, Judge has been the one live wire we have had this season. Always gave his best, always looking to try and make something happen. Out of the whole squad, he would have been my one pick to keep. So if this decision does not send alarm bells to the rest of the squad, then nothing will.
3

Bert added 05:15 - Apr 16 On balance, one of the better players able to spark the game into life but as others have said he is inconsistent. A decent honest guy who I hope gets a club to see out his career.
3

shakytown added 05:47 - Apr 16 If this does not shake some effort from the rest of the squad then they really do deserve to be released. Alan judge was far from the top of my list of first to go so the rest of them should be very worried indeed unless of course they have already been given the shove and its yet to be announced.
2

Gilesy added 06:47 - Apr 16 He could still be here next season. "Will not feature again this season". Perhaps they'll offer him a greatly reduced contract rather than the contract he would have been due after the trigger?
0

suffolkblueeye added 07:03 - Apr 16 Terrible player, can't pass forward, in fact can't pass....one of the reasons our forwards have no supply...
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:07 - Apr 16 It will be hard for PC to motivate the team for the rest of the season when many of them must already have a good idea of their fate.
6

Phil1969 added 07:31 - Apr 16 Shades of Hurst if we think overhaul most of the squad is the way. Having said that why are the current not playing out of their skins for new deals rather than be resigned to leaving. It's because they aren't playing for the current manager maybe the next bunch will!
1

buzbyblue added 07:34 - Apr 16 I hate to break it to you Steve itfc Sweden but our season was over a long time ago, as for motivation can you tell me when the squad actually has been this season? This is a results based business and this mass clearing of the decks is a few seasons late IMHO That being said Judge hasn't been the worst of a bad bunch
1

Europablue added 07:38 - Apr 16 Obviously, PC has plans for his position. I wouldn't have been strongly against or for him staying on another year. I don't know why Judge couldn't waive his extension clause and just play out the remainder of the contract, from our point of view though we shouldn't be playing anyone who won't be here next season.
2

grow_our_own added 08:01 - Apr 16 About time. He may be a lovely guy and have personal issues, but he's always been barely League One standard in his time for us. Incredible it took us over two years and 90 appearances to figure this out. His lack of goal-involvements per minute for an attacking-midfielder and other stats are evidence. I'm sure he was better at Brentford, before Hyam ended his top-class football ambitions. Please please please, no more signings from Brentford! They are much better at recruitment than us - we have always ended up cheated in our transfer dealings with them in recent years. I'd place Judge alongside Douglas in terms of the damage to the club and contribution to our downfall. Players like them are the reason for our current predicament - the most underperforming football club in England.

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Cloddyseedbed added 08:31 - Apr 16 Judge is one player I feel sorry for this season. He has always tried his best and worked hard despite having problems within his family. He has knuckled down and just got on with things. Credit to him for that. As others have said he's not been consistent this season but how you expect someone to be consistent when every game they play they are being asked to fill in somewhere or play are different roll or play out of position I don't know. I think if Judge goes somewhere else and gets a settled position he will do very well. Good Luck Alan Judge, unlucky you were here in the biggest turmoil the club has been in for decades. I wish you well.

5

DifferentGravy added 08:41 - Apr 16 Think its time for him to move on anyway but all the very best of luck to Judgey wherever he goes. Has certainly not been one of the worst players this season, has at least chipped in with a few goals and given his all (Jackson...ahem). Cheers Judgey!
1

Nobbysnuts added 08:44 - Apr 16 Never really done it for me...bit of a headless chicken..🐔🐔🐔
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nick8 added 08:52 - Apr 16 Hopefully this is the start of a mass clear out, I'd keep Bishop, Downes, Dozzell, Woolfy and Norwood. The rest can all go
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blueboy1981 added 08:54 - Apr 16 Unfortunately he was one of a very few with effort and quality within a very poor team - anyone who thinks Judge isn't a damn good player, needs to learn about the game. He'll be snapped up immediately, and have another couple of good seasons in him, make no mistake there'll be Clubs on the phone today. It's a few of the limp wrists, and can't be asked, that need shipping out post haste. At this moment - not at all sure where this is all heading, or going to pan out. Time will indeed tell.

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blues1 added 08:58 - Apr 16 Arc. Read the story properly and you can answer ur own post. Tes, hes under contract until the end of the season. But theres a kayse in his contract that says if he plays one more game the years option is automatically triggered. So as we clearly were not going to offer him a new deal, we cannot play him again this season. Or wed be stuck with him here for another season. Simple really.

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