Boss Roy Keane says former skipper Jon Walters will never play for the club again as long as he is manager. Walters, who is the subject of a new transfer bid, was stripped of the captaincy yesterday with Keane dropping him from today’s team and disciplining him for his reaction to being given the news.

Keane said: “Jon was due to play and he was in my team on Friday morning, but I spoke to Jon on Friday. I’d been thinking a lot about the captaincy side of things and I just felt that it isn’t right that a player who has a clear desire to leave the club should be captain.

“I thought it was a straightforward one but Jon’s reaction was unbelievably overboard, he’s been disciplined and as long as I’m manager of the football club he’ll never kick a ball for us.

“But we had another offer on Friday night, whether that was a coincidence or not, from a different club. The owner’s negotiating with this other club at the moment. I don’t think you’ll see Jon playing for this club again. We hope a deal can be done quickly, but we’ve heard that one before and until we get the fee we’re happy with it’ll drag on a little bit longer.”

Keane says regardless of yesterday's developments he expected Walters to be on his way this week in any case: “I wouldn’t say it was a ruck, [it was] a disagreement, an exchange of views is a posh way of putting it. I’ve had heated exchanges with many a person, the wife, players, team-mates, managers. I’ve crossed the line a few times myself and you have to take your punishment.

“But I think Jon was going to be leaving next week anyway, no secret there because if his agent is talking to every Tom, Dick and Harry, why should I hide behind anything? If your desire is to leave the club, then you shouldn’t be captain.”

Keane says the new offer isn’t from Stoke or West Brom and hints that it may be from a club from outside the Premier League, with QPR previously reported to have had a £2.5 million offer rebuffed: “There’s been another offer come in, more than Stoke, which I’m glad about because they’ve just been tip-toeing around the situation.

“I’ve said to the owner, if these other clubs, these big Premier League teams, don’t want to come back for him, we’ll sell him to the other team. That’s my opinion but the owner’s obviously negotiating with these other clubs.”

Meanwhile, Keane says he hopes to have three new additions in his squad when Town travel to Crystal Palace next week: “I’m quietly confident that we’ll have three players in.

“There’s one you know and that’s Jason Scotland. We’re trying hard with him and Wigan have made it clear we’ve had a bid accepted. We’re talking at the moment and let’s see what happens.

“We were never going to get it done for the weekend, but we hope Jason might be involved next week.“

The proposed swap involving Cardiff's Ross McCormack and Jon Stead appears unlikely to be one of those three moves with that deal moving slowly and other clubs interested in the Town striker. One of the new signings is the young, defensive loanee Keane was targeting at the end of the week, who Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed is Darren O'Dea.

The Blues boss was delighted with his side’s performance against Burnley: “Brilliant, good game, good tempo, good spirit, good energy. It lacked quality sometimes from our point of view. I mightn’t look it, but I’m absolutely delighted.

“Physically they looked stronger in terms of height. We had a game on Tuesday, we had an away game last weekend and an unbelievable amount of injuries. Grant picked up a bad one today, it looks a sore one, he may have chipped a bone in his ankle."

Midfielder Leadbitter, who was on crutches after the game, is set for a scan on Monday.

Burnley manager Brian Laws felt he was likely to be more pleased with the result than his former Nottingham Forest team-mate: “I think overall I’m probably the happier of the managers because we got a draw out of it. When you go down to 10 men it’s always tough and to concede in that last period was tough on the players because I thought at times we looked in real control.

“But Roy might say the same. I don’t think either goalkeeper had a lot to do. There was a lot of good interplay but I think the final pass was a bit lacking, which is something that we’ve got to work on and improve.

“The one thing that you have to work with is energy and commitment and certainly the players gave that commitment right until the last moments of the game and I was delighted to get the goal.”

