Ben Thatcher’s time with Town looks set to come to an end next week with Roy Keane revealing that an announcement on the left-back’s future is due in the next few days. The Blues are likely to be settling the final few months of the former Wales international’s contract.

Thatcher, who joined Town from Charlton on a free transfer in the summer of 2008, signing a two-year deal, hasn’t played at all under Roy Keane’s management with the Blues boss unhappy that the ex-Manchester City and Millwall man, who lives in the London area, wasn’t prepared to move nearer to Ipswich.

Keane says there will be news on Thatcher soon: “I think you’ll know over the next one or two days regarding the Ben situation.

The Blues boss refused to comment directly on whether he had fallen out with the 34-year-old, but outlined the standards he expects from members of his squad: “Obviously I’ve got my ideas what a player should be about, in terms of the way he trains, the way be behaves, his timekeeping, the way the players speak to my staff and the way players treat people in the canteen. All that comes into my mindset when I’m trying to pick a team.

“It’s not just what you do on the pitch, it’s how you handle yourself and that’s goes for every player at the football club.

“When I mention this stuff people always throw names, whether it’s Ben or one or two other players I’ve let go, but it’s not just them, it’s my general mentality when I’m working with players; try and treat people with a bit of respect when you come in.”

Keane says players are aware of what he demands from them: “Everyone knows that you’ve got to be in time for training. If players don’t show that respect to their manager and their team-mates, it’s very hard to get into my team. I have to have principles.

“That doesn’t mean to say I won’t change my mindset on certain players. A few months ago people were saying ‘What’s happened to Owen Garvan?’. Owen just needed to work a bit harder and Owen’s done that. I’m not shying away from changing my mind.”

Keane feels it’s very important for him to keep to these principles: “There’s certain stuff I would stick to even if it were to cost me my job. I have to do what I think is right.

“I might look back in a year or two and think otherwise, but at the time the decisions I’m making I feel are the right ones. They aren’t working out at the moment, but my gut feeling is that they are the right ones.

“Whether, going back to the summer, it’s letting certain players go like young Jordan, Lisbie or Steady more recently, they’ll either work out or they won’t. And if they don’t work out, there’s only one man who pays for that, not the player but me.”

Photo: Action Images

yarmoblue added 08:56 - Feb 20 should of give him a chance . not many goals came down our left side when he was playing
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brittaniaman added 09:40 - Feb 20 Should have been tried at LB before now, might have added a bit of steel to that side. He always reminded me of a Vinnie Jones type player, frighten the opposition.
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brogansnose added 09:51 - Feb 20 Not an " Ipswich " player. He only got signed because Jim was desparate for a left back and anyone would fit the bill. He held us to ransom over his wages by playing us off with Wolves and has been injured most of the time he has been here. When he did play he was caught out countless times and his distribution was always of the hoof variety. Mercenary journeyman....bye.

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bennyblue added 09:55 - Feb 20 was he any good seems a past it can we get rid of him and roy together maybe sunderland would take them both if we threw in a slab
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JohnWarksTash added 10:00 - Feb 20 He's a useless thug. No loss....should have pushed him off the Orwell Bridge months ago. What a waste of money!
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:26 - Feb 20 He should never have been a Town player anyway , bye ,bye .
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milliem added 10:28 - Feb 20 Make sure you live within 20 minutes drive of Rushmere. Unless you're the manager of course. I don't post on here very often because it's full of nonentities like brogansnose who think that natural left backs like Ben Thatcher are somehow not good enough for a bottom 3 and soon to be relegated side. In Keane we rust
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WadzillaBhoy added 10:30 - Feb 20 Whenever I hear Thatcher, the word thug comes to mind. Always am reminded of when he elbowed Pedro Mendes in the head. Not an Ipswich player, who needs him when you got Shane o'Conner. Or just give the Lb position to Peters.
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yorkshire added 11:04 - Feb 20 To be honest Milliem its idiots like you that are not worth reading For what its worth, Keane hasn't stipulated 20 mins - he said an hour and then he backed it up based on his own experience, i.e the risk of making injuries worse with increased travel. In any other walk of life, if you were asked to relocate by your boss then you would have to seriously consider it so what is the difference with Thatcher ? Also, not sure how many times you saw "natural left back" Thatcher play but from what I saw he wasn't anything special and to be honest I would have thought the majoirty of Ipswich fans will be glad to see the back of him

