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McGreal Wins Awards - Ipswich Town News

Former Blue John McGreal has won seven separate player of the year awards in his first season at Burnley. The centre-half left Portman Road last summer at the end of his contract after five years with the Blues.

The 32-year-old is happy to have won the awards but is already looking to next season: "The trophies I picked up this week are great for me personally, but football is all about looking forward and the next part is to keep building.

"I'm sure the gaffer will bring some terrific players in over the summer and that can help us take the club forward."

The former Tranmere man is hoping that Town can make it back to the Premiership without having to go through the play-offs: "I had a great five years at Ipswich and they have kept improving and I am sure they are still eyeing that second automatic place.

"But I came here to Burnley to do a similar job and this year the achievement was always going to be about stabilising and finishing in mid-table.

"When I first came, I certainly didn't want to join a club that was fighting relegation. I have only had that once or twice in my career at Tranmere, but the gaffer sold the club to me by saying the aim was to improve on the previous season."

McGreal was offered a three-year deal by the Clarets, with the Blues only willing to commit to a two-year contract, the Liverpool-born player having spent lengthy periods out injured during the previous couple of seasons.

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