Town will not be playing a home friendly during their pre-season ahead of 2017/18, TWTD understands.
Traditionally the Blues have played a game against foreign opposition on the Saturday prior to a season’s start with Belgian visitors Royale Union Saint-Gilloise winning last year’s match 2-1.
Having initially planned to do the same this summer and after holding preliminary discussions regarding potential opposition, Town instead arranged their final friendly away against League One Charlton.
The Blues visit the Valley on Saturday 29th July with the Championship campaign starting a week later on Saturday 5th August.
Town will learn their opening day opponents and their other league fixtures when they are announced on Wednesday 21st June.
We understand the Blues have been keen to get their pre-season programme set in stone early this summer with no further senior friendlies still to be announced. The full list, including some of the U23s games, available here.
As has been the case in previous summers, the squad, which is due back from their close season break on Monday 26th June, will spend a week at the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare prior to an Ireland-based friendly, this year at Drogheda on Saturday 8th July.
The lack of a late July home friendly will be good news for Town’s groundsmen as it will give them further time to work on the pitch following the Elton John concert on Saturday 17th June.
The Portman Road surface, which showed significant signs of wear and tear in the latter half of the season, is being renovated, as has been the case in previous summers.
Meanwhile, Town sources have again dismissed reports from the North-East claiming that the club received an additional £1 million for Daryl Murphy following Newcastle’s promotion to the Premier League.
The Blues previously rejected the claims when they first appeared in August shortly after the Irish international joined the Magpies for £3 million.