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Town Make Eight Available for Transfer
Town Make Eight Available for Transfer
Wednesday, 30th Jun 2010 11:41

Town have contacted all other Football League clubs to make them aware of the availability of eight senior players. Alex Bruce, Owen Garvan, Alan Quinn, Colin Healy, Jon Stead, Lee Martin, Kevin Lisbie and Pablo Couñago are the eight players named in a circular which was sent out earlier this week.

All eight either spent much of last season on loan or in and out of Roy Keane's first team at Portman Road.

The inclusion of Jon Stead and Alex Bruce on the 'for sale' list probably suggests their proposed moves to former loan clubs Coventry and Leicester have fallen through with both Midlands sides changing their manager since the end of the season.

Kevin Lisbie, who spent the whole of last season on loan at Colchester, is already understood to be interesting a number of sides with Millwall having made their interest known.

All the players on the list are contracted until 2011, except Lee Martin, who may prove the hardest to move on, the former Manchester United man signing a four-year contract worth £12,000-a-week a year ago, terms which are unlikely to be on offer anywhere else after last year’s disappointing showing.

It’s no surprise that Roy Keane is looking to off-load a significant number of fringe players, the Blues boss revealing that exits would need to take place to partly fund his planned summer spending back in April: “At the moment, in the reserve group, we’ve got too many experienced players on too big wages. I don’t want that at the football club.”

Keane, who plans to have a smaller squad for the 2010/11 campaign with David Wright, Richard Wright and Liam Trotter already departed, also warned that moving players on might not prove a simple task: “It’s easier said than done. The players are under contract, they don’t want to move and when it’s clear to them that I don’t see them in my plans, some players will just sit tight. It’s about trying to find them the right clubs, but that will be down to their agents.”

Owner Marcus Evans also made the intention to shift out unwanted squad members clear in his programme statement at the end of the season: "While Roy has identified four or five players he would like to bring to Portman Road, he's also aware that he has a big squad and he's looking to trim that down. It's about getting the balance right."

One name which fans may be surprised to see missing from the list is striker Tamás Priskin, who failed to live up to his £1.7 million price-tag after joining the Blues from Watford last summer. It appears the Hungarian international, who spent the second half of the season on loan at QPR, will be given another opportunity to prove himself at Portman Road next season.

Elsewhere, Town’s chances of signing long-term target Michael Chopra could be enhanced by the Bluebirds' financial problems apparently continuing, despite their recent takeover by a Malaysian consortium.

A report in Wales claims Cardiff have so far failed to pay their players this month, having cancelled their pre-season tour at short notice.

The Welsh club are also due to make a £1.5 million payment to Sunderland by the end of July, part of the deal which saw the 26-year-old return to Cardiff last summer.

Chopra’s contract also included a clause which would see him receive an improved deal if he scored 20 goals in a season, which he did during 2009/10. The ex-Newcastle trainee is still to hold much-reported talks with his club regarding his future.

Meanwhile, Town's Ticket Office are selling tickets for the pre-season game against PSV in Eindhoven on Saturday 17th July (KO 7pm), priced at £4.25 with a donation going to KWF, the Dutch Cancer Foundation.

The match is part of PSV’s fans’ day, which starts at 4pm with food, drink and PSV-related items available at booths in car park P2 and in the Stadium Square in front of PSV FANworld.

The stadium itself opens at 5.30pm when music will be played and PSV TV films will be shown on large video screens. The coaching staff and players will be introduced to the crowd from 6pm and PSV’s summer signings will be unveiled and interviewed.


Photo: Action Images



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brockleyblueboy added 11:50 - Jun 30
Right I have been a huge supporter of Keane and clegg and evans, but this is crazy. Is this just a fire sale?? We aren't going to have a squad left if we can't sign anyone. Is it a case of just stripping the team to the bare bones and the three of them shoot through.

I am a little speechless to be honest. We don't have the squad to do this.
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Mossy added 11:54 - Jun 30
This is when the wheeler-dealering comes into play.
Are you surprised that, these players have been made available for transfer?
- Because i'm not.
Let's be honest most of these players weren't going to get into the team. So, it seems prudent to move them out.
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tractorboybig added 12:00 - Jun 30
Just leaving us with the crap then.
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mickeyjb added 12:01 - Jun 30
I for one would like to see Martin given another season, as he has skill, just needs to get stronger. Plus who, as it states in the article, is going to pay him 12k/week for at least 3 seasons. I'm not convinced about our Italian Fitness Coach (maybe its just sour grapes as I want his job, I have an MSc in Sports Performance amongst other things before you lambast me). Not suprised about Priskin, he needs another season of regular football, it would be nice to see him fighting Chopra for his place along side Wickham but I can hope!
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trulyblue added 12:01 - Jun 30
This is the best news of the close season so far ! It proves that R.K. has realised that these eight players are not good enough to take us forward (and he's spot on !) and is looking to get rid so that better replacements can be signed..... How is that so difficult to understand ?
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Mossy added 12:02 - Jun 30
That comment made me chuckle Tractorboybig.
Crap like Wickham eh?
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BlueBob added 12:03 - Jun 30
Just because they've been made available for transfer doesn't mean they'll go and we'll end up with the 'bare bones' of a squad - it's surely just a case of making the players and potential new clubs for them aware of their availability?