Photo: Action Images

Jesney_Havoc added 20:43 - Aug 14 It's a shame it's ended like this. Hero to zero in record time. On yer bike then Walters
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ramseyn added 20:47 - Aug 14 Frase1987 : it's not just the request, he feigned a virus Tuesday, cancelled a public appearance coz he didn't want to be pictured in a town shirt, then threw a tantrum when he couldn't be captain like a playground kid. On top of this he had already lowered his transfer value by stating he wanted out. I can't respect that I'm afraid.
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BluePG added 21:05 - Aug 14 Mucky
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Frase1987 added 21:14 - Aug 14 Ok so the timing is bad but this is when the offers have formally come in! This "his behaviour is a disgrace" stuff, nah can't see it at all. All of it''s behind doors so not in a position to judge and I've seen no bad quotes. I doubt it was about being dropped as captain it's more the undeserving abuse he's getting! Does he really need to be publicly insulted for wanting to leave???

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ramseyn added 21:18 - Aug 14 Yes he does!!
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Frase1987 added 21:18 - Aug 14 The virus claim did us a favour! Why try cup tie a player you're now trying to sell? Not smart at all... I am very much pro-Keane btw, I just think people are jumping to conclusions here. If you have empathy and were in his position, I doubt most ppl would do THAT much different.
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ramseyn added 21:23 - Aug 14 I can't possibly imagine being in his position, or any other footballer to be honest, they don't live on my planet !!
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BasingstokeBranch added 21:27 - Aug 14 It should be an honour to captain our club and the position should certainly not be filled by somone with such a desire to leave. Walters' agent has continually gone to the press with details of every offer that has been made for him so without doubt he will have done the same over this issue, so the press would have got wind of the incident anyway, only with a spin in Walters' favour. Keane was right to get in there first! Keane has made it clear as part of the same press conference that we won't accept anything less than a fair price for him - this incident won't have lowered that figure. The quicker Walters now gets out the better, and good riddance to him too - he'll never make it as a Premier League player!!

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ReusersTown added 21:32 - Aug 14 I dont see why he wants this move so much as he is no where near good enough to play in the premier league, i personally see him as being closer to the standard of a league one player than PL. And if we get the fees being talked about it more of a mugging than a transfer!
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runaround added 21:37 - Aug 14 Its a shame that Walters time at ITFC has ended like this, but it seems to be the way with some footballers these days that they throw tantrums etc in order to get moves that they want.I agree that he should no longer be skipper after he'd asked to leave. A bit of a no-brainer really and I cannot quite understand why he has had a strop about it. The sooner he goes now the better and we can get in some new players and get on with winning matches.

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Ryorry added 21:49 - Aug 14 Anyone who throws a sickie (esp with his team having a long injury list) whilst supposedly being a pro footballer, a "job" most of us would sell our grannies for, does NOT, in any way, shape or form deserve to be captain anywhere. What a role model - NOT - to the other players, esp the youngsters. Will forever tarnish my memories of him I'm afraid. Correct decision by RK.

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WadzillaBhoy added 22:02 - Aug 14 I agree it is a shame Walters is acting like this. I always liked the guy as he always seemed like a likeable guy and he always put in 100% but his actions over the last two weeks have really been out of line. Firstly he didn't go over to applaud the travelling fans up at Middlesbrough and had to be told to go back to clap us. Then he doesn't turn up to travel away to Exeter claiming he had the "flu" so we were left with one less player and now after stating "I want out of Ipswich" he expects to retain the captaincy and then has a go at his manager. I think Keano is right he has obviously been tapped up and it has all gone to his head. Keano has handled the situation really well nobody is bigger than the club and I think he is making an example out of Walters to show the rest of the team how to go about future transfer situations and to show the team he is only looking for fully committed players. Other people on here have said that this outburst could have lowered his price tag but I dont think it will. Keano has now made it very public he wont play for us so hopefully this will cause all clubs who are interested to be tempted to make offers thus creating a bidding war and essentially increasing his price to our target of 3M.

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Crock added 22:31 - Aug 14 Keane is showing his piss poor man management skills yet again. Why don't he just bugger off back to Ireland?
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ipswich4life added 22:31 - Aug 14 cant wait for walters 2 f**k off the sooner he goes the better 3mill lol all the way 2 the bank
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chrisw2045 added 22:41 - Aug 14 In the time Walters has played for ITFC he has given 100% and been a top player for the club. Perhaps Ipswich would not even be in the Championship this season if it wasn't for the work he put in last season. The only reason he wants to leave is for his family's sake as his daughter has previously been ill and his wife wants to be closer to their family. For one i wish him all the best in his future career and can only thank him for the effort and passion he has put into playing for Ipswich.

