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Gavin Alerts Welsh Clubs - Ipswich Town News

Midfielder Gavin Williams has told his agent to find him a club in Wales, having been told he can leave Town by Jim Magilton. Williams has confirmed reports a week ago linking Town's FA Cup opponents Swansea City.

Speculation regarding the Welsh international's future was initially prompted by Town revealing that they were aware of interest in the former West Ham man and striker Alan Lee soon after the pair were amongst those involved in the unauthorised trip to Amsterdam.

Then last week, reports in Welsh tabloids linked Williams with Swansea, Cardiff and Coventry, with Town claimed to want £500,000 for his services. Later on, the 26-year-old confirmed that he had been told he could leave Portman Road.

Williams, speaking in the Welsh press, says he would prefer a move back to his homeland if his Town days are to come to an end: "I've obviously got family back in Wales, so I've told my agent that if I was to leave Ipswich, I'd want to go back closer to them.

"I've been offered round to other clubs and Swansea have made enquiries. I could possibly play for them.

"Growing up as a Cardiff fan, the first thing you're supposed to do is hate Swansea. That's just how the rivalry is. But I'm not saying I actually hate Swansea.

"It's a job, isn't it? If I signed for them, I'd try and put the rivalry aside and give 100 per cent. I'm not sure my mates would be happy with it, but it's just one of those things. Other people have done it in the past."

Williams, who once celebrated a goal for Yeovil at Swansea with Cardiff's ‘Ayatollah' salute, confirmed that Town's decision to make him available is related to the Amsterdam trip, although we understand it wasn't the first incident involving the midfielder to annoy Jim Magilton this season.

The Merthyr Tydfil-born player concedes that the Dutch sojourn was a mistake: "The manager had told us to use the time off to put our feet up and rest, so maybe going abroad wasn't the brightest thing to do.

"The club have fined us and disciplined us, but I don't really know where I stand regarding my future.

"I think the manager rates me as a player. It's just off-the-field things, like the trip to Amsterdam, he's not happy about."

Williams is contracted to Town until 2009, having signed from West Ham for £300,000 a year ago after a two-month loan.

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