Town midfielder Luke Hyam has revealed he was close to quitting the club last season after being told he had no future at Portman Road.
Hyam, now thriving under the tutelage of manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor, felt he had little alternative but to move on when he found himself unable to claim a regular first team place.
The former Northgate High School pupil was named in the starting line-up for the Carling Cup defeat by Northampton in August 2011 but then failed to add a further senior appearance until January 2012.
Hyam, 21, said: "It is true that I was fairly close to moving on. I wasn’t playing and I was basically told that the club would be letting me go. It was made clear that I would have to move elsewhere.
"I was looking at League One or League Two teams with a view to getting out on loan. But then we had a few injuries and suspensions, and I played against both Hull and Blackpool. After that I was offered a new contract for two years. It just goes to show how quickly things can change in football.
"There was nothing else for it but to keep on working and waiting for my chance. I kept on training to the best of my ability, always believing in myself and that I would get my reward at some point.”
Now an integral part of McCarthy’s team and recently named as the club’s most improved player, Hyam has blossomed as more of an all-round midfielder than under previous boss Paul Jewell.
He added: "I feel as if the manager really believes in me and I think that’s important for any player. We want the manager to have confidence in us and we all want to be loved. It all helps when you are out there on the pitch.
"Maybe that wasn’t the case with the previous manager but they all have different opinions and they like certain players more than others. That’s just the way it is in football but things can change very quickly and I think I’ve proved that.
"It’s not about proving people wrong, just showing what I can contribute as a member of the team. If I’m out to prove anything to anyone it’s me. I still want to improve and I feel I can be a better player in the coming years.
"I’m pushing myself all the time to be better. It’s not about what some other people might think, it’s about working hard and proving to myself that I have what it takes to be successful as a footballer.”