Wickham Turns 17 and is Set to Stay With Town
Wednesday, 31st Mar 2010 08:59

Striker Connor Wickham celebrates his 17th birthday today and is therefore finally able to sign his first professional contract. Despite plenty of interest from Premier League clubs, the Colchester-based youngster seems set to remain with the Blues.

Wickham won’t be putting pen to paper today as he is still away with England’s U17s, with whom he is likely to win his ninth cap on Thursday when his side face Slovakia in their final European Championships elite qualifying group game at Northampton’s Sixfields.

The youngster is due back at the club on Friday and it is likely that Town, with whom Wickham has signed a pre-contract agreement, will look to get him to put pen to paper soon after that.

Scouts from Premier League sides have been watching the 6ft 3in tall striker since his days as a schoolboy with Town and before that with Reading’s academy, but with his chances of first team football likely to be limited in the top flight, it’s believed the striker prefers to remain at Portman Road.

While the interest of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United has grabbed all the headlines, Fulham and Spurs were amongst those keeping the closest eye on Town's hottest prospect most recently.

It’s understood that this could explain the presence of Alan Curbishley and his former Charlton assistant Mervyn Day at recent Town games, with the former believed to be scouting for Tottenham and the latter for the Cottagers.

Last week manager Roy Keane said he expected Wickham to sign on his return, while former Blue Paul Goddard, who works for the player’s representatives, Jonathan Barnett’s Stellar Group, said in December that he anticipated him staying with Town.

So far, Wickham has made five starts and 20 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring his first two senior goals at Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup in August and opening his league account in the recent victory over Scunthorpe.

Photo: Action Images

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KeanoBlindFaith added 12:44 - Mar 31

'ello fans. Does anyone know if Home and Away is still on the telly? That was me and Tony's fave show and we used to want to be like Jason Donovan who played that alien ALF in the show. It's a Knockout was good too although Tony Laughlin liked it more than me. He bases training on some of those competitions. Keep wanting to call Eddie Waring and Stuart Hall to do commentary on our matches. See you later fans.......

footyfan182 added 13:31 - Mar 31

Happy birthday Conner i am glad your parents moved out to this part of uk otherwise it would of been Reading wanting you to sign pro and not us. Good luck for the future i'm sure you will go far !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't believe that he is only been 16 and playing 1st team championship football on a regular basis did bent ambrose dyer play at this level at 16 ????? Conner well done i heard you were the star at Reading and they were gutted to loose you !!!!

tom_the_blue added 13:48 - Mar 31 KeanoBlindFaith-go away. No-one likes you and your posts add nothing to the discussion. You really need to get a life. Happy B-Day Connor, please sign!
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mickeyjb added 14:00 - Mar 31 I hope he does sign as Conner and Eastman etc are the best way of us having another period in our history that we can look back upon and say, those were the days!
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BourneBlue added 14:19 - Mar 31

Regarding the Curbishley thing. I managed to blag a seat in the Directors box at Watford and stood next to Curbs and Merv while consumming my prawn sandwiches. I had my picture taken with him then had a chat.
Bourne Blue: Hay Curbs, they say you have a property in Woodbridge, nice and handy for taking the job at Ipswich IF it comes up.
Curbs: Woodbridge? Where is Woodbridge? I live in Essex.
Bourne Blue: Its a Lovely little riverside town, Quiet, great pubs and 20 mins drive to the training ground and 5 mins from Ufford Golf course.
Curbs: I yes i know the Golf course but never heard of Woodbridge.
Either he is good liar or there is no truth in the rumours. Has anyone really seen him in Woodbridge?

MACKEMYANK added 14:34 - Mar 31 Thing is with Curbishley, there is never smoke without a fire but only time will tell whether that is correct. And Wickham's advisors are wise in advising him to stay at Ipswich !!!! Not looking for a quick payday unlike some other representatives/agents out there.
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MACKEMYANK added 14:44 - Mar 31 Slow news day today apparently
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bleedblue added 15:18 - Mar 31 if we dont sign wickham, can we try and re-sign "jimmy juan"??
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superblueflude added 15:56 - Mar 31 Bleedblue did you read the those were the days bit? god i can't remember Jimmy, was he any good, really can't remember him
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bigboybazza added 16:00 - Mar 31

i am on bedstitfc side yeah we r not big team and will never b again i go every home game and we just have not got the players in MR Evans would have 2 give keano alot of more more if we want to b a half decent team.But until then we will never b a gd team. Keano is doin the best he can ok wot he has so stop saying keane out and support the team how ever u can. BLUE ARMY!!!!!

Tractor_Boy_Paddy added 16:43 - Mar 31 Jimmy Juan What A Legend !!!
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MACKEMYANK added 16:52 - Mar 31

Okay, so it is a slow news day so I came offline for a bit and was reading a magazine for a change. Since the Premier league was formed in 1992, only 4 clubs have won it. Out of those 4 (Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal & Blackburn), only 3 can realistically win it again and if you add Liverpool and Man City in there, there is only a realistic chance of 5 clubs ever winning the Premier League. Sobering thought if you don't support those 5 clubs - and I don't !!!!!

bedsitfc added 17:02 - Mar 31 just been thinking we have had some good players at ipswich but still remember some of the donkeys lol
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MACKEMYANK added 17:03 - Mar 31 bedsititfc - Would you say the 1980-1981 team were the best of the lot? And who would you say was your favorite and worst player?
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biggerblue added 18:17 - Mar 31 Happy Birthday Connor ! I hope u had a good day ! Now make all are days and please Sign
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tom_the_blue added 18:21 - Mar 31 Oh I remember the mighty Jimmy Juan, and his immense free kicks. The one against Cardiff away was an absoloute stunner. Anyone know what happened to Jimmy after BFJ decided against signing him?
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AJblue added 21:47 - Mar 31 tom.. I think jimmy juan(not 100% sure) is playing in the French 1st division with Grenoble. Talented player in midfield, BFJ let him go as we had no money to buy him from Monaco, a big shame, story of our life though, same thing happened with Sixto Peralta, another fabulous little midfielder we couldn't afford.
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