New loan signing Stephen Henderson says he’s joined the Blues to play games rather than spending his time sitting on the bench at West Ham. The 24-year-old, whose three-month loan deal includes a 24-hour recall clause, has made only two Capital One Cup appearances since joining the Hammers in March.

Henderson, who is contracted at Upton Park until 2015, told the club site: “Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m not the type of player who wants to sit on the bench and pick up his wages.

“So when I got told I could go out on loan and I knew Ipswich were keen, it was an easy decision for me. I spoke to the manager on Saturday and was here for training on Monday morning.

“It’s a fantastic club, Ipswich, and I’m really looking forward to showing people what I can do. I know the results have not gone as well as the club would have hoped but seeing the players work on the training ground and the squad that is here, I’m sure things will turn around very quickly.

“With the squad here, on paper, I could see Ipswich competing in the top six and hopefully I can play my part in helping the club move up the table.

“I need to play games. That’s why I’m here and if the opportunity is there to stay beyond January and everyone is happy with that, I’d definitely want to do it.”

Henderson was one of the three Portsmouth players targeted by the Blues in January, but contrary to widespread reports at the time says no fee was agreed between the clubs: “I heard rumours about me coming here but it never got anywhere near that.

“I was told by Portsmouth in January that two clubs had come in for me - Newcastle and West Ham. Portsmouth were in a bit of a mess at the time and we were never sure what was going on but I was never told that Ipswich was a possibility for me.

“If I’d known that, then I would have had a massive decision to make but it didn’t get anywhere near that.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

Blue_Dwarf added 16:12 - Oct 16 I saw you at Fratton Park when we beat you last season and you flapped about and made ALB look far superior. Loach is a BLUE. Like us fans are Blues. He deserves better than this. As we all do. If Wright would've been treated like this then he'd never have played for England.
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pennblue added 16:21 - Oct 16 Welcome Stephen, don't listen to the idiots on here, mainly kids. I am sure if you do a good job you will get an extension, and I think you are right, we have the players to be in the top six now for sure. Welcome to ITFC.
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cookra added 16:26 - Oct 16 Im a big Loach fan, you have to do something big to impress alot of fans and knock Loach out of the first team. I welcome competition but maybe not in this position.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 16:27 - Oct 16 Welcome Stephen I am glad you have joined us, I hope you enjoy your stay with us and when the time is right please think of an extension. Ipswich is a good place to live
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bluemingood added 16:34 - Oct 16 Thats a funny comment cookra. Every position Ideally needs stiff competition.
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NITFC added 16:38 - Oct 16 I don't doubt that he does't want to be a bench warmer. However he has only played 95 games in 5 years as a professional keeper - 25 of which were in the shellshocked Portsmouth side last year Not the greatest record. However he is still young and by all accounts highly rated. Hopefully he will do well here
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Blue_Armee added 16:43 - Oct 16 LIAR. You are more than happy to sit on a bench for premier league wages as your wage demands to join us last year were obviously way too high. If you were more interested in being a first choice keeper than taking home big wages you would have signed. Now you have best of both, playing first team football on premier league wages while our young keeper, who will only improve with games under his belt is not developing. Hope you get called back within 24 hours.

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JewellintheTown added 16:48 - Oct 16 "I was never told that Ipswich was a possibility for me" So those of you knocking the guy unfairly (on other news articles) for not wanting to come to us before now, any comments? And before you say it, its not PJ/ Evans/ Cleggs job to tell him we're interested, thats the agents/ Portsmouths responsibility. Lets give the guy a chance - isnt that the TRADITIONAL Ipswich way?

