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Wilnis to Go on a Free? - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands that Town are willing to allow Fabian Wilnis to leave Portman Road on a free transfer. Wilnis has been out of favour since falling out with George Burley at the UEFA Cup tie away in Helsingborg back in November.

The 31-year-old Dutchman has been on the transfer list since early January when he told TWTD: "It has been very frustrating to be out of the side for the last 15 or 16 games. The manager said that he would make changes for the game at the weekend [Dagenham] and even then I didn't get to play. That is his decision and now I have made mine."

The man brought to Town by Romeo Zondervan, a former team-mate at NAC Breda, added that he felt he needed to be playing first team football at this stage of his career.

The decline in the full-back's Town career really began when he reacted angrily to his first half substitution in the away leg of the Helsingborg game. Afterwards he and Burley discussed the situation, Wilnis later described this as "not a good meeting". He has been largely out of favour ever since.

Although he subsequently made the odd appearance as a sub or in the Worthington Cup, latterly he has seemed even further away from the first team. He was the only senior player omitted from the squad which travelled to Cyprus for last week's training camp.

Now it seems Town are prepared to eschew a fee for the man who joined from De Graafschap for £200,000 in January 1999.

After a fine first season Wilnis dropped behind Gary Croft during the promotion season before regaining his right-back spot during the first Premiership season, the highlight being his goal in the 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United.

Wilnis has made 110 appearances for Town and has scored three goals.

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