Defender Tom Eastman has joined Colchester United on a two-year deal having turned down a six-month contract with the Blues. Eastman, 19, will be reunited with his former Town academy coaches Tony Humes and Richard Hall at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The centre-half joins the U’s on a free transfer as the Blues’ offer didn’t match the terms of his previous one-year deal.

Eastman says he's delighted to be joining his hometown side: "This is a great move for me and I'm joining a big club in this division.

"I was born in Colchester and have lived in Clacton all of my life, so it's great to be playing for my local club.

"I had a good spell in the first team last year and that's given me a taste for first team football and I have come here to try and develop next season.

"I am hoping to be around the first team and to play some games. Tommy Smith said he enjoyed his time here, so I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the players and getting started."

Colchester boss John Ward says Eastman provides competition for his other central defenders: “With Richard Hall and Tony Humes on our staff, we were well aware of Tom's background and pedigree and we have seen him play more recently for Ipswich's reserves.

"They had offered him a six-month contract which under the rules meant we were able to move in and get him on a free transfer and he'll be joining us for the next two years.

"As well as a player who can come in and compete now, he is also one for the future as well. We will have the senior three centre-halves to be challenged for their places by Tom and Tom Bender, and again it gives us good competition in that area.

"He has come to us to kick his career on and play some football, and this is a move that fits in nicely for him and for us."

Eastman made 12 starts and one sub appearance for the Blues, all under Roy Keane’s management. Having been sent off on his debut on the final day of 2009/10 against Sheffield United, the youngster nicknamed ‘Granddad’ by his academy team-mates made most of his Town appearances out of position at right-back before dropping out of the picture after Paul Jewell took over as boss.

Photo: Action Images

theblueginger added 16:57 - May 19 Surprising. Everyone seems to forget he was playing as a right back when in the first team. Admittedly smith and brown are better, but hes not much different from ainsley. You cab see why hes signed a two year deal where hell get first team opportunities, rather than a six month deal. Besides, when would he be able to prove himself? Best of luck to him. People that show no regard for our released youngsters irritate me.

0

ITFC4daprem added 17:00 - May 19 suspect he thought not favourite seen as brown offered 1 year
0

DiamondGezzer added 17:04 - May 19 Have to say I'm a little suprised, but there, I didn't see him in training every day. Maybe he'd gone off the boil, hence the six month offer. Thought he may have been one for the future. I'm sure Paul Jewell knows a lot better than I !
0

chepstowblue added 17:12 - May 19 It took 1 uncomfortable night at Exeter to realise he was a 2nd or 1st division player at best and remember him hitting every seat behind the dug out as he was tried at right back at Millwall in the cup.I remember 4passes up the touchline finding Roy Keane!! A good move 4a lad with no future at this level.
0

Marshalls_Mullet added 17:14 - May 19 Saw him against Hull, he couldnt pass to a team member and even injured himself trying to kick the ball. Disappointing as I had told my neutral mate who I took to the game that he was a good prospect. It mayve been a one off, but one of the worst individual performances I have seen. Not great against Palace either. Not a loss, but all the same best of luck to him.

0

TractorCam added 17:14 - May 19 Will be a big miss,LOL
0

PunchNoHopers added 17:17 - May 19 Looked a good prospect to me, especially with McCauley going! Might be egg on face time in 18 months when he is sold to top Championship or bottom Premier side for couple of million!!
0

Marshalls_Mullet added 17:17 - May 19 punchnohopers - get real.
0

MarkITFC added 17:22 - May 19 oh well , when ive seen him play ive been a nervos reck when he's on the ball he finds it hard to pick a pass always looking to knock it long . I cant see him being good enough for championship level , league 1 at most id say . anyhow , good luck at colchester .
0

village_blue added 17:38 - May 19 Good luck at Colchester but think he would feel more at the zoo.No great loss.
0

jas0999 added 17:44 - May 19 Bitterly disappointing and ultimately a costly decision from PJ. Offering just a 6-month deal means Eastman leaves for absolutely nothing! If we had have offered a one year deal we would have been due compensation! Who on earth is stupid enough to offer reduced terms to a player and actually expect them to sign. Madness.
0

Ipswich24 added 17:53 - May 19 I will remember him as guy who got me out in charity cricket match at chantry park he caught me! so I dont have fond memories of him
0

TractorMan added 17:58 - May 19 I know he was played out of position at RB, but looked too lightweight for a CB and I still remember his red card on his debut for diving in twice. Shame we didn't offer a year and then send out on loan to Colchester, but we would only of got £50k max I guess if we could have achieved a transfer fee. Obviously Jewell hasn't seen enough in training where he has offered people like Joe Whight who also hasn't played for us yet a 2 year deal so people can't say he doesn't give youth a chance.

