Town boss Mick McCarthy doesn’t expect to make significant changes to his squad but will bring in some new signings and will give on-loan youngsters such as Matt Clarke, who has spent the season with Portsmouth, a chance to prove themselves in pre-season.

“There’s still going to be 15 or 16 of the squad that’s around,” McCarthy said. “We will lose some, I’m saying that but that’s dependent on conversations with players in terms of what they want, what we can offer, what we want to do.

“There’s not going to be a massive change to it, but we do need to bring some fresh bodies in because it always gives it a lift and a bit of a spark for everybody.”

Clarke, 19, has spent the season with Pompey, while fellow centre-half Josh Yorwerth, 21, has been at Crawley for much of the season and U21s skipper Joe Robinson, another 19-year-old central defender, has recently been on loan with Vanarama National League side Woking.

“Certainly Clarkey’s done really well when we’ve had him watched and I thought that would be the case,” McCarthy said.

“We’ve watched Josh Yorwerth as well at Crawley in a different team. Portsmouth have been flying high so it’s easier to play in that side, but having said that if you’re a defender and you’re mid-table to bottom then you get plenty of work to do.

“I’ve seen Josh and he’s done OK, whether that’s going to give him the platform to be in our first-team or not I don’t know.

“But Clarkey, he’ll come back, we’ll take them back in pre-season and we’ll look at all of them that are been out on loan, the ones we’re thinking may well be [in next season’s squad].

“He has to come back in pre-season and make sure he’s fitter, stronger, looks the part, plays in the pre-season games.

“I won’t be doing any loaning him out before that. I want to see if he can play in the first team.”

In addition to youngsters Clarke, Yorwerth and Robinson, the more senior Cameron Stewart has spent much of the campaign at Doncaster, and is available for a permanent move despite having a year of his contract remaining, while Polish defender Piotr Malarczyk is with Southend until the end of the season.

Regarding Liam Feeney, who is on loan with the Blues from Bolton and is out of contract at the end of the season, and Kevin Foley, who signed a short-term deal until the end of the season, McCarthy says he will be speaking to them about their futures.

“Both of them have done well,” he said. “They’re both in the building and I’ll be having a conversation with them both.

“Both players though will have their own ideas on what they want, what they want to do, what they want to achieve and we’ll have our ideas as well. But both of them have done well, I’ve been pleased with them.”

Ben Pringle is on loan from Fulham for the remainder of the season and has another year left on his Cottagers deal.

Photo: Action Images

MattinLondon added 10:42 - Apr 22 Bru and Bishop in the middle is a very good Championship central midfield partnership. Add in a fully-fit McGoldrick, then if we play to their strengths then next season could well be brighter. Emmanuel and Knudsen could be attacking full-backs and the emerging talent of Dozzell, McDonnell etc the future could well be bright. Unfortunately playing to their strengths isn't MM style whose self-important pragmatism doesn't extend to moving out of his long-ball defensive mind-set — probably why he is regarded as a Championship manager and not suited to the Premier League.

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sidtheswan added 10:56 - Apr 22 Didn't expect anything less from Myopic Mick. If he carries on the way we finished this year then will be relegation battle and he will be sacked by xmas with any luck!
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Bluetone added 11:00 - Apr 22 Expect more journeymen, expect more hoofball, expect minimal chances for our young plaayers. Just as leopards never change their spots McCarthy never changes his approach and tactics.
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M82 added 11:20 - Apr 22 To be fair he does state there will be some fresh bodies and typical MM he doesn't like to bring attention to anything. If these are the quality we need then great, but I suspect this is entirely driven by the pitiful amount of resource he has. Feeney for example, I know he is out of contract but if we went for a similar player, in contract, how much would that cost - 750k - 1million maybe? Can we even afford that plus wages? I'm not sure I have confidence in MM to buy the sort of player we all want, but he hasn't done badly and if he's not given more resource then what's the plan? Building a team around youth is still a long way off.

2

battyblue added 11:24 - Apr 22 Sorry footy blue down marked you by mistake fully agree with your posting ,,MM out moron.
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HARRY10 added 12:01 - Apr 22 "....in terms of what they want, what we can offer.." And therein les the real problem. With no huge transfer fees (so far) and looking like no play off money (2 games) and the effects of lower season ticket sales we are going to have to cut the playing budget. Which may explain the indecision over Hyam and Smith's contracts. A number of the 'regulars' are the wrong side of 30. They will need replacing at some time/MM's talk of using the youngsters smacks of filling in the ever widening cracks rather that any long term policy of development. It ain't looking good.

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MonterreyBlue added 12:42 - Apr 22 Thats very kind of you to let us no in advance, will save me approx £12,000 commuting once a month from Mexico to watch our beloved team play. I am disgusted. Give me my Ipswich back.
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jas0999 added 13:00 - Apr 22 Bitterly disappointing news but certainly not unexpected. The club are in denial and are deluded. There are also enough clues in there to suggest the main reason is Marcus Evansour unambitious owner. Words such as 'what we can offer' suggests MM isn't hopeful of securing players with virtually no funds. There will be excuses. There will be spin. Some will continue to believe it, but the reality is the club are taking us for fools. If you have renewed your ticket via DD, then remember you can cancel at any time. The squad needs a complete overhaul and millions invested. Otherwise it's mid to lower table. Possibly even a relegation battle with this current squad, as our luck will soon run out.

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Penguinblue added 13:26 - Apr 22 Re-read what RK (yes the dark one) said about McCarthy. He was absolutely spot on. McCarthy OUT
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Scuzzer added 19:00 - Apr 22 One word...ambition...where can I see that anywhere?
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yorksblue added 19:33 - Apr 22 Come on Villa, You know you want him. Get the deal done by end of the season ......... please
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Pip50 added 20:02 - Apr 22 Give it time boys he will be gone by mid summer.
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wayway added 23:30 - Apr 22 If there a no other changes the one should be the end of this stubborn, boring, clueless dinosauer who has plunged this club to the depths. I well remember when we were everyones second favourite club. Now, along with W B A were are one of the most despised
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Dissboyitfc added 10:47 - Apr 23 From top 6 to bottom 6,in 2 seasons, priceless!
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