Town have agreed to cancel keeper Shane Supple’s contract at the player’s request as he looks to pursue a career away from football. The 22-year-old says his heart is no longer in the game and he will be returning to Ireland to consider his future.

The Republic of Ireland U21 cap told the club site: "It's something that I have been thinking about for a long while.

"It's obviously a big decision but I feel that playing professional football is not something I want to continue doing as a career. There is no one reason why I have made my decision, there are a number of factors, but deep down my heart is not in the game any more and I'm not going to go into work every day trying to convince myself that it is, so it's the right time for me to walk away.

"I suppose you could say that I have fallen out of love with the game and when then happens, I've always said to myself that I wouldn't hang around. All I wanted to do when I was younger was play in the Premier League, but as you grow up you realise that there are other things in life and, to be honest, the game is not what I thought it was.

"I want to thank the manager for the support he has given me. He was a bit shocked when I told him and I expected that but he understood my reasons. He's been first class. People probably think I'm crazy but I'm not going to stay in the game for anyone else, I'm making this decision for myself.

"I've worked with some great people in my time at Ipswich Town and had some great times at the club. It's a fantastic football club and I'll continue to follow Ipswich's fortunes. The supporters have been brilliant as well and always backed me and I want to thank them for that wonderful support.

"This is the right decision for me now. I'm going back to Ireland to spend time with my family and look at my options but they won't be in football."

Chief executive Simon Clegg thanked Supple for his contribution while with Town: "On behalf of the club I would like to put on record our thanks to Shane for his commitment to Ipswich Town both on and off the pitch in his six years at Portman Road.

"It's obviously disappointing news for us but we respect Shane's reasons for wanting a career change and we wish him every success for the future."

Supple joined the academy at 15, spending the final year of his schooling at Playford Road and was a member of the 2005 FA Youth Cup-winning side, picking up the man of the match award in the second leg of the final against Southampton.

A keen hurler and Gaelic footballer, Supple, who signed a new one-year contract this summer, made 36 starts and two sub appearances for the Blues, in addition to loan spells at Falkirk and Oldham. The Carling Cup tie at Shrewsbury a week ago was his final game.

Town are already close to adding another keeper to their squad with TWTD revealing that Bohemian stopper Brian Murphy would be on his way to Portman Road when the Irish season ends in November.

The announcement of Supple’s shock exit may suggest that Murphy’s recruitment has been moved forward or that another keeper could be coming in on loan between now and January when Murphy would be able to play if he signs in November as had been planned.

The Blues only other keeper at present is youngster Ian McLoughlin, who could make his senior debut at Peterborough next week if no other keeper is signed by then.

Photo: Action Images

Sir_Bob added 10:38 - Aug 20 Cheers Shane for all your effotts, could you please take a few of the others with you?
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superblue92 added 10:41 - Aug 20 was a good up and coming keeper. big loss to the club., wish him all the best-
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Bergholtblue added 10:43 - Aug 20 This has obviously been a big decision for him and has taken a lots of guts to make it. I am sure there are many more people who go to work each day without their heart in the job but without the courage to jack it in and find other employment. Clearly it is not just frustration at not getting first team football or he would ask for a transfer. I wonder how much the lack of first team football at Falkirk whilst on loan there added to his disillusionment of the game. I hope he sorts himself out soon and I wish him luck. He is still young and who knows taking a breather from the game may be what he needs to renew his passion. Thanks Shane and all the best for the future

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depressed added 10:46 - Aug 20 Respect to yer Shane Sometimes things happen in life that make you realise its not always about money. Enjoy your time away from the game.
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Mungo added 10:51 - Aug 20 Very surprising, and a brave decision from Shane. I just hope he has thought this through properly, as the financial security his career was offering would have been hugely beneficial to him and his family going forward. It just goes to show how rotten the game must be behind the scenes for a talented young man to abandon it and I hope he finds the right career soon enough. Good luck Shane!

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tractorboynick added 10:52 - Aug 20 Good luck Shane for the future I for one am gutted that you didn't get more games last season especially the cup games but with a manager who had his favourites you had no chance of getting a game.
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GodBlue added 10:57 - Aug 20 Sad news. Good luck Supps. Tractor Boys everywhere wish you well in whatever you end up doing with yourself.
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:58 - Aug 20 Thats a pity,good goalie,you can understand how he must feel, its a bummer going to work any job, if you dont like it ,it gets to point where it can effect health. Shock to us but must be explanation for the interest in Murphy.GOOD LUCK back in Ireland !.
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MarcFowler added 10:59 - Aug 20 Wow - I did not see this one coming. Good luck Shane - you were great for us and everyone wishes you every success.
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KembleBlue added 11:02 - Aug 20 gutted! if you do get tor ead this Shane, best of luck..extremely strong decision to make and really hope it works out for you.. from a fans view - always thought he was quality and seemed such a nice lad, real real shame he''s gone.. cant help but feel had he been given the opportunities he really did deserve he would be first choice at a championship club and maybe felt abit more involved with the club and game? cant back this up as dont actually know him ofcourse! but makes you think, hes only 22 and is effectively 7 years into his career!! im older and only 3 years into mine..you forget how long they have been a part fo the game.. he also gave me hope! i used to play keeper and various trials (ok, so everyone does!) but completely lost out when i didnt grow as much as others..but Shane still managed to keep the bloody massive goal so well! top lad, brave decision, shows genuine people still exist in Modern football and i really really hope things work out for him..

