Keeper Scott Loach has joined Championship new boys Rotherham United on a two-year deal after his contract with Town was cancelled by mutual consent. Boss Mick McCarthy had previously made the 26-year-old available for transfer with his opportunities having been limited during 2013/14.

Loach, a Blues supporter and academy schoolboy as a youngster, returned to Town in the summer of 2012, joining from Watford for a fee of £150,000 and signing a contract which was due to run until the summer of 2015.

He made 32 starts and one sub appearance but never firmly established himself at Portman Road.

“My time at the club is over but I just want to thank everyone for making me feel welcome here,” the former England U21 international told the club site.

“I’ve always had a great reception from the fans and I think the club is a credit to itself. The people at the club and the fans who support Ipswich all deserve a big future and I hope they get just that.”

A Town spokesman added: "The club would like to thank Scott for all his efforts in a Town shirt and we wish him well for the future."

Rotherham boss Steve Evans told the Millers' official site: “Scott has made over 150 starts for Watford in the Championship so he has great experience at this level.

"He has played under the likes of the excellent Malky Mackay and Brendan Rodgers and they are two individuals who know a player when they see one.

"He has just turned 26 so he is at a good age; he has previously been called up to the England senior squad and has been capped repeatedly at U21 level.

"He has great stature, he kicks well, he has all the attributes that a top keeper needs and he fits in perfectly to what we are looking for.”

He added: “Similar to Matt Derbyshire and Conor Newton we are signing a player who is still young, still has a point to prove and is hungry for success.

“He had a dream move to Ipswich, his boyhood club, for a sizeable undisclosed fee but it hasn’t quite worked out as he would have wished.

"We are delighted to sign Scott, like our other signings, he has a fantastic pedigree and he wants to help take this club and his career forward.

“I talked to him purely on football terms and the discussions were very straightforward. He wants to come in and grab the number one shirt and he is under no illusions to how tough that will be.

"Both our keepers will know that come August 9th I will pick the person that we genuinely believe deserves the shirt, there can be no other way.”

Meanwhile, former Yeovil central defender Byron Webster, who has been linked with the Blues amongst others this summer, is reported to be close to joining Millwall.

The Blues watched Webster and his former Glovers team-mate Luke Ayling in action last season with the latter understood to be of greater interest.

Right-back Ayling is, like Webster, out of contract but as he's only 22 Yeovil would be entitled to compensation, however, manager Gary Johnson says no club has so far been in contact to make an offer.

Photo: Action Images

ArnieM added 22:23 - Jun 5 Good luck Scott. You ll do well well there. Sadlh not quite godd enough to cut it at championship level. But I wish u well. The " one of our own " tag, sadly is not enough.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 22:40 - Jun 5 Blueboy - have u had a bad day or something? No one disagrees with u about CW and JR but that's history from previous management and in CW case just plain facts that we will never hold onto players like him until we get into PL. To compare SL departure to either of those is ludicrous to be honest.
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kerryblue added 22:49 - Jun 5 Whats all the fuss about ???He hasn't been good enough that's why hes been sent packing,same as Emmanuel Thomas and Chopra last season ,it doesn't matter what team he supports just get over it,its for the benefit of the club,and Loach was Piss Poor
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WickedBlue added 22:57 - Jun 5 Good luck Scott I am sure you will be treated better at Rotherham than you were here.
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Sindre94 added 00:38 - Jun 6 Always a blue...........
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austractor added 00:57 - Jun 6 Shame but best of luck to him. Excellent attitude
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planetblue_2011 added 07:19 - Jun 6 A bit disappointed for him really it just didn't work out. Still think it's a wrong move letting him go. He is a good keeper we should of held on to him until his contract runs out next season. You just know when Rotherham come to Portman rd he will have the game of his life. Good luck loachy, sorry to see you go!!
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bring_back_Wickham added 07:30 - Jun 6 Blue boy - no need to sound too happy!
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Keaneish added 08:11 - Jun 6 Kieran Westwood.
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dalinghooblue added 09:28 - Jun 6 Stand by for two MOM performances when we play them
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blue_moon09 added 17:31 - Jun 6 Very good move by MM very happy with this slowly the dead wood is being shipped out, Tabb and Taylor next please.....BFN keyboard warriors
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blueboy1981 added 19:07 - Jun 6 .............. same old minus button punchers, time, after time, after time, after time, after time,after time. Doesn't that tell the people who can actually assess and consider every point raised, that these 'minus punchers' will always agree with everything ITFC comes up with and produces - and disagree with anything that questions anything. In other words that's probably why we hold the record of being in the Championship for so long - in the eyes of these above mentioned people - WE DO NOT NEED TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE. It all points to far too many 'satisfied Charlies' who wouldn't know, or care, what League we played in. I guess we've found our level in accordance with the expectations of our core fan base - and that's something that I assure you, has changed with this Club.

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