Manager Roy Keane has admitted that Town have failed to land his two of his main summer targets, despite the players being keen to join the club. The Blues boss says that he may have to rely on last year’s squad, which finished 15th in the Championship, to make a promotion challenge during 2010/11.

One of the players involved is almost certainly former Crystal Palace skipper Shaun Derry, who instead opted to join QPR, where bigger wages were probably on offer, while Cardiff striker Michael Chopra has also been amongst the players interesting the Blues.

Keane, who started pre-season training with his squad this morning, admits he is frustrated at so far having been unable to make signings: “I've spoken to two players that were keen to come here, but we couldn’t do the deals. My job is to identify the players and speak to them, which I have done, but we never managed to get the deals done.

“So, we’re disappointed, but I’m looking forward to working with the players we had last year and we just get on with it.

“All I can do is identify players I think will improve [the squad] and it’s up to the club to try and do the deals and we’ve not managed to do that. It’s frustrating and disappointing, but that’s the way it is.”

Keane says he feels no anger about the moves falling through being well aware of all the potential difficulties when signing players: “When any deal you’re involved in doesn’t work out, you’re going to be frustrated. Not angry, because you can never relax when you’re trying to negotiate with players or agents or clubs. You know that there are going to be pitfalls on the way.

“As I said, we were hopeful on one or two players who would have been very good for us. That they wanted to come to the club was a big plus for me, but the fact that these deals didn’t get done would lead to frustration, but certainly not anger because I’ve been in football long enough and know it takes a lot for these deals to get done.”

The former Ireland skipper says there may be a chance of reviving certain deals: “We hope so, but I have to look at my role in it, which is to identify the players, speak to them to try and persuade them to come to the club. I then step back and the club do the deals and we’ve not managed to do that.

“People will look at me when we don’t get results, and with the people I work with we’ve got to try and get these players in, but we have decent numbers in terms of the squad we have and we just get on with it.

“I think every manager when he comes back pre-season would like one or two new faces, but it’s not happened and, having said that, the players we brought in last year we hope will have a better start to the season than they did last year. We’ll have more of a settled squad now, so in a strange way it might help us a little bit.”

Photo: Action Images

Paulc added 13:52 - Jun 28 Brilliant! 1st day back for pre-season and already everyone's whingeing and trying to read between lines that aren't there. Perhaps if some of you "glass is empty" breed started with a more positive outlook and attitude, then RK wouldn't have to make commets like "People will look at me when we don't get results" before the season has even started. If anyone wants to be concerned about the future of this clubs they should try reading some of the articles about ME that have been about recently siting lawsuits and allegations of being the "world's biggest ticket tout" and questioning the "fit and proper rule" in relation to his ownership of ITFC

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SouperJim added 14:01 - Jun 28 Trigsy most of the moronic negative post crowd aren't really ipswich fans, thats the thing with this internet lark, any old plank can post.
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onlybluesandhorses added 14:08 - Jun 28 LOL!
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StowTractorBoy added 14:08 - Jun 28 Whilst you have to have ambition I sometimes think we aim too high with our transfer targets. Give me a young hungry player from the lower divisions who will give their all a la Scunthorpe and Blackpool who seem to get players on the cheap. You don't always have to sign big names for big fees with big salaries which is perhaps where we are going wrong. I know its a different division but our friends up the road succeeded pretty well last season with cheap buys and are doing the same this season. When you look at the formation of our division I am not optimistic at all about the coming season. Peters at right back no thanks - will never be a right back in a million years. Martin on the left of midfield - Lord help us. I fear a long hard season at the wrong end of the table unless something drastically changes.

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timo_blue added 14:18 - Jun 28 Keane Frustrated!? How do you think the fans feel. Last season was a disaster and to be honest I can't say this season is looking much better. I hate to see our club in this situation but I believe we have a manger who has no tactical knowledge and has the club in fear of his name. I hate to see people loose their job but I think changes are needed in many areas for our club to progress.

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Marcus added 14:22 - Jun 28 What's wrong with the method that most managers use. First choice... falls through... second choice... falls through... third choice... signs! The manager has kept secret about the first two choices and promotes #3 as being the player he was always after. Yes, it's a bit of smoke screening but there isn't a club that doesn't do that to some extent. Why does Keane feel he just needs to focus on specific players? Why isn't he looking at his alternative options? Surely the scouting network must be throwing dozens of potential signings his way. I mean there are decent players out there. Look at Jay DeMerit from Watford and not a free agent, after the World Cup he would be a handy player even if it's in an area where we're not short of players but our squad is thin so players in all positions are needed. I feel we need: 1 more central defender (not urgent), two full backs (urgent), one more wide player ideally left sided (urgent), one more striker (very urgent). That's five new signings needed - roughly what Keane said in May. Time to open the chequebook Evans!

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Seasider added 14:34 - Jun 28 I beg to differ with Souper Jim basically saying that we should all make uncritcal posts otherwise we are not a supporter as during past week I have noted criticism being voiced by three supporters who have followed town for a total of 150 years.I am not sure if SJ has letters after his name as I know one of posters has;so I wouldnt say he was a moron;but then Souper Jim may be a brain surgeon!!!

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Tractorboy24 added 14:42 - Jun 28 At the end of the day, who is going to lose out of all this, if Keane has to start the season with the squad he has, gets the team playing well and we get promoted, happy days, if we don't start off well, we sack Keane and bring in a new manager, he'll be able to improve the squad with loans and and perm signings in Jan, football changes all the time, getting worked up about 1 man that can leave within a day is pointless. Maybe rather than posting stupid comments about how it's Keane's fault on every news story that appears on this site (I'm sure I saw one on an announcement on a pre-season friendly!!!) go and read how ManUtd or Chelsea are about to sign a big name, because amazingly enough you're always going to be disappointed with the manager we've got if you keep comparing us to them!

