Norwich Friendly Plans Abandoned - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands that the proposed pre-season friendly between Town and Norwich City at Carrow Road will not now take place.

We understand that the game, which had been pencilled in for Sunday 28th July, has been scuppered by safety concerns and the potential cost.

TWTD revealed that the clubs were in discussions regarding the game late last month with Canaries chief executive David McNally confirming that the match was under consideration in a tweet last week.

Fans of both clubs are unlikely to be too disappointed that the match won’t take place with more than 78% of TWTD readers against the fixture in a poll and supporters north of the border similarly less than enthralled by the prospect.

The decision not to go ahead with the Norwich match means the Blues will have to find alternative opponents for their final pre-season game the week before 2013/14 starts on Saturday 3rd August.

Town, who have so far announced four friendlies, have no plans to play a home game during pre-season with the Portman Road pitch having undergone work to improve drainage during the close season.

A friendly against Southend United, whose Roots Hall is also undergoing work this summer, at a neutral venue has also been mooted.

Meanwhile, Football League clubs have voted to end the anomaly whereby international loans don't count towards the number of loans in a matchday squad. From the new season they will be treated the same as domestic loans with five permitted in a matchday 18.

What to read next: