Former England U21 international coach Peter Taylor will not be joining Roy Keane’s backroom staff. The Blues have confirmed that talks took place but also that the ex-Wycombe Wanderers boss will not now be moving to Town.
A Town spokesman said: "Ipswich can confirm that Peter Taylor will not be joining the coaching staff at Portman Road.
"Senior management staff at the club and Mr Taylor held discussions over a possible role in support of the coaching team. However, there will be no further progression of those talks.”
Earlier in the week, Taylor revealed that he had spoken to Keane after being spotted watching the recent Swansea and Watford games at Portman Road.
The ex-Brighton, Hull, Stevenage and Leicester boss says he doesn't want to anything beyond the club statement: "We couldn’t come to an agreement and it’s best for all parties just to leave it at that.
"I don’t want to add anything to the statement. The comments are fine by me.
"I don’t think it would be in the interests of any of us to go any further into the reasons why."
Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday have placed central defender Richard Wood on the transfer list. Wood was targeted by the Blues during the transfer window but the clubs were unable to complete a deal before the deadline, with the Owls keen to extend the 24-year-old’s contract.
However, Wednesday boss Brian Laws says they have been unable to agree new terms: "It is very disappointing to be in this situation, but Richard Wood is going to be put on the transfer list. "We have been talking to him about a new contract for months now, but Richard and his agent believe he should be the highest-paid player at this football club.
"The gap in negotiations cannot be bridged because Richard is demanding an amount that we cannot justify paying. His opinion is that if he cannot get the wage he wants from Sheffield Wednesday he will go somewhere else.”
Town are still looking for a centre-half and may well swoop for Wood on loan with a view to a permanent deal in January. Coventry City are also believed to be interested.
Celtic central defender Stephen McManus has also again been linked with the Blues. McManus turned down the chance to join Town on loan in August. The Blues would not be able to move for the Scottish international either on loan or permanently until the transfer window opens in January.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace have paid Town the money they owed for striker Alan Lee and are now no longer under a transfer embargo. The Eagles had defaulted on part of the £600,000 they agreed to pay for the Irish striker in the summer of 2008.