New signing Luke Chambers says Town may not have the biggest squad in the Championship but believes the "top level" players who are at Portman Road are hungry for success. The 26-year-old joined up with his new team-mates yesterday having signed a three-year deal.

Chambers said: “You look at the squad we’ve got, it’s not the biggest squad, but I think some of the players we’ve got here are of top level. I think the lads all seem really, really hungry having met them all today.

“I’ve obviously known them all from playing against them all, but I think the spirit they’ve got in that dressing room was a major boost for me. I think if we add a few more players, we’re going to be in a strong position.”

The Kettering-born defender promises to add some steel and leadership to the much-maligned Blues backline. Asked to outline what Town fans can expect of him, he said: “Bit of no-nonsense, really. I feel I’m a bit of a leader, I’ve organised teams from my position through my whole career really, even when I was a young lad.

“I can play it out from the back, I can do whatever’s asked of me. I’m one of those guys that will give you the same performance week-in, week-out and hopefully keep as many clean sheets as possible.”

The 6ft 1in tall central defender, who has also played at right-back, says he made up his mind to move on from Forest during the season: “A lot went on, a lot was said over the summer and with me being out of contract and the position Forest were in - not being able to offer contracts with the takeover [yet to take place] and whatever else going on - I think I made a little bit of a decision during the season that maybe I needed a new start and things happened from there.”

He says he was attracted to Town due to the ambition shown by Paul Jewell, Marcus Evans and Simon Clegg: “Once I met the gaffer, Paul, in the summer and he'd told me his plans for the season and what the owner and Simon want to do, to push the team on to the next level, I wanted to be part of that.

“It always takes a while to get the people in that you want to get in. It’s fairly early me coming here, so I think in that respect we’re going to have to be patient. But they have definitely made it clear they’re going to be very ambitious this year and bring some players in.”

Contrary to rumour after he returned to the Midlands having undergone his medical and taken the tour of the club last Tuesday, Chambers says the move to Town was never in any doubt: “My mind was made up once I came down. I wouldn’t travel all this way to mess anyone about.

“I came down, I looked around everywhere, I was taken around the place and it’s a really, really attractive place to come and live.

“All the facilities at the training ground, all the facilities at the stadium are generally for this division second to none.

“That attracted me from minute one. But once I’d been down here, it was only a matter of time before contracts got sorted out after jiggling a few figures, and that’s what happened. These things take time.

“I think being a free transfer it’s pretty easy to get that sorted, but obviously it’s going to take a while to bring other [contracted] players in because you have to agree so much more.

“Once I’d been down here, the decision was made and I think everything got sorted on Friday and it was just a matter of time before we got started.”

He says he sounded out friends who knew and had worked with his new manager before making his decision: “I don’t want to name any names, but Paul’s well-known in the game. He’s been very successful and his record speaks for itself.

“The lads I know who have played with him and played for him, everyone had good things to say about him.

“And I’m a pretty good judge of character, so once I’d met him it was clear in my mind what they wanted to do and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Having been skipper at Forest last season and previously at his first club Northampton, there has already been talk about him wearing the Town armband, however, at the moment he’s in no hurry to take on the role: “It’s always nice to be considered for that sort of honour, especially at a club like Ipswich.

“I did it at Forest. It wasn’t a very successful time when I was captain and it was a very difficult season, but it’s something I wouldn’t shy away from.

“But it’s something that I’ve not really even thought about for this season. I think Carlos did it last season, along with Grant, who has moved on, and I think he did a great job, so it’s nothing I’ll be coming in here demanding.

“If it comes along, then I’ll have a chat with the gaffer about it. It’s nothing I’m really thinking about at the minute, I’ve just got the first day’s training out of the way.”

Like his new signing, chief executive Simon Clegg says there are strong players in the squad but admits that others need to be added between now and the season’s start on August 14th: “We’ve got a solid core of a team. We’ve still got some holes that we need to fill, we need to build on that but the good thing is that we’ve got the basis there of a very strong team and I’m excited about the season ahead of us.

“We’ve got some further work to do and there’s some further work in progress and we’ll finalise it when we can.”

Photo: Action Images

arablue added 10:50 - Jul 10 Welcome to the club! Get a good GK (Loach?) and our defence is beginning to look rather solid...
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Maverick_Mitch added 10:51 - Jul 10 One or two more signings like this and I'll start to believe my investment in a season ticket was a shrewd move.
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bedsitfc added 10:52 - Jul 10 chambers impressed by hungry town squad but less so with the canteen.
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WorcesterBlue added 11:45 - Jul 10 Has Bullard come back fit and hungry? Would be like a new signing if so!
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DanLyles added 11:53 - Jul 10 Good point WorcesterBlue, we need either Bullard or Drury to be the pulling the strings in the engine room. When Jimmy or Andy get going so does our passing game. Would love to see Martin, Chopra, JET and hopefully Steven Davies benefit from an in form Bullard or Drury supplying them the ammuntion
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miiikkeyyyy added 12:15 - Jul 10 I was happy with the signing of Hewitt, and now Chambers! Our back four is looking very promising. In my opinion, I still believe we need a central midfielder and a goalkeeper. Let's hope we go for Scott Loach or Brad Guzan!
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ArnieMsBigToe added 12:20 - Jul 10 Dan Lyles: Agree with your assessment. Steve Davies would give us another option up front. Bit worried about GKs though. I have always maintained that PJ would pull it round. I have also maintained that RK put us back years & it would take time for PJ to repair the damage. Not too worried that Lead-Boots has gone. . . or for that matter Friskin Priskin. By the way . . .Blue Lady. I do like your Avatar. Very feminine!!

