Town have confirmed the signing of Stoke City defender Danny Collins on a three-month loan. Earlier today, TWTD was first to reveal that the Blues were closing in on signing the 31-year-old ahead of Saturday’s trip to Blackpool.
The Wales international, who is set to make his debut at the heart of the Town defence at Bloomfield Road, says the strength of the Blues' playing staff was what persuaded him to opt for a move to Portman Road rather than join other interested parties: "Having looked at the squad here, there are some really good players.
"There is a lot of ambition about the place and with the players here, you can see Ipswich being one of the clubs competing near the top of the table.
"There were a few other clubs interested but I know five or six of the lads here and spoke to them and they said what a great club it is. I also spoke to Jon Walters and he said 'get down there, you'll enjoy it'.
"I've played regularly over the last five or six years, so when I wasn't included in the side at the start of this season I had a word with the manager and told him I'd rather go out and play somewhere than sit on the bench.
"He's knows that I'm not the type of lad that is happy to sit around, so when the opportunity to come here came around, I wanted to take it. Now I'm just looking forward to playing some games and helping Ipswich push on."
Town manager Paul Jewell added: "We're obviously delighted to have been able to bring Danny here. The defence is an area that we have been looking to strengthen and we've also had some injuries there as well, so Danny will add to the competition for places in that department.
"He will give us more pace and has Premier League experience. He knows what this league is like as well having been promoted twice as champions with Sunderland.
"He is versatile and can play at left-back, so he provides options and he's also an international, so we are getting a player with a lot of qualities. He's a good addition for us.
"There were other clubs interested in him, much closer to his home, so it shows his commitment and ambition to come here and play games."
On Friday, Collins was left out of Stoke's 25-man Premier League squad with boss Tony Pulis keen that he and a number of other players should go out on loan to get games under their belts: "These are lads who have not been playing enough recently and so we want to get them out and playing football until Christmas. It's important for Danny Collins to be playing at his age and because he's in the Welsh squad.”
Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth also showed interest in the 6ft tall one-time Chester City man, who plays either at centre-half or left-back.
Collins has won 17 full Wales caps and was on the bench for Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifying defeat to England at Wembley.
Photos: ITFC