On-holiday Town boss Joe Royle has thanked Matt Holland for his efforts with the Blues and predicts that the midfielder's £750,000 fee will be one of the summer's higher deals. Yesterday Holland completed his move to Premiership Charlton.

Royle told the club site: "I would like to place on record my thanks to Matt, who has been a model professional in the short time we have worked together at Ipswich.

"He is a fantastic player and I know Town fans will miss him terribly but Matt wanted to go, he wanted Premiership football next season.

"We are under pressure to relieve the wage bill at Portman Road and although some people have suggested the transfer fee is not realistic, the valuation is dictated by the current depressed state of the market.

"In fact, I firmly believe that by the end of the summer, the fee we have received for Matt will be amongst the highest around.

"But we will miss him at the club immensely. He was popular with everyone and I wish him every success for the future."

Royle is currently in Majorca and does not expect to see any more players coming into the club before his return at the end of the month.

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