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byebyesheepshanks added 14:47 - Jun 28 I think he needs to clear out Priskin, Helaey, Martin, Edwards first, let alone his unwanted good players - Counago, Garven, Stead
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Lightningboy added 14:53 - Jun 28 More pathetic excuses already. You're holding this club back. JUST GO YOU USELESS CLOWN.
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naa added 14:53 - Jun 28 You know, maybe we're just targetting players too high up. As someone pointed out, League 1 players would be much more keen to come here that Prem reserves, or players from teams higher up the table, or players offered deals with clubs geographically closer to their home. So, while I don't blame Keane for these signings not happening he does need to be pragmatic about it and target a second tier of player that will be willing to come - but also stand a chance of improving the squad. Easier said than done, obviously. But I could target Rooney and then blame the chairman for not getting him in! (hasten to add, I'm not saying Keane is being that ridiculous, but he does seem to be making excuses already). As for Evans deliberately ruining Keane's chances of success. What would the point be in that? If he didn't think Keane was capable he'd be gone already. Why waste time and effort like this? The only benefit would be if Keane walked then he'd save some money, but the club would be worse off as we'd have wasted time and probably ruined our chances this season. So, I doubt that's happening!

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arc added 14:57 - Jun 28 I'm more surprised that we haven't managed to shift out more of the dead wood. The only players to leave so far have been those out of contract. Someone needs to be working the phone lines a bit more.
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Bergholtblue added 15:00 - Jun 28 I see Keane is beginning to distance himself from Clegg and Evans. Wasn't it frustation about transfers that made him have a fallout with Quinn at Sunderland leading to him walking away? I personally would not be too unhappy at having to put up with last years squad if only he had not got rid of so many and upset the ones who remain.
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Dorsetblue added 15:17 - Jun 28 why have we not signed these two players? simple we weren't going to pay the wages they wanted. If you were a player you would want to get as much money as possible wouldn't you. Nothing to do with club or location it's all about the money. Your career is short enough so you would want to stockpile as much as possible. Keane i'm sure is looking at other players but no point getting excited about this news. Lets see what the new season beholds before we slag off Keane or praise him.

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svendust added 15:52 - Jun 28 Agree with naa. I think we should rely more on the youth system (which credit to Keane he seems to be more than Jim did) and lower league players, rather than over hyped prem rejects like Fulop, Murphy, Healy, Martin etc etc. I would much rather see a team full of hard working players, even if it means taking risks with unproven players, however Keane seems to think we are too big to be taking risks on players. Also, it's plain to see alot of the posters on here are scummers winding us up, ipswich elvis being a prime example. Please can people not rise to the bait and instead ignore him.

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SouperJim added 15:56 - Jun 28 Seasider you misunderstand me, I'm _literally_ saying they are not all Ipswich fans. I'm not saying don't make critical posts, although criticism which is completely unfounded if you actually take the time to read the article in question is a bit laughable. That was Trigsy's first post, so I was simply trying to make him aware of the budgie trolls who are about. Whether you think Keane is having a dig here or not, the fact remains that the guy has a habit of saying things that are easy for a few rags to bend to fit their own ends. Seems he will never learn to keep his mouth shut, yet will act like the victim later down the line.

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IpswichElvis added 15:56 - Jun 28 Svendust. So what you are saying is that I am a Norwich fan?? And/or my opinion is worthless?? You state to just ignore me but you obviously cannot do that it seems . So listen to your own words and if you disagree, go ahead and ignore me. Don't come on here and bitch at me for having an opinion different than your own.
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Bluetone added 16:03 - Jun 28 The writing is on the wall for Keane.
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NickITFC added 16:10 - Jun 28 Keanes days we will use the players from last season.... But we let a few good players go on free transfers. David Wright being the key one to me. We had 2 good RB's now we have none. I dont want panic signings but we do need signings.
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devontractorboy added 16:18 - Jun 28 I never thought I'd be on here defending Keane, but what the hell is going on at Ipswich?? The manager should be in charge of the whole process, knowing what funds and deals are available, how frustrated must Keane feel in trying to rebuild the squad (admittedly the one he blew apart) and getting players to agree to sign, only to be let down by Messrs Clegg & Evans. The manager was brought in to do a job, but is not being allowed to do it. I fear for us this season, we have not got the quality of players left to do well & are still talking about letting those we do have go......madness, anybody for a corporate ticket to South Africa or the Olympics??

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dirtydingusmagee added 16:28 - Jun 28 even pro keane supporters must wonder what is going on , he says he will have to win promotion with last years squad ! the same squad that spent most of season languishing at foot of table, half of the squad were told they could go, some have, others loaned out as they could not do the job., Well accuse me of moaning, being negative, but not of being a f;ckin budgie. But tell me how this senario is supposed to instill confidence in the supporters ,.I totaly agree with looking at lower league players ,that are ''coming on '', rather than setting sights on players that are fading with prem clubs , but still think they deserve huge wages. I have and will always will support Town ,but can not see the club achieving anything with Keane as manager.

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paulandgem added 16:32 - Jun 28 George Burley does'nt have these problems getting good players. FOR FREE!!!!!!!!!!
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ChambersM added 16:43 - Jun 28 For the millionth time, and probably not the last, the man is an idiot who cant attract players to come or managers to sell and generally can't manage. We need to get rid before the start of the season
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ignatiusjreilly added 16:53 - Jun 28 Surely everyone can see that we are no longer a pull for ,let`s be honest mediocre players,even those numpties 40 miles up the road have signed players,including surnan who is both young and a prospect.
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multipulemicky added 17:01 - Jun 28 oh sh$t he we go again boring
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