Town have refused to loan youngster Darren Bent to Second Division AFC Bournemouth. Cherries manager Sean O'Driscoll has twice approached George Burley with a view to taking the England U19 international to the south coast for a spell, but both times he has been denied.

Bournemouth were first after Bent at the beginning of the season and the second request came this week.

O'Driscoll has also enquired about West Ham's Richard Garcia and was again rebuffed: "It's disappointing about Darren and Richard because we felt they were the type of players who would have fitted in here, but Ipswich and West Ham felt they didn't need to let them out on loan."

Bent was away on an FA training camp last week at La Manga along with Chris Hogg, Town's summer signing from York City.

George Burley said earlier in the season that he would not be sending Bent out on loan. The 19-year-old is likely to be in action in the FA Youth Cup next Monday as Town's U18s take on Coventry at Portman Road (KO 7pm).

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