Former England U21s boss Peter Taylor has confirmed that he has held talks with Town manager Roy Keane regarding a coaching role with the Blues. On Sunday, TWTD was first to link Taylor with a job at Portman Road.
Taylor, who was spotted at Town’s home games against Swansea and Watford, refused to give any details but says he has spoken with Keane: "Possibly something might be done next week but I’m not prepared to get involved in what, at the moment, is only speculation.
"Roy and I have had a chat, a little chat, and that’s as far as it has gone so far.”
Taylor left his job as manager at Wycombe Wanderers earlier in the month and is understood to have been scouting for Wolves in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, central defender Tommy Smith, who played for Taylor during his spell on loan at Stevenage Borough two seasons ago, says he is undecided on whether to play international football for New Zealand.
As TWTD reported a fortnight ago, recent changes to FIFA rules allow the Macclesfield-born England U18 international to switch allegiance to the country where he lived between the ages of eight and 16 and for whom he received youth call-ups prior to committing for England.
Smith says he is currently concentrating on Town: "I have not thought about the international side of my game. All my thoughts are on playing for Ipswich and establishing myself in the first team squad.”
TWTD understands that Town have started talks with Canadian international Jaime Peters regarding a new three-year deal. The midfielder-turned-full-back’s current terms are up next summer. Peters is now very much a first team squad member under Roy Keane's management having spent much of Jim Magilton's time in charge in the wilderness.
Town have missed out on a potential future signing with Peterborough United swooping to sign left-back Scott Griffiths from Dagenham and Redbridge on loan with a view to a permanent deal at the end of last week. Blues chief scout Steve McCall has watched the 23-year-old on a number of occasions this season, Griffiths having previously been linked with Town in the summer of 2008.
Defender Alex Bruce was fined £60 and given three penalty points at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court yesterday for using his mobile phone whilst driving. Bruce was stopped twice on the same day, March 9th, for the same offence but only answered one of the charges. He had denied the first offence and the charge had been discontinued.
The Irish international didn’t appear at the hearing but apologised through his solicitor, saying he "made a mistake and was sorry”. Town's reserves are in action at Portman Road against Norwich City this afternoon (KO 2pm).
Elsewhere, Plymouth have failed in their attempt to have defender Darcy Blake’s red card for a two-footed tackle on Town’s Alan Quinn overturned.