Skipper Jon Walters expects that some of the eight players recently made available for transfer will still be at Portman Road when the season begins. Alex Bruce, Owen Garvan, Alan Quinn, Colin Healy, Jon Stead, Lee Martin, Kevin Lisbie and Pablo Couñago were on a list recently circulated to all Football League sides.

Walters said: “There is a need to create space in the player wage budget. The club has circulated a list of eight players that they are prepared to listen to offers for, but I expect some of them to stay and remain part of the first team squad.

“But here again it is all out of our hands and up to the manager. Our squad is a strong enough one to do well at Championship level whether there is any player movement to come or not.

“And I think we will gain from having a far less hectic build-up to the season than we did last year.”

Walters expects Town to add to their squad nearer to the start of the season: “Ideally it would have been nice to have any newcomers in the building by now so that the gelling and bonding process could have started.

“But the majority of close season business is done late on, and this looks like being the case again.”

Meanwhile, ex-Town keeper Lewis Price is set to join Crystal Palace having been released by Derby County. Price spent last season on loan at Brentford.

Elsewhere, former academy striker Alan Connell has joined Blue Square Premier Grimsby Town, who are managed by ex-Blues frontman Neil Woods, having left Bournemouth at the end of the season. Connell played alongside the likes of Darren Bent and Darren Ambrose at Playford Road.

Photo: James Ager

Photo: Action Images

PablosRightBoot added 16:56 - Jul 13 Is Martin the only one who won't be out of contract past next summer?
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Bobby_Petta added 16:58 - Jul 13 Let's hope Garven stay's. Still our best Midfielder, just needs a manager who belives in him and give him some confidence, Come on Roy give him a chance!
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tom_the_blue added 17:07 - Jul 13 It should read: Walters: Some of the eight will have to stay because they are so cr@p no-one will want to sign them. Although I hope Martin will come good.
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legoman added 17:07 - Jul 13 He's not hungry enough Bobby.
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TractorGeek added 17:24 - Jul 13 Presumably all of them will stay, confident in the knowledge that (a) they have fat contracts unlikely to be matched elsewhere- (b) they will be here after the man who made the list exits stage left in the not too distant future and (c) the new manager might actually give them a chance rather than bring in a succession of duds from his previous clubs who are markedly inferior to those already here

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jas0999 added 17:24 - Jul 13 I think out of the eight (assuming the publicised list is accurate) - the following will be gone by the end of August: Healy (affordable wages) Bruce Garvan Lisbie and possibly Quinn I can't see anyone paying the wages of Stead, Counago or Martin.
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SiBo added 17:31 - Jul 13 Jas0999: Sadly, I think you could be right. Sadly; because the three that are mentioned are the ones that would free up the most in wages, giving RK the room in wage budget he needs to manoeuvre in the transfer market.
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bugblatter added 17:33 - Jul 13 some? how about all...
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Mark added 18:10 - Jul 13 I suspect some will go on loan deals with us paying some of the wages. Most of them are not bad as squad players, but the concern has to be their level of motivation if they are clearly unwanted. I just saw in the news that Hull have signed two players, so it is just us and Portsmouth left without any new signings.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 18:31 - Jul 13 Jas0999 I agree, I think you've sorted the 8 players out perfectly.
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ChambersM added 18:32 - Jul 13 so we're the only club but one (PORTSMOUTH!!) to have signed anyone. This says a lot for the big name Roy Keane doesnt it? All those fans saying this is the man to take us forward and attract some real 'quality' to the club, what are you saying now?
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BlueBadger added 18:32 - Jul 13 It's my personal suspicion that this whole thing is yet another cack-handed 'motivational' by Keano in the grand tradition of Gareth McCauley and 'these three will never play for ITFC again'.
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evansblue added 18:33 - Jul 13 take away the 8 on the list and the kids we only have 14 players. At least half of these will be with us next season and unfortunately none are good enough for a team wanting to finish in the top six
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Blueknight85 added 18:35 - Jul 13 Garven needs more than a good manager and confindence he needs to learn how to play football rather than just knowing how to pass a ball
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jas0999 added 18:48 - Jul 13 ChambersM - I will assume you have been out of the country for the past two or three weeks. If you had been here you would have known that in fact Roy HAD attracted two players to the club - sadly ME and Clegg were unable to do the deals. It is well known that in order to buy we need to REDUCE the wage bill first. ME's decision not Roy's. Although I understand you are looking for any reason to slate Roy, unfortunately on this occasion your post is not very accurate. Clearly anyone can see that if Roy has identified players who WANT to come to the club, but the directors can not do the deals - it is NOT Roy's fault. Very sorry to disappoint.

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tractorboyz82 added 19:08 - Jul 13 garvan is just not good enought if he was he would be long gone being on the transfer list.well said jas0999. RK has his hands tied yes its his own fault with some dodgy buys but if ME wants us up he is going to have back the manager he appointed yes balance the books but get the team ready first then offload because it mite be to late and will cost alot more money to back a new manager ,contract new players more time in this league.i think ME SC have alot more to answer for than meets the eye.alot of fans will put all the blame on roy keane tho.

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Bobby_Petta added 19:21 - Jul 13 Bluenight85, his the most creative midfielder we have, the few times he was actually picked he made all the difference, we had more balance in midfield. What people don't realise is that he had glander fever. I've had that it, takes a year to get over. The problem is, he needs a manager who supports him, he is to afraid to make a mistake under Keane, if he is sold, I think with the right manager someone like G Burley, he could be the best centre midfielder in the championship. There were a lot worse players last season, what about Norris?

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tractorboyz82 added 19:29 - Jul 13 bobby petta when norris came back in the team results got better.can u tell me one game where garvan played well i cant think of one.
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titanicclown added 19:52 - Jul 13 Bobby Petta, you are bang on about Garv's but there's no point arguing with some people about him, they just don't get it!
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tractorboyz82 added 20:02 - Jul 13 get what prove your point.i like garvan he is just not good enought how many clubs have came in for him.would have him on the bench or as cover tho.
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MarcFowler added 20:03 - Jul 13 Glandular fever can take a year to get over, yes. But I had it too and was back in 4 months. I expect a physically fit footballer to get over it quicker. Anwyay, I agree with Walters - some, and probably all, will stay. That's fine. I'd sooner we waited for the right players to be available rather than spunked a load of money like we did last season. If that means nobody comes in this season, fine. Worth it.

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GarvanIsGod added 20:07 - Jul 13 I bet everyone can tell my opinion of garvaaan
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These_arent_the_days added 20:17 - Jul 13 With last seasons demise of Jon Walters ,Owen Garvan is the only truly class player on our books. Unfortunately a lot of supporters are not classy enough to see it. They obviously prefer 'up & under merchants'.
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kentblue added 20:22 - Jul 13 Great for those 8 players' confidence knowing that they are not wanted by Keane . Walters mentions "bonding and gelling " - I suggest that this is an impossibility with Keane in charge . He epitomises the complete opposite of that ! Cohesion and unity will only begin once he leaves Portman Road - hopefully sooner rather than later !
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colonel added 20:34 - Jul 13 I believe there's a place for Garvan in our squad, just don't think him and Leadbitter on the pitch at the same time works. Walters hasn't looked the same since his injury and was outstanding before. He looked knackered to me last season so praying the summer break could revitalise him. How's JW been in the friendlies so far?
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