Crowe and Patterson Among Youngsters Set to Stay at Town - Ipswich Town News
Wales U21 international keeper Michael Crowe and New Zealand international forward Monty Patterson (pictured) are among the young players Town have announced have been offered new terms.
Crowe, 21, Patterson, 20, former Republic of Ireland U18 international striker Shane McLoughlin, 20, midfielder James Blanchfield, 19, and 19-year-old defenders Chris Smith and George Fowler have all had the one-year options on their current professional contracts taken up by the club.
Manager Mick McCarthy has previously announced that the Blues would be exercising their one-year option to keep midfielder Kundai Benyu, who will be in Vanarama National League play-off action with his loan club Aldershot this evening, and will be offering the 19-year-old a longer-term contract.
McCarthy has confirmed that defenders Paul Digby, 22, and Joe Robinson, 20, and keeper Jacob Marsden, also 20, will be departing at the end of the season.
Regarding the second-year academy scholars, defender Luke Woolfenden and midfielders Conor McKendry and Flynn Downes, all 18, will also staying at Playford Road for another season, while keeper Harry Wright, the 18-year-old son of former Blue Richard, has been offered another one-year deal.
Andre Dozzell, Nick Hayes and Ben Morris previously signed two-year professional contracts with the club when they turned 17 with Dozzell extending his to the summer of 2020 yesterday, his 18th birthday.
Striker Callum Fullwood, 18, will have his scholarship extended into next season having spent time out injured.
Moving on are full-back Kieron Cathline, who played in an exit trial match at Woking last night, winger Ross Meldrum and defender Kolade Salaudeen, all 18.
What to read next:
Sheeran to Extend Town SponsorshipEd Sheeran has revealed he has agreed to extend his sponsorship of the Blues into a fourth season but won’t be at Portman Road tomorrow.
Morsy: To Get a Club to the Premier League Would Be AmazingSam Morsy is no stranger to success as a footballer after winning promotion with Chesterfield, Wigan and Town, plus playing for Egypt in the World Cup, but would taking Ipswich into the Premier League perhaps be his number one achievement in the game?
Morsy: Exeter Experience Will Help UsTown skipper Sam Morsy knows only too well the prize for avoiding defeat at Portman Road tomorrow and believes he and his teammates will benefit from their experience of the near-identical situation that occurred a year ago.
McKenna: Squad Focused and RelaxedTown boss Kieran McKenna says his squad remain focused, despite a palpable buzz around the town as well as further afield back in Northern Ireland.
McKenna: It Would Be a Very Proud AchievementBlues boss Kieran McKenna says it would be a proud achievement to take Town back into the Premier League after 22 seasons away but says he hasn’t yet thought too much about the prospect of becoming a top-flight manager.
McKenna: In Many Ways It's Been a Normal WeekTown boss Kieran McKenna has tried to treat this week in as normal a manner as possible, despite the noise surround the club with the Blues just a point away from a return to the Premier League and their second promotion in two seasons.
McKenna: We're Going to Assess One or Two in the MorningTown boss Kieran McKenna says there are a few knocks and niggles in his squad ahead of Saturday’s crucial final day of the season game at home to Huddersfield with one or two set to be assessed in the morning ahead of the match.