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rosseden added 22:59 - Aug 14 rumour is the higher offer is from Warnock and he might be going to QPR..... South London - lots closer to Cheshire than Suffolk??!!
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moomoosereni added 23:33 - Aug 14 Only thing I would say is wait til he's gone before bringing out the truth behind his behaviour. Either I can't see it affecting the bids being made for him. They'll just look at it as being Keane being the childish one, which he isn't. Walters, thanks for the service, up until now. Before I think you'd have got a great reception upon your eventual return to Portman Road, now I'm not so sure. Seems to me that Keane is now identifying the players that despite their high wages and on occasions fair-good quality football, keeping them at the club will only be a disruption. Positive side to take out of all this is that none of this has appeared to have affected the starting line ups mentality and we are starting the season strong so far. COYB.

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Hiltzkooler added 23:46 - Aug 14 Good for Keane - he speaks his mind - diplomatic maybe not - straight talking yes - as fans and supporters tell me you don't crave it! Some really revealling statements from Keane this week and i tell you what..they are more honest than most of the mugging off that eminates from other clubs...Walter's is a footballer...gernerically they are the same with some exceptions...tell me who didn't want priskin to score on Wednesday ? Tell me who didn't think Rooney was a sulky over paid brat? Who wasn't over the moon with our youngsters performances at Exeter and 'Boro?well there you go...see you later Walters...you came from Chester..you served us well then got Premiership glamour..good for you..Good Bye..well done Keano, you've got my vote today..love the straight talking...diplomatic or otherwise!

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gypo added 23:48 - Aug 14 Cock oops sorry crock - why don't you sign out and delete you account on this site and take a few others with you.
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h32 added 23:51 - Aug 14 Questions just have to be asked - Walters was Keane's 'blue eyed boy' all last season - and now this crops up. Seems to me that you have to be a yes man in every respect with Keane - disagree once and you are an alien to be discarded for ever - how pathetic is that. I suspect no one at all knows where they stand with him from one minute to the next. All of this doesn't exactly encourage players to come to this club - I feel another season of s--t is ahead of us. What is this man like ? - not expecting an answer as i'm not sure there is one.

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Hiltzkooler added 23:56 - Aug 14 H32...tell me you expected a win at 'Boro then and a draw with burneley and younsters coming through after last seasons debacle....doesn't exactly encourage plsyers to come to this club? i think you are wrong ...the club has a structure..Keane is miffed with it...but theey are there..your Ginga man from Sunderland last season on loan and now Townsend..yeah right H32..you are wrong...Keane seems to be getting his ar*e into gear...and before you start...playing football...

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fifeblue added 00:10 - Aug 15 Daleyitfc, I am worried about you. Go and see that doctor NOW!
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ChambersM added 00:10 - Aug 15 Walters is not doing keano himself has never done and it is for that reason that I still don't think keane has the respectability to be ipswich manager. Anyway sad its ended like this Walters has been a legend in his own lunchtime for 3 years now!
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onlybluesandhorses added 01:18 - Aug 15 It is hard to judge the rights and wrongs of this without being there at the time and hearing both sides. Walters has always been professional for us and he might have felt insulted that Keane took the captaincy away - implying his wish to move would affect his captaincy and professionalism. Sudden turn arounds of who is in and out of favour seem par for the course with Keane e.g. McAulay, Bruce. In the circumstances it is to be hoped that Jon will move soon but personally I wish him all the best. The above should not detract from a good performance today with only Priskin, who took a knock before HT, not really in the game. I was impressed with Fulop, O'Connor, Smith, Hyam, Townsend of the newish players in the team. I hope we can keep up this form. Oh and positive encouragement from the fans which was good.

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WickedBlue added 03:49 - Aug 15 @Frase1987 You said he did us a favour by pulling a sickie. Can I point out as Captain of this club he is suppose to set an example for the youngsters coming through. Care to explain what lesson they have learnt from this? Then there is one other point to think about, until he signs for another club he is being paid wages by us to play football. As a pro he should have played until a transfer could have been arranged. You are wrong about people slating him for wanting to leave, most posts have said they can understand his desire. What he has been getting slated for is the way he is handling this whole affair which is poor by anybodies standards.

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