Town boss Paul Jewell says he faces the hardest task in football management in the next few weeks when he decides which of the 11 first and second-year professionals to keep on at Portman Road. Jewell says he has pretty much made up his mind on which of the youngsters will remain at the club for the 2011/12 campaign.
The 11 are striker Ronan Murray, who is on loan at Torquay, keeper Ian McLoughlin, who is with Stockport at present, winger Reggie Lambe, at Bristol Rovers until the end of the season, Luke Hyam, Troy Brown, Tom Eastman, Jack Ainsley, Connor Hourihane, David Cawley, Jamie Griffiths and Billy Clark.
Jewell will also have to make decisions on the academy’s second-year scholars, including midfielder or striker Josh Carson, who recently made his first team debut, defenders Josh Meekings and Rory McKeown, striker Caolan Lavery, keeper Cody Cropper and midfielder Cormac Burke.
The Town boss told the club site: "We have got to make some really tough decisions with the younger players in the next few weeks.
"It's always the hardest job for a manager, letting kids go but I have got to try and do the right thing for the club.
"It's a horrible part of the job but if we are not going to keep players, if it's not going to happen for them here then we will try and help them find a new club and get their career going elsewhere."
Jewell says he already pretty much knows who will be at Portman Road next season: "More or less. I just need to have a meeting with one or two of the academy people, but we’ve made up our minds really.
"I’ve been impressed with the attitude and everything and it’s obviously a tough time because you let kids go at 18 or 19 and you hope that they go on and prove you’re wrong.”