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Dowson added 12:51 - Feb 20 all because keane hates him o dear o dear
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bedsitfc added 12:54 - Feb 20 Agree he should never have been here useless thug bye
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NorseBlue added 13:15 - Feb 20 Useless player. Countlessly outstripped by wingers up an down the Championship in all of the games I saw last year - and Milliem, best to have seen a few matches before commenting on an Ipswich Town website. Oh yes, and he was a complete thug too.
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elburro3 added 13:47 - Feb 20 All this crap about him not being an "Ipswich Player"... Wake up and smell the coffee, that era has long gone, along with the Cobbolds, Burley and Sheepshanks. We need to man up, we have a relegation scrap looming, and hard bar stewards like Ben Thatcher are not our biggest problem.
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el_nino added 14:04 - Feb 20 It's all very well picking players because they are on time and courteous and train well, but to be honest, it's probably more important that they do their stuff where it really matters- on the pitch. I know footballers can be utter idiots (and the press is full of stories on this at the mo) but if they do the business on the pitch, surely that's the point? I like to think that I'm a decent, hardworking and courteous member of society, but I'd be (regrettably) abysmal as a pro footballer......

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dirtydingusmagee added 14:10 - Feb 20 like you say milliem you dont post on here often......THANKS .
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MightyPaz added 01:26 - Feb 21 Thatcher's just a hatchet man. Not town for me. The day we find a new Tarricco will be the day we solve LB for me, till then I fancy the look of the new lad we played today.
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Dorsetblue added 09:45 - Feb 21 He may not have been an "ipswich Man" but he did a good job of putting the other teams strikers off. They don't like it up'em. Who knows we may not have leaked so many goals if he was down the left side. But we must reduce the wage bill. We don't know whats round the corner. But my last point is I would rather have a non Ipswich man (thug) playing for us then go down! or am I wrong in that regard?

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GetInTheGameScowcrof added 10:27 - Feb 21 Good Riddance. Crap player who is a thug, and if he can't be bothered to move closer to Ipswich, then he clearly doesn't want to be an Ipswich player. Surprised Keane didn't knock him out!
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osborne1nil added 12:09 - Feb 21 His history prior to joining Town wasn't good and I believe he picked up a few cards, but don't think that he has done too badly for us when he has been played and has not been a thug IMO whilst wearing the Town shirt but historically, yes. Has been injured alot of the time and was caught short on speed too by fast wingers. If Keane has no intention to play him (and certainly we've been screaming out for a dedicated LB) then let him go. O'Connor looks like he may do nicely if not Peters hasn't let us down.

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WadzillaBhoy added 12:27 - Feb 21 If Keane didn't get rid of him he would've made himself look weak. He did the right thing some old players don't like taking instructions from young managers. Case example Sir Bobby Robson, Bobby had a bust up with two older members of his squad. They were shown the door immediatly. "My way or the highway!" Keeeaaannnooo
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tractorboysmith added 20:05 - Feb 21 i like thatcher but i think his time at the club is done it didnt help with hus injury but can you see him comin back up to the standard now??
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TractorRoyNo1 added 22:41 - Feb 21 Good riddance to bad rubbish
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pitseablue added 09:57 - Feb 22 Will not be missed by anyone. Waste of space.
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Surco72 added 12:10 - Feb 22 Thatcher did ok for us when he was playing we looked more solid last year and to criticize him for being a thug seems harsh considering our manager when he was playing ! Would Keane drop Terry and Cole for not behaving proffesionally in their private lives ?
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yorkshire added 12:49 - Feb 22 Thatcher wasn;t dropped for behaviour in his private life and he certainly wasn't dropped for being a thug. His boss, Keane, asked for the entire team to ensure that they moved closer to the training facilities - Thatcher refused - simples
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