New signing Cole Skuse says he views Town as a sleeping giant whose rightful place is in the Premier League. Yesterday, the club confirmed that the 27-year-old had agreed a three-year deal which he will sign on July 1st when his Bristol City terms are up.

Skuse, who had also been linked with Crystal Palace, told the club site: “Once I had decided to leave Bristol, I was flattered with the interest from other clubs and had a few options to weigh up.

“Ipswich stuck out though. I see the club as a sleeping giant and they should be in the top flight really.

“I’ve played at Portman Road a few times and it’s a great stadium and the support the club receives from the fans is fantastic.

“I spoke to a few players who have played there before, lads like Hendo [Stephen Henderson], Bradley Orr and Steady [Jon Stead].

“They couldn’t speak highly enough of the manager, staff and club in general. They said it was a good club to join so that was a factor in my decision but I was already looking at Ipswich to be honest.

“When you see they have a manager of Mick McCarthy’s standing in the game, you know it’s a club that is showing ambition.

“Moving to Ipswich is the next challenge for me and I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait to get started.”

Meanwhile, Town’s move to sign former loanee Jay Tabb on a permanent basis is reported to have hit a stumbling block with Middlesbrough and Birmingham also said to be showing interest.

The Blues made the offer of a two-year contract close to the end of the season with club and player both keen to get the deal done. The 29-year-old's Reading terms are up this summer.

Photo: Action Images

wilnis_barmy_army added 09:24 - May 15 Hopefully Tabb will see that Birmingham withs it's financial difficulties is not a great place to be at the minute and Middlesbrough were on a real slide since the turn of the year! At least he knows Mick rates him as he used him regularly when on loan! I'd like to see him return!
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roytheboy added 09:27 - May 15 If Jay Tabb was serious and genuine when he indicated that he was keen to sign for us, then there should be no stumbling block, or is it just about who will offer the best wages ?
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JimmyJazz added 09:33 - May 15 Or is the stumbling block simply a case of 2 other clubs showing interest? Is that really a stumbling block? Possibly yes, but if Tabb is keen it won't mean anything. Skuse had other clubs show interest, was that a stumbling block?
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Kropotkin123 added 09:33 - May 15 Probably hoping a club will over him a 3 year deal. I think that would be the current stumbling block.
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Kropotkin123 added 09:34 - May 15 over = offer
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RetroBlue added 10:15 - May 15 Players in general need to start living in the real world ( as far is as possible for these over paid prima donas). They need to start accepting reasonable pay for playing the game. They are so far removed from the normal bloke in the street - a problem that has been with us since sky tv ruined the game and created the glass ceiling between the PL and the lower divisions. Its about time the regulatory authorities put this game that we all love (but are being outpriced from), back in order.

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jonwillpott added 10:37 - May 15 Totally agree @RetroBlue - Sky pumping more and more in whilst regularly increasing their already inflated subscription rates is making the game elitist from both the playing side and also us fans. The gap between the PL and the Championship is continually widening and before long it will be impossible for any team that goes up to survive. The players who have played in the PL on hugely ridiculous wages cannot then accept a reasonable contract at Championship level because the difference in their wage packet is too big to do it.

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Marshalls_Mullet added 10:43 - May 15 Retro & Jon I think the wages issue and FFP is causing a major problem in that in order to continue to get over inflated wages, players are now running their contracts so that they can move on a free and take more money for themselves. Hence we now have high player turnover and no one sticks around for long, making it difficult for fans to relate to the team. Football has moved backwards over the past 20 years.

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Marshalls_Mullet added 10:44 - May 15 P.S. If tabb wants to go then I couldnt care less. Would be a solid squad player, but needs to take or leave the contract thats on offer.
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hancockingoal added 11:03 - May 15 It has long been a bone of contention of mine that our football matches are played when Rupert Murdoch says so! The greed of the Premierships clubs allows this situation. My argument is that if our football is so good and worth the money that Murdoch pays, then we should dictate to him and bring the game back to the true fans. What will happen when the day comes that football is no longer in vogue and Murdoch pulls out? The fans will suddenly become important again!

