George Burley today reiterated that he wants to sign more players before the beginning of the season. The Town boss said last week that he had a few targets and thought he may have to break the £4.5 million transfer record to get the player he wants. He also said that he wants to look at his targets in pre-season training before making a move.
Today he said: "There are a number of players we have been watching. I’m not going to mention names, but there are one or two we intend to follow up. It would be great if we could introduce a couple of new faces. We need to keep adding to the squad and topping it up with quality signings."
Southampton skipper Jason Dodd has warned new Town man Hassan Kachloul that he faces an aggressive welcome when he returns to play at Southampton next season. The Saints captain wished him well, but told him to be on his guard.
Dodd said: "We have had some fine service out of him and he is a really great lad to have around the place, and on behalf of the team, I want to
wish him all the best. However, he will need to be on his toes when he plays against us next season because he will definitely be in for some treatment as he knows we will be after him!"
Steve McClaren's appointment as manager of Middlesbrough has seen an ex-Town man out of a job. David Geddis was reserve team manager at Boro and had spent ten years on Teeside, but now finds himself out as McClaren makes sweeping changes at the Riverside.
Martijn Reuser has said he will return to Portman Road early to make sure he is fit and ready to start the Premiership season. Last year the Dutchman found pre-season training hard and wants to be fully ready for it this year.
The Dutchman said: "I will be back in England next week and I have already arranged to meet up with the fitness coach, Simon Thadani, on Monday and work on a few things. I finished last season quite well and I want to be in the starting line-up from the beginning of the new season. I realise I will have to be completely fit for that to happen. I want to be fit enough to last the full 90 minutes from day one. Last season, it wasn’t until the second half that I got into the side on a regular basis. I don’t want that to happen again. The last part of the season was marvellous for me and that’s how I want the new season to start."
There is also more midfield competition with Hassan Kachloul joining the Blues and Reuser wants to be sure of a good pre-season: "There is a big difference between the pre-season training in Holland and England. I found it quite heavy last year and I suffered on the tour to Finland and Estonia. That is not going to happen this time. I will make sure it doesn’t. I want to be 100 per cent right from the start or I know I will not be in the team. I am looking forward to the new season. I have had a good break and now I am with my family. But when I come back to England next week I will be working hard."
Town have given their players' tunnel to Ryman League Hampton and Richmond Borough. The Blues will have a new one this season which won't have Greene King logos all over it. No fee was asked for the concertina-type tunnel which will replace old metal barriers at the Beveree Stadium.
Hampton and Richmond Borough General Manager Les Rance said "The Tractor Boys really came through for us. The tunnel has already been installed, it just needs a spring clean to be ready for use - it will improve the access for supporters to the Simpson Stand and the clubhouse while presenting an attractive entrance for the players to enter the pitch. An additional bonus is that it bears the former Ipswich Town sponsor's name Greene King, which just happen to be the brewery that supplies our bar".
Today's Do You Remember? man is former loanee Gerry Creaney. What do you remember of the Scotsman's spell with Town? Click the link on the Message Board: http://www.twtd.co.uk/messages