Only one name we've spotted linked to Town this weekend (mail us if you've seen anyone else telling us who and where you saw it). Frenchman Pegguy Lujindu from Strasbourg is reported to be a target. The 22-year-old former U21 international plays for Strasbourg.

Last season Town were linked with Strasbourg's Moroccan defender Gharab Amzine who has now left the club. Lujindu is said to be a target of a number of English clubs and is rated at around the £5 million mark.

The final day of the North Stand case saw Town fail to be awarded costs. No further moves against the stand seem likely.

Alderman Road residents Rose Malster and David Cox brought the action against the Borough Council, claiming that proper procedures were not follwed when planning permission was given for the new stand.

The judge, Justice Sullivan, disagreed saying that there would be no new use of the stadium and the volume of people would not actually be that much different than it had been when Portman Road had standing: "The stadium already exists. There would be some intensification of use, but it could not be described as significant - given the capacity of the other stands and the much higher capacity that existed in the days when the club's spectators were allowed to stand."

Ipswich Borough Council's costs are to be paid by Rose Malster who is legally aided. Of the club's costs Justice Sullivan said: "I'm afraid that Goliath can have its new stadium, but not its costs."

Courts have failed to ban a racist Town fan from attending future games, either at Portman Road or elsewhere. Wayne Coplen, a former NF and BNP member, was arrested outside The Falcon on the day of the Manchester City game last season.

Coplen was chanting "white power" and performing Nazi salutes as well as shouting anti-semitic and racist obscenities.

34-year-old Coplen was in a group of thirty chanting in this manner. Town's Football Liaison Officer PC Dave King said: "There was a large group of what I'd call 'Ipswich Prominents'."

After his arrest Coplen told police he rarely attended Town games these days preferring to follow England away. In court police pushed for a domestic and international ban, however after deliberating for more than an hour their chairman Brian Morden said the police's appeal for a ban had been refused.

Coplen was fined £750 and was ordered to pay £60 costs for racially aggravated harassment.

Town have announced that the restaurant in the new South Stand will not be ready for the first two games of the season. This will also affect the Legends Bar, although it is hoped that this will be open to some degree for these games.

Speaking about the delays, caused by problems getting specialist supplies, David Sheepshanks said: "We would like to apologise for these problems, which are completely outside our control."

Guests booked to eat in the restaurant will now enjoy the surroundings of a Marquee behind the Britannia Stand.

Photo: Action Images

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