Town chief executive Simon Clegg says the Blues are trying to complete the signings of two more players before Saturday’s season opener at Bristol City. The loan signing of Blackburn midfielder Keith Andrews is one of those deals, while the second is likely to be another central defender.

Speaking to Radio Suffolk, Clegg said: "We've got a couple of targets in mind. I don't want to box myself into a corner, but the season starts on Saturday so we're focused on trying to ensure any deals that are to be done are done before the start of the season."

The chief executive says that once the main transfer business is done and dusted, then the club will look at securing existing players whose current terms are up next June in a bid to avoid a repeat of this summer’s exits by the likes of David Norris and Gareth McAuley.

He said: “The focus at the moment is bringing in the new players that the manager wants. We’ve done a lot of business already, seven new signings this summer, some good signings as well, very positive signings and I think people are very upbeat, whether it’s Michael Chopra at the front or David Stockdale at the back coming in on loan. I’m very positive in terms of what we can do this season.

“Once we’ve effectively closed the book in terms of the majority of what we’re trying to do over this transfer window, then we’ll sit down and look very seriously in terms of people who are coming to the end of their contracts.”

Photo: Action Images

Brandonbilly added 12:27 - Aug 2 In Clegg we trust.
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hb_bill added 12:27 - Aug 2 Sounds like PJ is putting together a good side to push for promotion. CB and holding Mf last jigsaw to his side. Can't wait for season to start COYB!!!
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BlueMaverick added 12:28 - Aug 2 To be fair to Clegg, he has managed to help secure quite a few deals and met PJ's targets. He is obviously learning from previous years!
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Brandonbilly added 12:29 - Aug 2 Although its nice to get players in early we do have until midday Friday i belive.
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blue_em_away added 12:29 - Aug 2 Can't wait to see who the CB might be........
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s6blue added 12:30 - Aug 2 yep agreed, in fairness to him, he s pulled it out the bag so far
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blue_beats_yellow added 12:32 - Aug 2 This is excellent. Well done Clegg, for all the abuse he's had he deserves a pat on the back for doing some good buisness this summer. Also very excited for Andrews! he will be a great signing and add that extra experience and quality to our midfield. The CB could be anyone? anyone want to guess?
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collis_itfc added 12:35 - Aug 2 i would take nosworthy as back up
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Mark added 12:38 - Aug 2 All postive, but please spare some time ASAP to look at those players who are coming towards the end of their contracts. Can we really afford to let £750K Fulop, £2.7M Leadbitter and £1.7M Priskin leave for free next summer? Please sign them up or, preferably, sell them to raise funds for new signings!
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daniel9624 added 12:39 - Aug 2 All the Clegg haters out there gone a bit quiet, wonder if they now realise it was Keane who couldn't put deals together in the same way that PJ clearly has
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StowTractorBoy added 12:44 - Aug 2 In my opinion Clegg is a top bloke and as has been stated on here previously he does what the top man tells him. I think PJ being involved with player negotiations has helped the cause but Cleggs commitment to the job is first class and the fact that he has only missed two away games since his time with us speaks volumes.
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bontcho added 12:46 - Aug 2 I wonder if he'll let the contracts of Scotland, Priskin and Fulop just run though. Don't seem to be wanted.
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dumfriesblue added 12:47 - Aug 2 PJ has clearly sold Town to these players with his hands on approach.Keane always took a back seat and let Clegg take the rap for not signing the players.Very excited about the season starting now.
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joe9087 added 12:47 - Aug 2 Maybe this summers transfers have proved a point...maybe it wasn't Clegg causing us to lose out on signings over the last year or two, maybe it was Keane.
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shoopdelang added 12:47 - Aug 2 Jonathan Woodgate is available on a free. He is an old team mate of Lee Bowters ofcourse. Or am I being to hopeful?
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joe9087 added 12:47 - Aug 2 Jonathan Woodgate signed a contract with Stoke. Wages would've been a problem anyway I'd have imagined.
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collis_itfc added 12:56 - Aug 2 people saying woodgate and barton are being complete douche bags about this, just because we have signed chopra and bowyer, people start to think we can sign anyone. there are players out there who will always stay in premier league and never drop down a division because they are all money grabbers not caring if they start every week or not. im pleased with the prospect of Keith Andrews because 1. hes not a premier league player, ince only signed him for what he done at mk dons. 2. hes a lower league player and would shine in that holding role, the same role Mark Kennedy played perfectly against wolves. I'm not 100% sure what defenders are available at the moment, i would happily take nosworthy as back up as he can play centre back or right back or antony gardner as believe he is on a free. someone who has premier league experience but is sitting in this league.

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RetroBlue added 12:57 - Aug 2 I have been one of Cleggs biggest critics. But I d like to place on record now , my appreciation for his wrok behind the scenes, in securing Jewellios targets. Maybe the problem was previously having a manager that did not have the players ear, respect or contacts to get in the "right" p[layers. All this rubbish that Ipswich Town is off the beaten tarck and no one wants to join the Club becuase of it , was a smoke screen for an ineffective managership. Good managers at ITFC have NEVER had a problem attracting good players to this Club - and so is evidenced this summer !

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webside added 13:01 - Aug 2 Just seen Birmingham signed Jonathan Spector - shame we couldn't have enticed him this way.
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collis_itfc added 13:03 - Aug 2 shaun said get back to work
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collis_itfc added 13:03 - Aug 2 shaun said get back to work
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brian_a_mul added 13:04 - Aug 2 glen Loovens at Celtic would be a good solid CB. Shawn Barker at Derby would also be decent
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TractorMan added 13:04 - Aug 2 I don't want Nosworthy anywhere near our team! Here is a quote from the Guardian on his performance last year.... "Frankly it'll be an achievement if we end the season with the same manager that started it. In Kevin Blackwell, Gary Speed and Micky Adams, we saw three different degrees of disappointment. And for added comedic effect, all of those managers included Nyron Nosworthy." We need to be aiming much higher if we want to be near the top 6

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blue_floyd added 13:16 - Aug 2 I still feel that we are also lacking in the right-back department.
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GTRKing added 13:18 - Aug 2 Keith andrews is well woth it for 1 year loan deal then sign him up next year with him added 3rd/6-7th finish with other player 1st/2nd-5th/6th so good team well done clegg lol
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