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morgana1968 added 11:04 - Aug 20 Best of luck to you Shane. It must have been an extremely difficult decision to make, a decision clearly influenced by the lack of opportunity in the past. If you are not happy in what you are doing it takes a brave man to make a decision as big as this.
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ldnj added 11:09 - Aug 20 Have a lot of respect for what must have been a very brave decision, having effectively been brought up to do the job and not least due to the financial implications. I can understand always seeing other players brought in ahead of you would be soul destroying - we all see it in jobs. I wouldn't surprise me that some time away and the offer of a contract somewhere else could helphim refind the enthusiasm ... If not, I hope he goes on to find something he really enjoys and can thrive at.

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ldnj added 11:09 - Aug 20 Have a lot of respect for what must have been a very brave decision, having effectively been brought up to do the job and not least due to the financial implications. I can understand always seeing other players brought in ahead of you would be soul destroying - we all see it in jobs. I wouldn't surprise me that some time away and the offer of a contract somewhere else could helphim refind the enthusiasm ... If not, I hope he goes on to find something he really enjoys and can thrive at.

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Muhren added 11:10 - Aug 20 Best of luck to the lad.
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gtd added 11:11 - Aug 20 Takes guts to make such a brave decision so you've got to admire him for that. Thanks for the excellent loyalty over the six years Shane, my memory will be the excellent saves he pulled off to win us the FA Youth Cup final at Portman Road a few years back - arguably the last thing we had to cheer about.
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StavangerBlue added 11:20 - Aug 20 Good luck Shane! It takes real guts to make a decision like that and act on it believe me. Personally I feel Town have squandered the young talent they obviously had in 2005. To see Shane fall out of love with the game is a big dissapointment.
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blue_floyd added 11:29 - Aug 20 Best of luck for the future, Shane. It's a shame that he was never really given a chance with us, which most probably contributed to his decision to walk away.
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Guthrum added 11:43 - Aug 20 Gosh - that's a shock! Speculation is pointless, for all we know there may be a completely non-football explanation for this decision. A career - even one like this - can sometimes look unimportant compared with personal events. Best wishes for the future, Shane.
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BYRNE_16 added 12:02 - Aug 20 Oh dear totally shocked! All the best Shane and good luck.
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europeantour added 12:08 - Aug 20 Bye bye Bubba
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blueferret added 12:09 - Aug 20 What a sad loss to the game! Best wishes on future. LOL from all ITFC fans
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FenboyBlue added 12:09 - Aug 20 Stunned. You'd have hoped with having so many Irish connections at the club with the current & previous manager that any doubts & homesickness might be aleviated in our young Irish players. Sadly it was not to be. At least Shane went out on a high: saving pens in a penalty shoot out for the first team. What a great young keeper, sadly underused. But I guess if his heart wasn't in it, Roy would've spotted so, pretty soon. I noticed on Match of the Day at the weekend they spelt his name "Stupple". Was that the straw that broke the camel's back ? Shame on you, BBC. Good luck, Shane, in whatever you do. I can't get the image of the final scene of the movie "Shane" out of my head now.

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MarkITFC added 12:14 - Aug 20 Shocked reading this. He is a great keeper but aways second choice.. When we played he was good , remember waching him against Saints in the Youth cup final , he was awesome. fed up with sitting on the bench everyweek. Prob go and play Local footie in Ireland. Good luck to him
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hollywoodginge added 12:26 - Aug 20 absolute shocker, i dont think its anything to do with the fact that he wasnt being picked else he would have just requested, and been granted a transfer, and as for previous comments regarding richard wright having a shocker, well he was deservedly voted player of the year last year so that is way off the mark, but all the very best shane in what ever career path u choose, im sure football would welcome u back if u were to have a change of heart.

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BlueCSA added 12:26 - Aug 20 Good luck to the lad. In any walk of life, there is no point in doing something that you dont enjoy doing. I personally feel that if a certain Mr Magilton had played Shane when Alexander left instead of getting in Bywater, the boy may have established himself as number 1 and not be losing interest now.
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