Cook Set to Meet Players as Big Name Departures Expected - Ipswich Town News

Manager Paul Cook will meet with the current Town players today to tell them whether they’re in his plans for the future.

Speaking on Friday, Cook wouldn’t be drawn into commenting on whether the players already had an idea of his thoughts.

He said everyone was hurting after what’s been a difficult season: "That will come to the table on Monday when we speak to all the players individually regarding what’s gone on, what’s going to go on with the future of the club. And the future of the club is the most important thing.

"For managers today, the results-driven business is there for everyone to see. We don’t last long anymore, we can talk as much as we want, we can do what we want.

"For players, being successful at clubs is absolutely huge. Players can be passing ships in the night now.

"We’ve got to put a squad together for next year and that will include some lads who are here and it will include some new arrivals.

"But certainly one the town and the supporters and the new ownership can be proud and happy with. But at the minute that’s probably a long way from where we are.”

Those most on tenterhooks going into their meetings will be those who are out of contract this summer* with the majority expected to depart.

Skipper Luke Chambers, 35, appeared to confirm that yesterday’s 396th appearance for the club was his last with a post on Instagram and fellow senior players Cole Skuse, also 35, and Freddie Sears, 31, are both also expected to move on.

The trio have all been linked with a move to Colchester United with their goalkeeper-coach Darren Smith, a former member of the Portman Road staff, among the scouts watching yesterday’s 3-1 home victory over Fleetwood.

Midfielder Emyr Huws hasn’t been involved at all since Cook took over and his departure is certain, while Town’s central defensive pairing from earlier in the season, Player of the Year James Wilson and Toto Nsiala, also look set to be among those to depart.

It would be a surprise if Janoi Donacien, who has spent the second half of the season on loan with yesterday’s opponents, were to be kept on, while striker Aaron Drinan would also appear certain to be on his way out of the club.

Town had offers for Kayden Jackson in January, most notably a late bid from Huddersfield, so the Blues could potentially activate the one-year option on the 27-year-old’s contract in order to secure a fee. Jackson appears a poor fit into Cook’s preferred 4-3-2-1 system and seems unlikely to be in his plans going forward.

Teddy Bishop and Gwion Edwards have played regularly for Cook with the former appearing among the more likely out-of-contract players to be kept on.

Tristan Nydam could also be offered the chance to stay having impressed Cook after recovering from his lengthy spell out injured, while Liam Gibbs, as previously reported, has been offered a new deal with his current terms up in the summer and including no option for a further year.

Idris El Mizouni may not be offered the chance to stay as Cook’s plans for a reduced squad could see youngsters on the fringes depart. Ben Morris may find himself in a similar position after two injury-hit seasons.

Fellow youngsters Bailey Clements, who has been in impressive form for the U23s since returning from his loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge, Levi Andoh, Bert White and Tommy Hughes also have deals which are up, although with all their deals including a further year's option.

Senior members of the squad Alan Judge and Stephen Ward have already left along with several young players, including Barry Cotter and keepers Harry Wright and Adam Przybek.

A number of players who are currently in contract may also be told that they can find themselves new clubs today, while the loan spells of Mark McGuinness, Troy Parrott, Josh Harrop and Keanan Bennetts, who were all involved yesterday, and Luke Thomas and Luke Matheson, who have been back at their parent clubs, Barnsley and Wolves, for some weeks, are all at an end.

*Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse, Emyr Huws, Freddie Sears, Kayden Jackson, Teddy Bishop, Toto Nsiala, Janoi Donacien, James Wilson, Gwion Edwards, Aaron Drinan, Tristan Nydam, Ben Morris, Idris El Mizouni, Liam Gibbs, Bailey Clements, Levi Andoh, Bert White and Tommy Hughes.

Town have previously confirmed they have options to keep Skuse, Sears, Bishop, Nsiala, Donacien, Wilson, Nydam, Morris, El Mizouni, Clements, Andoh, White and Hughes.

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