Blues MD Ian Milne says Town selling on-loan striker Kieffer Moore during the January transfer window is "not on the cards". Moore is on a season-long loan with League One Rotherham United, where he has scored 13 times already during 2017/18, but with Blues manager Mick McCarthy having indicated that he plans to cut the spell short in January.

Asked whether there have been any developments regarding the 25-year-old’s situation on Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk (1hr 26mins 10secs), Milne said: “There are discussions about Kieffer Moore coming back. We’ll see what may happen in January.

“I was talking to the owner of Bristol Rovers [Wael Al-Qadi] in the week and he was talking about the havoc Kieffer Moore is wreaking in League One and he said he’d personally love us to recall him.

“I asked Wael how he thought he would perform in the Championship and he thought very good, I don’t know whether that’s just because he wants him recalled however!”

He added: “Equally, there is the other argument - do you let him go on for the rest of the season to really bed himself into it rather than bring him back?”

"The Millers were far from the only club interested in Moore, who the Blues signed from Forest Green Rovers for £20,000 in January of this year, prior to his loan switch in July and we understand his success at the New York Stadium has caught the eye of a number of Championship and League One clubs. Rotherham have already confirmed that they are keen to sign him on a permanent basis.

Quizzed on whether Town might cash in on Moore in January at a time when his stock is high, Milne responded: “I haven’t heard that we are going to do that. I don’t think that’s on the cards. There’s always a price but that’s not on the cards.”

Moore, who made 11 sub appearances for Town last season without finding the net, is contracted to the Blues until the summer with the club having an option to keep him for a further year.

The 6ft 5in tall Torquay-born frontman is currently two games through a three-match ban for a red card against Bristol Rovers and is set to return to action with the Millers when they take on Bury at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.

Town are likely to wait until after the FA Cup third round tie with Sheffield United on Saturday 6th January to recall Moore as the striker is unavailable for that game having played for Rotherham earlier in the competition.

As TWTD revealed in October, Town already have Waterford striker Aaron Drinan lined-up to sign in January. Asked about plans for further additions and whether owner Marcus Evans will spend some money during the upcoming window, Milne said: “The reply I give to that, of course, is that Mick and Marcus will talk, and they are talking very much at the moment.

“He’s going to look at the injuries and what have you, he’s very excited about where we are in the league and how strongly we are playing at the moment, so I’m hopeful there will be some fruitful discussions going on.”

The Blues MD added: “I think there are certain places we’ve got to look at to improve and to keep going.”

Photo: TWTD

prebbs007 added 06:28 - Dec 20 What does this idiot actually do ? What does he bring to the club ? MD ? What's the point. So ME & MM discuss players & transfers where does he come in. An utterly wasted salary, doesn't know what's going on and adds nothing to the football club. Only possible good thing in this article is that there maybe a chance of additions in January. Kick on while we have a chance of top 6. You didn't do it when we were in the top 2 though Marcus so I won't hold my breath this time but we can hope. COYB

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Swn98 added 08:01 - Dec 20 Wayway in it for money😊don't think pumping 5 million a year into the club shows he's in it for the money.
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bobble added 08:59 - Dec 20 we should keep him, in case we get relegated,
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BlueBlood90 added 10:02 - Dec 20 I wouldn't sell him but I wouldn't recall him either. He's not going to be starting ahead of McGoldrick, Garner, Waghorn etc so let him stay there and learn/develop. He'll be much better than throwing on for 10 minutes here and there with us.
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bluetit added 10:40 - Dec 20 We need Defenders!
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liam88 added 12:51 - Dec 20 Maybe MM and TC will compare big Keiffer and the Irish fella coming in before a decision is made. Personally I liked what I saw of Keiffer when I see him play last season despite some criticism he had. If anyone bids at least £2m it'll be a headache perhaps. Who knows I'm not the manager. I do not agree with Mick being shown the door. Despite him defending himself against critics (fans) last season, which upset almost everybody, (me included,) I will not let that mask my judgement. If he goes then most of the squad would have to as he's brought in the players to suit his system. It'll be more of a mess then when he took over. I find tikytaka football very boring. Only man city make it work with entertainment but they've had tonnes of money and a season under arguably one of greatest managers in order to play that way. Before anybody says Burley's team..... I remember that team was a mixed way of playing the game. A little bit like how Mick's implemented it this season albeit more defensive... Maybe he hasn't but it looks that way from where I stand. Sorry to upset people for this comment.

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Bluetone added 13:01 - Dec 20 Milne is the the chief Company mushroom I doubt he knows what is in ME's mind.
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thundercat600 added 16:29 - Dec 20 Yep get him back as he is doing well only for our manager to tell him he must not play any other way than he is told. That will mean that the guy looses confidence and the goals dry up, yep then he will be farmed back out again
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brendenward35 added 16:32 - Dec 20 Someone made a comment about Sears going to Rotherham in a swap. Excellent idea as he might then be played in the right role where he scored goals for us before Mick decides to play him out of position. He'd probably love that and be appreciated by the Rotherham fans. Mick has destroyed him and also a number of other players as well.
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Ipswichbusiness added 17:22 - Dec 20 How about selling Moore and spending the money making Connolly permanent?
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cat added 18:09 - Dec 20 Tricky one this. I would probably leave him be, unless one of ITFC's answer to the “Fab Four” were to be injured or sold. Bringing Moore back would mean we would probably have to change our formation to play to his strengths. He definitely offers something different though, but at best this season he would probably be wearing a bib, then used as an impact sub. Quality dilemma to have though.

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wayway added 20:36 - Dec 20 SWN, I know you dig Evan's garden and wash McCarthy's car once a week and that no one should ever criticize whatever goes on at Portman Road so perhaps you can enlighten us as to WHY Evans owns the club. Why is he putting just enough in each year to keep us afloat. The answer is simple, tax relief, he claws back more in tax relief from his other companies than he puts into the club each year. And don't give me the old 'It could be worse and be careful what you wish for rubbish. It could and would be a damn sight better with committed owners and before you say it, for every Blackburn there is a Huddesfield and a Watford

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Les57 added 08:43 - Dec 21 Personally I would think we may go for a couple of loan players in January. A quality midfielder and right back to strengthen us would be about right. That way we get the best of both worlds. Not buying players who may not fit into the new managers thinking (yes I think that the relationship between MM and a section of the fans have broken down to such an extent that he will go whatever) and also giving us a boost for the playoffs. It also allows ME to keep funds in hand for next season. And yes I do think we will spend more next season if we finish well this year.

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