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Michael11 added 11:12 - May 15 I like the sound of Skuse you can tell he really wants to be here which is great. Think Tabb will still sign for us if he's not a mercenary.
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sereneblue added 12:35 - May 15 I agree with a lot of posts on here about the way football is moving away from the masses. The FA cup final ,which always seemed to be a big event has certainly lost some of its appeal by a kick off time of 5:15pm! Lets get back to what the fans want and not what Sky shareholders want!
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bluelodgeblue added 12:48 - May 15 Most posts seem to point the finger at Tabb, it might just be ME doing what he did to jewell last year???
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TractorBeezer added 13:01 - May 15 Welcome Cole! And let's hope that we can attract Jay. I would be more concerned of he wasn't interesting other clubs. As for the other issue being debated in the comments, the game in England could learn a lot from the German system with high standards and (relatively) low prices. Also most of the players are German. Just look at who the CL finals are this year.
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 14:15 - May 15 I am going to argue the opposite - football players are well paid, no doubt. Even overpaid. But careers are short, and I don't think it's wrong for a Championship caliber player to go to the club that offers the extra year, or a substantially higher sum. Championship wages are great compared to the average salary, but as I said careers are short and life is long. They aren't enough for life.

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RichmondBlue added 14:31 - May 15 More Skuse (quick to sign) and less Tabb (faffing around). We want players who will take their arm off to sign/join us, not play us off other clubs to get a longer deal or more money.
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Tractorog added 14:46 - May 15 I'd like Tabb to sign, but both sides have to be happy in any deal ...
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RomeoZondervan added 14:47 - May 15 If Tabb doesn't want to play for us, no great loss. Would rather have players who are happy to play for the shirt than arse about wanting longer contracts. Probably his agent trying to get a better deal though Could always offer him a 2 year deal with the option of a 3rd year if he plays a certain number of games.
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IP3 added 15:00 - May 15 So why do us Ipswich fans want to get to the premiership that you above speak of? I want no part of it. What would we be realistically able to achieve there? Surviving each year, how exciting! I'm 21 but am so far removed from modern day football I couldn't care a less. I find it hard to care when teams are billionaires play things, and you the fan, are being asked to pay £50+ a ticket. I'm resigned to the fact I will never see football how it should be. #StandAMF

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MickMillsTash added 15:41 - May 15 I am pleased we have signed Skuse, has some height and has experience at this level, goal scoring not prolific so need to make sure that the next signing for Midfield can score unless Wordsworth can step up - can he? I am confused by us wanting to sign Tabb, no real pace, short and unlikely to score but do not blame him for wanting to get the best deal- its human nature and surely he cannot be criticised for wanting to get the most money out of a deal. (his last deal) I think he may well sign because under McCarthy we are most likely to go up and he will get his 500K promotion bonus (or whatever it is) I'm Ok with a 5.15 Kick Off for the FA Cup- more people will watch the game, The champions league final has moved to an evening Saturday kick off which makes sense and no one complained about that. If the English are good at one thing it is complaining - at football we're sh1t

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Upbeat~ added 17:05 - May 15 Honestly Skuse you're making us blush! And stop being a tease Mr Tabb, only the committed here please.
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jas0999 added 17:11 - May 15 I like Jay Tabb - but not sure he is worth breaking the bank over?
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Morgan added 17:25 - May 15 This is just a story so there is no reason not to think Tabb wouldn't preference us over any offers he currently has. What is clear though is there are players out there like Skuse who are hungry to do things at Ipswich, there are others out there too. We don't need to be held to ransom by anyone if their heart isn't in it.
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blues1 added 18:37 - May 15 mick mills tash. agree with most of your post, but as for the kick off time of the cup final? a ridiculous time and indeed even the weekend it played too. the f a cup final should be played at 3 oclock on the sat after the final game of the season. that way everyone who wants to can watch it. as yosaid, the champions league final moved and no1 complained. that's because sat a better time. there was actually o need to move the fa cup to 5 pm whatsoever

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sereneblue added 19:58 - May 15 If Tabb wants to play for our team ,surely he would have signed by now,if not where's the commitment ?
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