0

bluearmy4life added 19:11 - May 19 Good luck Tom. Would of been interesting to see how he would of developed in the next two years. I think he can do a good job @ Col U. The one MASSIVE Thing going against us we are not offering great deals for players coming in and trying to keep the players we do have on the books. What are players thinking if they are getting linked with us? I'm quite worried this is going to be yet another crap summer I know it's early but signs are not good.

0

John_Portman added 19:20 - May 19 He'll do well ther!
0

Redmond added 19:36 - May 19 Thank god he is bad
0

borge added 19:38 - May 19 I still have faith in PJ but this one is a mistake. I fear he has been let down by his backroom staff or hasn't placed enough trust in them. Yes he was a nervous wreck and yes the more games he played the more he resorted to long ball. But there were clear mitigating circumstances. The fact he was played out of position didn't help, but when he first came into the team he was about the only player looking to play a short pass. With noone in midfield looking for the short pass, he had little choice but to play it long, more often than not badly. With the crowd (and no doubt Keane) increasingly on his back his nerves were shot and he looked a far worse player than he was. Given proper support and in a team where senior pros are willing to take more responsibility, I have little doubt he will shine. Good luck Tom.

0

colonel added 19:39 - May 19 I'm disappointed as I really thought he had potential. We haven't seen what he's capable of as he was played out of position much of the time and being so young this must have affected his confidence. Real shame that if he does come good we won't see any benefit either in terms of him playing for us or £'s from sale/sell on. I don't think this is good business for us. Can't blame him for situation and I hope it works out for him. Good luck Tom - be lucky

0

RYITFC added 19:40 - May 19 Good luckTom, Would have liked to have seen him play as a centre back rather than a right back. Colchester a good club to go to, Just hope this won't be like the Rhodes case and in a years time were all on here talking about signing him back for 2 or 3 million. Think we really need to use our Kids this season, Brown, O Connor, Carson, Whight. Give the lads a chance rather than the 2nd rate loan signings.

0

rosseden added 19:57 - May 19 ''Who on earth is stupid enough to offer reduced terms to a player and actually expect them to sign. Madness'' Well, look at it this way, offer him a year and he takes it, would cost us c. £100k in wages if he accepts, we might get possibly £50k at best from a tribunal. or we offer him 6 months and he costs us £50k but can leave for nothing but we minimise our risk. If it was my business id do what ITFC have done if theyre not sure..... Risk = Cost, and it can go either way.... theyre just playing the percentage game......

0

nkotb_sect5 added 20:14 - May 19 Sorry, not good enough. Like 90% of the others assembled at PR
0

nkotb_sect5 added 20:19 - May 19 ...trying to name the 10% that are good enough. Can't. But heyho PJ is great, got me ST renewal in ealy, and can't wait. Things will be good.
0

WarkyWonderLand added 20:29 - May 19 Agree with comments of damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Thought he was over rated and too slow and no loss to be honest. Paasing was awful and surely thats one of the basics!! PJ and the coaching staff see him day in day out and knows what he can/can't do. The negativity and people pressing the panic button 2 weeks after the end of the season is beyond belief. The press will always write speculative stuff on players and everyone is entitled to their opinion. More posivity and getting behind PJ would be a start. No wonder PR is so quiet as everyone is moaning amongst themselves. Next season is start a fresh and PJ's first full season in charge. He knows what he is doing, some on here clearly don't. COYB

0

Ebantiass added 20:46 - May 19 Good luck in the future Tom . Always sad to see the younger hungry players leave when you have a feeling that they have not reached their full potential.
0

pitseablue added 20:49 - May 19 I thought he was worth hanging onto. Plenty of time to come back and haunt us.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls