Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has emphasised how his relationship with manager Mick McCarthy was the driving force behind his decision to sign for Town.
The pair spent several seasons together at Wolves after McCarthy handed over £1.5 million to capture the ex-Manchester United youngster from Plymouth in 2008.
Ebanks-Blake said: "The move had been speculated about for a while. The manager kept in touch with me throughout my rehab and I’m delighted that I’ve got it done.
"The manager didn’t have to make these calls but it shows the relationship that we built up over the years at Wolves. Great respect to him, he’s a great man like that and I was pleased with it.
"I worked with him for more than four years at Wolves and he’s a very good manager. He’s very good at bringing the right set of lads together and you can clearly see that Ipswich are on the up.
"They all work hard for each other and want to be successful, and it’s clear what Mick is building here. There were other offers but Mick was always at the front of the queue because he’s that sort of man.
"The relationship we have, plus the fact that he stayed in touch with me after I was injured, tells you what sort of man he is. That goes a long way with me. It’s not always about who is offering you the most money, it’s the relationships you build with people.”
Asked if he would have been as enthusiastic about joining Town had McCarthy not been in charge, Ebanks-Blake added: "It’s a difficult question because Ipswich is a big club with a lot of history.
"But I must admit Mick and Terry Connor were a big pull. I’ve worked with them in the past and we had a lot of success. I’m hoping I can bring that here as well.
"One thing I’ve always said about Mick is that he is a very honest man. As a player that’s all you want — honesty. You want to know why you’re not in the team and what you have to do to get into the team.
"He gives you the answers quite directly, even if they are not the answers you want to hear. But you’d rather be told the truth.”
Photo: ITFC