TWTD understands that departing Town striker Caolan Lavery is in talks with League Two Bradford City. Yesterday, Blues boss Paul Jewell revealed that the Northern Ireland U21 international had told the club he was moving on having been offered terms by a League Two side.

Jewell said: “His agent got back to me on Monday and said that they have refused Caolan’s contract.

“Because we’ve offered him a contract, we retain rights to compensation. He emailed [club secretary] Sally Webb [on Wednesday] saying that there’s a League Two club that want to take him.”

We understand that long-time admirers Leicester City have offered the Canada-born frontman a trial, while Aston Villa have also been monitoring his situation. Tabloid links with Spurs were dismissed by Blues academy chief Sammy Morgan last season.

Prior to Lavery turning down his contract until the end of the season, the Blues boss had planned to send him out to get first team games: “While he was here I wanted to get him out to Rochdale on loan just to give him experience.

“In my view is that he’s put more credence on money rather than an opportunity. I’m a little bit disappointed in him. But he might tell you that a six-month contract offer is not what he wanted.”

The Bantams are believed to have offered a longer-term deal and an improved chance of regular first team football than would have been likely at Portman Road.

Lavery, whose two-year scholarship was extended until his 19th birthday two weeks ago after he suffered a serious knee injury last season, netted five goals in seven FA Premier Academy League games for the U18s during the early stages of this campaign, plus a further four for the reserves.

Photo: Action Images

tractorboybig added 09:29 - Nov 4 shaunmix. So we should be compile a team of old men getting a final payoff? sounds like a club who just want to struggle along rather than plan for the future. If you want an acadamy for the future of the club then you have to pay for it. If you want an acadamy to sell players on then offer them six month contracts no one will accept so they move on for a fee, as has happened here. ipswich dont want him but would like the money.

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newboy added 10:15 - Nov 4 He was offered £200 a week for 6 months - Good luck to him
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WadzillaBhoy added 10:25 - Nov 4 I'm sorry but he's been offered more money to play first team games...sounds like a no brainer to me. Good luck in the future Caolan
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JewellintheTown added 10:39 - Nov 4 I go to work in the most for money, not just the love of my job. I fortunately enjoy it so I dont go looking to climb the ladder each week for more, but if someone offered me 100% or 200% more to work for them, I'd be stupid to say no. Money pays the bills. Is football any different? If Lavery was good enough for 3k a week instead of 1k, surely theres a reason. An extra 2k a week is peanuts in football and cant see PJ or ME arguing over that much if he's as good as everyone makes out.

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shaunminx added 10:47 - Nov 4 @tractorboybig He's 19 ffs and not even in the first team squad. He's been offered the chance to prove himself same as cresswell was. If he'd taken it and shone he would've been rewarded if not then nothing lost but he seems to think he's better than that. Do you want kids to put the club back to where it was a few years back? Yes we need youngsters coming through but on the clubs terms not theirs. I'm sure you or I would've jumped at what he was offered same as any other fan.

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tellitasiseeit added 10:47 - Nov 4 New Boy... I heard this also, if this is true its an insult to Lavery and no wonder its been turned down? Is this true does any one know the facts. If it is true and this was to carry on it will be the end of the Academy.Who would join for that kind of money? COYB
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blueherts added 11:24 - Nov 4 We talk as if this lad is the next wonder kid - as soon as Spurs were mentioned in the mix - that was it - tell yer what lets swap with one of your 'NEVER IN THE SQUAD PLAYERS' - Gio Dos Santos - I know who I would rather have
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newboy added 11:42 - Nov 4 Tellitasiseeit - it is true. these boys are not being given the money you all seem to think - that's saved for the old boys. And even if he accepted it he would never get a game or the chance to prove himself those days are gone - for him and the others that follow its lose * lose
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Bergholtblue added 12:19 - Nov 4 As Bobble says, if he was any good he would be knocking on door of the first team, but he isn't. The lad clearly wants to play matches, not just turn up for training each day then play in a meaningless friendly. He clearly feels he has a better chance of progressing as a footballer by moving on and I wish him well. It is shame though that we couldn't get him out on loan and hang on to him a bit longer.

