Town manager Joe Royle says he is not expecting any more activity at Portman Road during the remaining day or so of the transfer window. Jamie Clapham has been the only high profile departure during January, joining Birmingham for a fee ultimately totalling £1.5 million.

Royle says that to all intents and purposes the window, which officially ends on Friday, has already closed: “I think it shut a week ago. There's very little going on. There's only Manchester City who realise the window's open. It's been very, very quiet.”

Royle has denied a report this morning claiming an imminent move for Everton keeper Paul Gerrard, although he didn't rule a move for the former loanee at some future date: “At the moment, no. It's not to say anything is dead and buried, but we would struggle to bring anybody in at the moment.

“Our priority for a while now has been letting people out, so it would be hard for us to consider bringing in anyone else in any position. Loans we could have to look at but even that's tight.”

On the subject of speculation regarding Tony Mowbray and the Colchester United manager's job, Royle refused to be drawn: “I can't help on speculation. Tony's said nothing to me, Colchester have said nothing to me.

“I'd speak to Tony about it, if that was the way Tony would want to go, but he's said nothing so I guess he's heard nothing.

“I feel for Steve Whitton, it's a hard job with limited finances. The job has changed immensely in recent years and the smaller clubs are finding it harder now. He's a nice guy and a good player too.”

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