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irishtim added 12:20 - Jul 10 Good points on jimmy. If he is fit & rairing to go its like 3rd signing for new season.
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Mark added 12:25 - Jul 10 All very positive comments and it seems like we have got a top bloke here. The defensive options are looking good with Cresswell, Smith, Delaney, Chambers, Edwards and Hewitt. I think we need a new left-back and centre-back as cover however, and I'd be happy for a loan or older freebie to cover these positions. As for goalkeeper, Heaton would appear well worth a look. People keep saying Loach, but Loach would cost a fee and was dropped by Watford who themselves wanted Heaton in as a replacement under their previous management regime.

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La_Paz added 12:54 - Jul 10 Good signing on a free. If he plays the ball out from the back that will be something we've missed for years (since Mogga, McGreal, Venus etc.?) 3 year deal looks promising too. Still think we're a bit short left-side of midfield; Wight should have the chance to cover Cresswell at left-back but with no Murphy we're down to Martin, who is much more effective in the middle. Davies may be the man to do the Murphy job, up front or wide left as required, so that would just leave the goalie and Kourouma and we look pretty well set.

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irishtim added 12:58 - Jul 10 Phil. Any update on Martins contract?
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alex12345 added 13:20 - Jul 10 Very impressive signing considering premier league clubs were chasing him too. So far it's been a very good summer, prospects such as Hewitt signed and Kourouma close is very encouraging, Klug back at the club is excellent news and then Chambers and a potential few more signings. Also shipping out all of the deadwood such as Priskin, Leadbitter etc... All very encouraging and with a few more signings we could have a real push this year. Would like to hear all of the morons now who were saying we can never tie up deals when there are other clubs interested. COYB

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buryblue77 added 13:51 - Jul 10 miiikkeyyyy We wont be going in for Guzan, he's resigning for Villa. I like the shout of Craig Gordon as our keeper. Chambers is making good noises about the menatallity of the squad which is what we want to hear. However how much are they told to say by the PR men? Anyway, hopefully it's all coming together.
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Foreverdon_Blue added 13:55 - Jul 10 This is a really excellent signing and is exactly what we need at the back i.e. a solid leader. This will only improve the performance of Smith and Delany. The squad is starting to take shape and with a new GK, RB and Striker we will not be far away from being a good team.
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AndyUK61873 added 14:11 - Jul 10 WOW is the longest thread we have gone without a "Clegg Out" from Jas, H32 or Garv??? Maybe they will listen to the signing on how contracts take TIME to be completed and even longer if the players is contracted to another club. Oh no of course they won't because they feel EVERYONE should sign for town and if they don't then Clegg is not offering enough money.. Great signing, agree with other comments on Bullard coming back with the right attitude would be like a new signing as well. Could probably say that about a few players, Chops included. The keeper situation is very worrying (I am ok with the rest of the team, need some more depth in Defence, but not overly concerned), and looking around the market, looks like limited quality keepers available and a fwe teams scrambling.

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AndyKing added 15:10 - Jul 10 Looking forward to see how he performs alongside Smith, but we still need another CB before the season begins
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slowerball added 15:48 - Jul 10 He particularly likes Priskin & Fulop.
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slowerball added 15:49 - Jul 10 And Hippos. Let's hope we add a keeper - Alan McGregor I am hearing.
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blueshadow added 15:53 - Jul 10 I think Chambers is a great signing. He's somebody who will shout and organise the back 4 and is the type who has been missing the squad for awhile. Definately agree that we need a decent goalkeeper, with a few possibilites available, anybody will probably be fine at this stage if the defence is stronger. We also need another CB and RB, for cover - so that Edwards can play RM. Another Forward and possibly another LM and I think it will be a good season ahead! COYB!!

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Garv added 16:06 - Jul 10 I don't remember ever saying Clegg out?
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TractorBoy666 added 16:46 - Jul 10 That's what i thought Garv.
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PJ_Needs_Duncan added 17:58 - Jul 10 Maybe if we had someone decent on our board like Delia Smith our players wouldn't be so hungry
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Bleedingblue added 18:04 - Jul 10 Agreed Garv, never found you a negative poster. On subject, things are progressing nicely! The Rangers keeper might be a bit too ambitious though, imagine prem clubs would be involved as he would probably be valued around 7 million if Rangers had money.
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Sindre94 added 18:45 - Jul 10 agreed arablue... we should trust chambo on what drove him here, i actually think he means it.. PJBA
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Sindre94 added 18:46 - Jul 10 you just did garv.. :p kidding mate ;)
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