x

Campo Wants to Stay as Magilton Promises Busy Summer - Ipswich Town News

Veteran Spaniard Iván Campo says he wants to spend his final year as a player with the Blues. Campo, 35, plans to retire at the end of next season.

The former Real Madrid and Bolton man told the club site: "I have many friends here and it's a very professional club, with professional people and a professional attitude.

"There are good players here, good footballers and I think it is very possible for the club to go up to the Premier League very soon.

"It's my hope that I play one more year here and help Ipswich get back to the Premier League. I feel my fitness is good and that I have something to offer the team and I would like to stay here.

"I have one more year of football in me before I retire and I want it to be at Ipswich Town."

Chief executive Derek Bowden recently told TWTD that an option for a second season at Portman Road is triggered by the number of games Campo begins: "There's a one-way option based on the number of starts. If he makes a certain number of starts, then he'll have a second year.

"If he doesn't make that requisite number of starts, then we could still offer him another year anyway.”

Meanwhile, boss Jim Magilton says he is expecting significant player movement at Portman Road this summer: "There will be a lot of changes to the playing staff at this club over the summer.

"We have 13 players out of contract, which will naturally see a trimming down of the numbers and there may be other exits.

"We want to tighten up the squad so we are working with around 20 to 22 players at first team level and we have identified some targets that we might look at bringing in.

"Obviously, we are going to miss Luca for a big part of next season, so that's one area we have to look at, but it's an ongoing process because we are always looking for players that can bring some extra quality to the squad."

Already, Billy Clarke, Jai Reason, Kurt Robinson and Ed Upson have been told they will not be offered new deals when their current terms are up at the end of the season. Dean Bowditch, Chris Casement Dan Harding and Matt Richards also look certain to released when their contracts come to an end in June.

Alex Bruce has turned down the offer of new terms, while Shane Supple may be keen to move on to gain first team football with former Town goalkeeper-coach Andy Rhodes, now with Preston, recently spotted watching the Irish U21 in action for loan club Oldham.

Supple could be offered new terms at Portman Road, as may Tommy Miller and Liam Trotter, who is currently on loan at Scunthorpe.

Professional contracts have been offered to academy graduates Jack Ainsley and Reggie Lambe with Paul Watson, Matt Daniels and Joe Clemo released at the end of their scholarships.

What to read next:

Cajuste Offered to Udinese Report
Napoli are reported to have offered former Blues loanee Jens Cajuste to Udinese as they look to sign Italian international striker Lorenzo Lucca in a cash-plus-player deal.
TWTD Questionnaire Results Now Online
TWTD’s seventies-style supercomputer, the Osborne 1.0, has been fired up once again and the results of the TWTD Questionnaire 2024/25 are now available.
FA Youth Cup Hero Upson Retires
Ed Upson, the scorer of the goal which won Town the FA Youth Cup in 2005, has announced he is hanging up his boots, aged 35.
Prediction League Winners
The TWTD Prediction League was as keenly contested as ever during 2024/25 but with BigAlsMate’s emerging as the winner by five points.
Hutchinson: We Want to Be Dominant Against Spain
Omari Hutchinson says he and his England U21s teammates have to look to dominate Spain in Saturday’s European Championship quarter-final in Trnava, Slovakia.
Trabzonspor Concerns Over Tuanzebe Injury Record
Trabzonspor are concerned by Blues defender Axel Tuanzebe’s injury record, according to a Turkish report.
Delap Nominated For PFA Young Player of the Year
Former Town striker Liam Delap has been named in the PFA’s Young Player of the Year Top Six.
Hutchinson Assists as England U21s Progress Despite Defeat
Blues forward Omari Hutchinson won his seventh cap as England’s U21s made it through to the knockout stages of the European Championship, despite being beaten 2-1 by Germany in their final group game in Slovakia.
Youngster Nicolaou Signs First Pro Deal
Academy youngster Shakil Nicolaou has signed his first professional deal.
Hutchinson's England U21s Face Germany
Blues forward Omari Hutchinson and his England U21s teammates will be looking to secure qualification to the knockout stage of the European Championship when they face Germany in Nitra, Slovakia this evening (KO 8pm, Channel 4).