While I'll be sad to see a few go,(Pablo,Stead & Garvan - shame but they obviously don't fit in with Keane) and feel that Martin should be given another chance can anyone honestly say that Bruce, Quinn, Healy and Lisbie offer anything that other squad players can't or are the sort of players to push us toward the top end of the table?
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John_Warks_Willy added 12:03 - Jun 30
good. Clear this lot and Evans will release the money. Fair enough, and clearly a compromise between Evans and Keane following recent comments. The relationship is clearly not as fractious as reported. Now if you want to respond to me, get on the forum.
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PimsOclock added 12:03 - Jun 30
Most people will be voicing there opinion on here about this one so I want to get in there early.

GOOD RIDDANCE TO DEAD WOOD!! We achieved absolutely nothing with the players mentioned above and if Keane has been told that he can only buy players if he trims down the squad then these are the players to lose. Sorry about Stead because I have been a fan of him but him aside, time for a clear out - less players = less egos = team spirit!
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blue_floyd added 12:04 - Jun 30
Makes sense to me, although I'd have held on to Bruce and Stead.
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Strider added 12:08 - Jun 30
Something needed to be changed but there are some good players in there. If we lose half on them there had better be others on the way in or I'll be putting my 13 year old up for selection!
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xrayspecs added 12:11 - Jun 30
Can not make a case for keeping any of these - Martin possibly - if we want to improve on last season.

Need to clear some space for the youngsters - Smith, Wickham, O'Connor, Eastman et al - and some better quality replacements.

Town curently have 33 professionals on their books (22 senior pros and 11 youngsters) so some pruning of the dead wood ahead of the planned four or five additions makes a lot of sense.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 12:12 - Jun 30
Sounds like the Sunderland scenario all over again!!

....except the lack of a good first season!!
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IpswichElvis added 12:19 - Jun 30
Can somebody add Keane to that list???
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Billy_Whizz added 12:21 - Jun 30
I'd be looking to bring in other players first - already 3 down on last year - could we cope with 11 going and none coming in - I don't think so!
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Bobby_Petta added 12:22 - Jun 30
Don't agree with letting Garven go, his our only creative midfielder we have, we looked a better side when he actually played, which wasn't enough under Keane. Then again Keane doesn't like players who are creative, only wants a team full of tough tackling un skillful midfielders. Is Martin Realy on 12,000 a week! what a joke. No wonder Keane hasn't been given any backing on new transfer targets, his recorded on buy players here and at sunderland speaks for it self, his not up to it. Hate to say but a certain Paul Lambert at Norwich has an eye for decent player, hear they might be sigining Simeon Jackson. We should be looking at the good young players from lower leauge or championship not over paid players from prem.
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hype313 added 12:23 - Jun 30
Lets be honest, everyone on that list has not cut the mustard in the past two years. A couple had occaisional glimpses but nothing to get us up. Although not a hardcore "Keane Outer" he hasnt cut the mustard either, yet....
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Suffolk_n_Good added 12:25 - Jun 30
I agree with the list of players being let go, but my main concern is that we will let these go & not be able to attract replacements of better or even equal quality, we haven't managed it so far!!
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IpswichElvis added 12:35 - Jun 30
Who the hell is going to buy any of that lot??? I predict most of them will still be lurking around by kick off. Except Keane who will either walk or be pushed.
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itfcserbia added 12:36 - Jun 30
Take that 4 millions for Chopra, put another 500k and get Gio Dos Santos for god's sake!
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Plums added 12:40 - Jun 30
wibble
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DietmarVanNostrilBoy added 12:40 - Jun 30
Alex Bruce, Owen Garvan, Jon Stead and Pablo Couñago are all well capable at championship level. The manager is less capable, can he be added to the list?
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FifeITFC added 12:41 - Jun 30
So Billy_Whizz, you'd splash out a load of cash on players in the HOPE you'd get rid of some after... Then end up having an even bigger wage bill because you can't sell these players!

Your financial skills astound me. Well done!
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brian_a_mul added 12:42 - Jun 30
I'll be sad to see Counago leave, with his technique, vision and passing there are very few strikers like him around in Championship. A good squad player if not a regular starter. His wages are probably big though and he is one of the players that would attract interest and a transfer fee.
Garvan needs a fresh start, his career stagnated after his mysterious illness a few years ago. There should be plenty of takers even from Premiership (Newcastle or West Brom might be interested). Im not too pushed about the others. Who said RK favours Irish players? He is shipping out 4!
With Pim & D Wright gone and Bruce set to leave we are seriously short at the back. I hope he is not pinning his hopes on the unproven Eastman and Smith for cover.

His best signing so far is definately B. Murphy! Class keeper.
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arc added 12:42 - Jun 30
I assume this list (in some shape or form) was circulated in May. We, at least, knew that all these players were available then. I'm sorry, for their sakes and the club's, that none have moved.
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