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jas1972 added 12:20 - Nov 4 I am surprised to find myself saying this, but I agree with bobble (and others). What's he done so far? If he is 'world class' then how come he hasn't even managed to get a squad number?
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tellitasiseeit added 12:24 - Nov 4 Newboy If this is true we have been mislead by paul Jewel over this deal? At first it was intimated it was turned down over the length of Contracted. Then it was a money problem. Some people think he was offered £1000 some say if he was offered £500 he was doing ok , But £200 rubbish. Your right pay the old folks the money instead and see where that leads us. COYB SPEAK OUT?

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J4ck22 added 15:52 - Nov 4 He's clearly a greedy little prick... It's not a money problem at all, it's about not giving a young player a contract he doesn't deserve. Jewell wants to make it challenging for young players and if they get a good paying contract while they're young, they become get comfortable and all work rate is gone. If Lavery wants to want to rot in League 2 instead of fighting for a place in the Ipswich side then let him.

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ITFC1978 added 17:01 - Nov 4 Greedy agent! And a impressional teenager With a over rated sense of self worth!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:42 - Nov 4 At 19, iwas earning 25 quid a week. Guess what young Lavery, i worked ******* hard to improve at my job, went on courses & learned from people, then, & only then did i get a pay packet that reflected my experience etc. Time these upstarts who have achieved NOTHING get into the real world. Hope Bradford are not to big for you young man. Good riddance.
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h32 added 18:51 - Nov 4 Don't know why you lot are so PATHETIC towards this lad - he has talent, as I have said previously, people elsewhere in the game know that, therefore it's in his own interest to get what's right for him - the offer of a 'contract until the end of the season' from this Club is a disgrace. You're the same bunch that said Jordan Rhodes wouldn't make it, Jon Walters wouldn't be successful after his move etc; etc; You'll be eating humble pie yet again with this one for sure.

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h32 added 18:58 - Nov 4 ericgates - sound post - no sane person could argue with any of that.
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h32 added 19:11 - Nov 4 DADS ARMY WILL NEVER PLAY A PART IN THE FUTURE OF THIS CLUB - BUT YOUNGSTERS MOST CERTAINLY CAN / AND HOPEFULLY WILL. The sooner this Club is pointed in the right direction the better.
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tractorbhoy added 20:49 - Nov 4 I think there is something we aren't being told her. PJ has used the media to paint a bad picture of a kid who obviously wasn't offered anything near what he is worth. Watching this kid he loved the club. The offer was obviously just made as he put in the effort to get it not that PJ actually wanted him. I for one will say good luck to Caolan and I'm sure we will be watching him in the premiership after a big money move. PJ seemed to say he was free to leave then changed his mind. Reading up about it if the club told him he was free to leave we wouldn't get compo do the offer was put back on the table. He is obviously looking for the regular football got a longer deal and better money. If this was your job what would you do.

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s6blue added 22:01 - Nov 4 how the mighty fall
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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:02 - Nov 4 h32, i had "talent" (still have) but i had to prove that i was as good, if not better than those around me. Lavery has not done that yet, that is why he had to knuckle down, learn his trade, then the vast rewards of professional football could have been his at our club, however, HE chose to abandon that for a few quid more in league 2. His choice, not PJ,s or ITFC.

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J4ck22 added 01:13 - Nov 5 @tractorbhoy - Stay with Ipswich, go out on loan for 1-2 seasons and make a push for the first team. Simple. With Bradford he isn't going to get half the development that he would with us. Jewell clearly doesn't see enough in him to make an effort to keep him, it also seems like he wants an easy contract and isn't willing to work for a decent contract.
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billtheblue added 08:37 - Nov 5 bradford over ipswich ......see you playing for the dog and duck next season then
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tractorbhoy added 17:56 - Nov 5 @j4ck22 would you work for less than minimum wage for 6 months with no guarantee of work come may? Or would you see other offers of more money for a longer term with more opportunities? Take off your blue tinted glasses and look at this from the lads perspective. He gave his all for that contract and scored more than goal every other game.
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h32 added 23:38 - Nov 5 pinewoodblueboy - and that is what he will do - at another Club !!. Evidence that youngsters no longer necessarily get the 'just' rewards at this Club that you mention. Our loss - again, sorry to say.
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tractorbhoy added 21:21 - Nov 8 @j4ck22 also just noticed you said stay with Ipswich 1-2 years. I have no doubt if the lad was offered the chance to stay for 1-2 years we would not be having this argument.
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