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TotalBlue added 16:49 - Oct 16 Blue Armee. Did you read the story? He SAYS and I guess we have to believe him a fee was never agreed so he could not of had talks but his agent could of done but that means nothing agents bump the price up all the time and not always at the request of the Player..
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Jblue added 16:56 - Oct 16 I always like to back any player that pulls on our shirt but I do not think this signing will do anything for us, just feel sorry for Loachie, everyone knows hes got more than enough ability, wants the best for the club and hes blue through and through, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT JEWELL?!
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Blue_Armee added 16:57 - Oct 16 We don't have to believe him, if you wish to I respect that but I do not. If he is telling the truth then our manager, who confirmed at the time, that the deal broke down over excessive personal terms is the liar.
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wrighty_blue97 added 17:00 - Oct 16 This is stupid we have a good solid keeper in loach. ALB as back up. WE NEED ANOTHER CB JEWELL.
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Blue_Armee added 17:05 - Oct 16 We are where we are now because of too many players playing for us in past few seasons who couldn't give a s*it about our club or us the supporters. Iam sick of the way this club is being run, with d*ckheads like Henderson just taking the p*ss.
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Lombokblue added 17:15 - Oct 16 Is that Father Jack ?
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alliedaz added 17:23 - Oct 16 fantastic club etc etc but we still wasnt good enough for you and take it henderson you made the wrong move going to west ham or maybe its all about the money
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blues1 added 17:23 - Oct 16 no blue armee, doesnt mean ne1 is lying. just that the club spoke to his agent & he was asking for silly money ,so the player never got to hear of the deal. j blue. being blue through & through isnt enoiugh to guarantee a place in the side.the fact is that loach has been less than convincing so far htis season. yes, hes made some good stops, but then so does alb, & very few think that makes him good enough. so i believe another keeper is def needed. whether a short term loanee is the answer im not so sure. this could also be just what loach needs tho. bigger competition than alb provides, to get him back to the form he showed a few seasons ago

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PLEASELEAVEKEANE added 17:26 - Oct 16 Hensderson claims not to be a bench warmer yet we wasnt good enough for him last season when he opted to snub us and choose to sit on west hams bench !! disgusting treatment of loach if his dropped sat after one poor game final straw jewell
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Urchin added 17:40 - Oct 16 I honestly wish people would read the article first and keep their brains in check until they finished and understood what they were reading. Calling him a liar etc isn't doing anything except showing the mind set of the poster. Whether you like it or not he's here and if he plays hopefully he will bring something to the team. I agree that Loach is a true blue but honestly if we have a keeper who dominates his area, brings about good saves doesn't make silly mistake and has a undertsnading with the back four I couldn't care who he supports.

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Blue_Armee added 17:45 - Oct 16 blues1 - So his agent was asking for silly money on his behalf then and the agent wouldn't even mention the ITFC interest to Henderson? Either way Agent/Henderson were more interested in money than playing first team football. Do you think he expected to walk straight into the West Ham team?
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Blue_Armee added 17:53 - Oct 16 Urchin- I understand fully whats been said in the article thanks, it says your club wasn't good enough or offering me enough money last season but I will tell you all what a great club you are now it suits my situation. If this was a permanent signing and I felt he was commited to the cause I would back him fully, because at this time we need passion and commitment in our team to get us out of the hole we are in.

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JustSpivvyChops added 18:25 - Oct 16 It never hurts to have competition for positions and with ALB a very unlikely starter for anything other than cup games, or injury, this is a welcome gee up for Loach, who is having a very poor patch. Welcome Stephen, good luck and do us proud!
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blues1 added 18:25 - Oct 16 no blue armee, i dont suppose he did. my point to you tho was to point out that he not lying. and its not his fault that this not a permanent signing now. but he has already by this statement shown that while hes here he'll br committed to the cause. im not saying id have signed him at mo but hes here, he'll be putting on an ttfc shirt & will get my full backing as he should from every town fan. he at no time said this club not good enough for him. yes, he(his agent) may have been asking for more money before, but can u honestly say that youd stay in ur present job if yopu could get much more money elsewhere? why should footballers be any different.

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Blue_Dwarf added 18:33 - Oct 16 Some fans truly are gullible. This regime is an embarrassment to our good name so wake up and not believe everything the club publicises! Scott Loach for number 1
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:00 - Oct 16 Blue_Dwarf - Im a BLUE , but that deosnt mean i can play in goal on Saturday. Loach needs to up his game, and i hope he does, he is a good shot stopper and a decent kicker but just needs to work on his authority. Blue_Armee - Henderson didnt want to leave Pompey (nothing wrong in that, shows loyalty) and then was given the chance to join a Premier league side (nothing wrong in that, shows ambition), so stop spouting on at him. It was nothing personal, just a footballing decision and the fact he has come here now pretty much proves he isnt happy to sit on the bench doesnt it?? You dont have to agree with the decision to sign him (im not sure i do either) but dont be so childish.

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alfromcol added 19:01 - Oct 16 Whether you think Loach is OK or not, PJ and his coaching staff thought he was good enough for the 1st team and now within weeks and a few games they have decided he is not. I rest my case, nothing further needs to be said about PJ and his team's decision making.
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