Blues boss Mick McCarthy is delighted that former loan duo Daryl Murphy and Jay Tabb opted for a return to Portman Road on a permanent basis, despite interest from elsewhere. The duo recently agreed two-year deals with Town following their release by Celtic and Reading respectively.
McCarthy says that as well as the players impressing him during their loan spells, he’s pleased that the club also did enough to persuade them to stick around: "There are two ways at looking at that. They did enough [to be offered contracts], but what about the fact that we did enough to convince them?
"I’ve no doubt Murph could have had [other clubs interested] but Murph’s been on loan here for 10 years, he’s had a testimonial!
"He loves it here and he wanted to stay, which I think is great. And he wasn’t looking for the earth, moon and stars, he wanted to play here, stay here and play with us.
"Tabby had other offers and better offers financially, but he wanted to stay here. Has that got a bit to say about me, about Terry Connor, about the staff, about the club?
"That’s a nice thing because I heard that you can’t get players here, so perhaps we can if the circumstances are right. It doesn’t matter that we’re 80 miles away from wherever.
"I think that it says a lot about the club that we’ve had players like David McGoldrick, who was here last season, who actually want to come back and play here.”
In addition to former loanees Murphy, Tabb - who was reportedly targeted by Middlesbrough and Birmingham before committing to returning to Town - and McGoldrick, McCarthy has also added Cole Skuse to his squad this summer.
He says he has high hopes for the 27-year-old Bristolian midfielder or right-back: "He was on a Bosman, that helped. He’s a really good character, he was the captain at Bristol City and he’s a talented, tall, rangy midfield player who can play in a number of positions. He’s certainly versatile and that helps.
"If you’re going to have a squad of 20 or 22 players then you need players who can play in other positions.
"He was the captain there, he’s a good guy, a good character and having signed him, the more people I’ve met who know him, I’ve never heard a bad word about him. He’s going to be a good player for us, he’s a good personality.”
Photo: ITFC