Left-back or midfielder Shane O’Connor has left the Blues after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. O’Connor, whose deal was up in June, was linked with a move back to his native Ireland with Shamrock Rovers earlier in the week.

The Cork-born player tweeted his goodbyes to fans and revealed the Blues prevented him from moving in the close season: "Thank you to all the Ipswich Town fans for your support! Sorry to be leaving but couldn't keep going on this way and not playing football.

"Or even been giving the chance to play! Although might have to look for an opportunity now [seeing] as I was stopped [from] going last summer."

O'Connor was on trial at Crawley in pre-season and was offered a six-month deal. Previously it had been reported that the player turned down the switch rather than that Town had blocked it. The Irishman suggests he also had other options.

On Facebook he dismissed rumours that his lack of involvement over the last year was down to his attitude: "I would just like to clear up that I never had off-field problems, the manager just didn’t give me a chance but I always gave 110% every day. I have very fond memories here!”

Republic of Ireland U21 international O’Connor spent time on loan at Port Vale before Christmas but failed to make an appearance for the League Two side and was recently on trial at Southend.

The ex-Liverpool trainee made 15 starts and seven sub appearances for the Blues after winning himself a deal at Portman Road in 2009 after asking fellow Corkman Roy Keane for a trial.

Photo: Action Images

BlueMaverick added 11:13 - Jan 20 Not suprised in the slightest but is a shame is always looked promising when selected (which has been far fewer times than it should have been during his town career!) Makes you wonder if there is a bit of a problem with him we dont know about.. Homesickness or anything like that. Best of luck in your future career Shane!!
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Jesney_Havoc added 11:14 - Jan 20 Bit of a ShO'C ? Can't say I blame him.
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PauloJulio added 11:20 - Jan 20 Shame bcos i though Shane was a good prospect!
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Karlosfandangal added 11:24 - Jan 20 Like what the club are doing at the moment. Clearing the decks of players who know they have no future with the club, which can help the mood at the club with players moaping about (Priskin body language on Saturday) We would have to pay the player till their contract ran out, so saving some money in the process makes sence and also being fair to the player who can sign a new contract with a new club instead of missing out and having to look for a new club 5 months down the line

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chalkandcheese added 11:27 - Jan 20 he was that good he couldnt even get a start for portvale...wake up some people.. just because they are young dont mean they will be any good...dean bowditch looked good and then he faded away Rhodes looks good.....league 1 best suited Sam parkin looked good at league 1... Lewis Price....so many youngsters may look good but they just dont cut it and with some of them the hype takes over....Danny Haynes for example

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Unbelievable_Jeff added 11:28 - Jan 20 "whose deal was up ion June" IN Phil encased you hadn't realised! On O'Connor, Looked promising under Roy Keane, but something tells me he could give 2 sh*ts in training and doesnt put the effort in. Shame. Good Luck anyway!
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algarvefan added 11:30 - Jan 20 Preparing for Division 1 with a smaller squad more like...unless we get our defence sorted in this transfer window that's where we are going. I've never known our squad to have so many 'lame ducks' on it's books. Keane got rid of lots of promising players and PJ has rebuilt the squad with aged players on good money who couldn't give a 'feck' as Mrs Brown would say! O'Connor (unless he did have issues) is the type of player we will need to get out of Division 1, we need rid of Bullard, Bowyer, Ellephant etc...not youngsters. PJ's buying record is poor...very poor!

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cromwellblue added 11:32 - Jan 20 Agree that claring the deck of player that PJ doesn't rate is good But at this rate if we do't tie up contracts or sign someone will we have team next year. Think I might by some boots, just in case
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buryblue77 added 11:35 - Jan 20 And there goes number five...... Leadboots next please.
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lTFC added 11:40 - Jan 20 all that's left now is leadbutter + Ellington
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casanovacrow added 11:40 - Jan 20 shame, but if he wasn't going to get a look in I suppose its for the best.
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Daleyitfc added 11:48 - Jan 20 The best player in our squad : madness.
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chalkandcheese added 11:50 - Jan 20 Daleyitfc..... thats a good joke.......unless u see something that ipswich, portvale and all the coaches dont? or may be the madness is catching?
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PhilTWTD added 11:59 - Jan 20 Jeff Amended. Never been given that impression of S'OC incidentally. Always seemed down to earth and a decent lad.
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Surco72 added 12:01 - Jan 20 Algarve you would rather keep O Connor who cannot get offered a contract by any manager in England apart from Keane ,above Bullard our player of the year last season who started the season well (West Ham,Boro,Brighton,)and has had a handful of poor games, Bowyer who was impressive in the premiership last season and has looked good apart from his injuries ? Signings paid for Cresswell candidate for player of the year , Chopra a couple of goals off the leading scorers in the league (Lambert aside ) Jet a youngster starting to look useful with a sun in the side .. i would say PJ s buying record is better than money wasted by our previous managers Stead,Lisbie,Shumi,Campo,Priskin,Leadbitter,Fulop,Kennedy, big money gone to name but a few

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CreamCrazy added 12:07 - Jan 20 Decent player, sad to see him go. A guy who could play left back & have a good amount of speed & crossing ability on the left wing (the snow game VS Leicester showed that)... it'll be hard to find a player of that quality on the market, even at a young age. Hope he does well wherever he goes.
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buryblue77 added 12:21 - Jan 20 Surco, I'd actually happily still have Stead here, but you're right other managers have wasted millions on dross and Jewell is left with the fallout. He has brought some good players in, it's just not worked out as yet.
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village_blue added 12:21 - Jan 20 Please can we make Leadboots. Edwards, Chopra and Bullard part of the next cull of players exiting Portman Road.
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footyblue added 12:26 - Jan 20 I think he was decent better than some I have seen play this year thats for sure better than the likes of ellington thats fro sure
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JayITFC added 12:44 - Jan 20 The stick that Ellington and Leadbitter are getting is ridiculous. The Duke was a free on peanuts wages and has had so few starts no one can judge how well he has or hasn't done in a Town shirt. Grant gives his all and is just a scapegoat that fans like to blame for our awful last few years.
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irishtim added 12:51 - Jan 20 Best of luck shane. Pity it didnt work out. Hopefully cork city come calling.
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clarkey85 added 13:03 - Jan 20 Village blue im not sure i can agree there! Players to build around im still sure chops will come good once his heads clear and bullard will defo find his form! Shame about o connor i didnt think he was that bad but obviously aint good enough!!!
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arc added 13:06 - Jan 20 Is Mark Kennedy still with the club? There is just no end of the dead wood.
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newboy added 13:06 - Jan 20 Another one PJ could not get on with so he edged him out very professional of him not to come out and say it though Good luck to him i hope he finds a club/manager that deserves him and treats him well
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wrightyblue added 13:28 - Jan 20 Good old boy get out while u can. Maybe your next club will have a good manager who will have faith in u.
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