Out of favour Town keeper Matteo Sereni wants to know why he has been dropped for the last five matches. The Italian feels he has been treated unfairly and without respect by the club after starring in the first half of the season.

Sereni said: "I want a reason why I am not playing. I played well for this team for six months, but they have no respect for me as a professional. I am very hurt by the club's decision and I do not understand why I am being treated this way."

The former Sampdoria man asked be dropped for the Dagenham and Redbridge game as he was feeling the strain of the busy season. Subsequently he said he made an error doing this. However, it is apparently common practice in Italy: "All respect to Dagenham, but I was really, really tired before we played them and I asked the manager for a rest. In Italy this is normal, if you have a friendly or a game against a smaller team. I had played a lot of games and I felt I needed a break. I have spoken with the manager and he said there are no problems, but it is a problem for me that I am still on the bench."

Andy Marshall came into the side against the Daggers and has kept his place since then. Sereni says he has no problem with David Sheepshanks or George Burley, but suggests there may be favouritism on the part of Malcolm Webster, Town's goalkeeping coach: "I always work hard with the goalkeeping coach but he is always speaking to Marshall, as well as training with him. They speak on the side."

Webster coached Marshall for some years while he was at Norwich City as well as since he joined Town.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls