Town have announced that fitness coach Andy Liddell will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the month. The 44-year-old was offered new terms but has opted to move on.

Liddell, pictured above with goalkeeper-coach Malcolm Webster, who is also leaving Town this summer, was brought to Portman Road by his former Wigan team-mate Paul Jewell in August 2011 and stayed on the staff throughout Mick McCarthy’s time as manager.

“I’ve been at Ipswich seven years and that is a long time to be at one club in football,” Liddell told the club site.

“It’s been a big part of my life, not just for me but for my family as well. My son Jack was born here.

“I have loved every minute of working alongside the staff at the club, from the chef, to the girls in the office, the players and obviously the managers I have worked under as well.

“I've learnt so much from Paul and Mick. It was a great experience for me. They are terrific blokes as well.

“It’s going to be strange not going back to the club for pre-season and I’ll miss everyone there and I’d like to wish Ipswich all the best going forward.”

Town MD Ian Milne added: “On behalf of the club I’d like to thank Andy for his considerable contribution to Ipswich Town over the last seven years and would like to wish him the best of luck in whatever he does in the future.”

Liddell may well be in former manager McCarthy’s thoughts for a role on his staff when he gets another job.

Director of football Dave Bowman, who is effectively Town’s chief scout, remains on the staff at present, however, McCarthy said in April he expected him to follow him once he has a new club.

Keeper-coach Webster recently announced that he would be hanging up his gloves after 50 years in the game.

Photo: TWTD

TheDailyTractor added 17:22 - May 17 Sad to see him go. All the best for the future Andy!
2

hoppy added 17:24 - May 17 Oh no... the fitness of our squad has been immense over the last couple of seasons particularly... I hope this doesn't mean we start getting a lot of long term injuries in training, especially in the midfield department...
18

12th_Man added 17:30 - May 17 Jack Ross sorting his staff out
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 17:31 - May 17 Can't see our injury situation getting any more dire than it is now. Maybe a change of fitness coach isn't such a bad idea. We're doing something wrong.
25

michaeldownunder added 17:40 - May 17 I thought yesterday they said Andy was sorting out the pre-season. So it sounds like new manager will be in very soon with his own first team backroom staff.
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michaeldownunder added 17:40 - May 17 I thought yesterday they said Andy was sorting out the pre-season. So it sounds like new manager will be in very soon with his own first team backroom staff.
2

spanishblue added 18:01 - May 17 Personally don,t know the guy wish him well in the A An E department hope our new man knows how to cure all our ailing midfielders will be nice to have a fit squad for new season seriously all the injured get fit soon you might be playing proper football very soon
2

Vanisleblue2 added 18:14 - May 17 Hopefully less injuries (a lot less) and conceding injury time goals
6

runningout added 18:38 - May 17 Sure he will in a job sooner rather than later. Good luck to all those leaving. We may have had some good people at club for a while, but changes are a must for us right now
3

Edmundo added 18:59 - May 17 We need new ideas. Especially in this department. Good luck in another position though, Andy.
2

Currie10 added 19:14 - May 17 Thank goodness for that. Cheerio.
5

dirtydingusmagee added 19:19 - May 17 FITNESS ,what fitness ? they could film a series of Casualty at Portman Rd.
9

Cloddyseedbed added 20:01 - May 17 Obviously a lot going on behind the scenes right now. Not only with Ipswich but most certainly with McCarthy. Wouldn't surprise me if a few outers follow him. None of this concerns me at all. New start for Ipswich next season and I can't wait. Breathe of fresh air throughout. Having had a season when so many players broke down with injury and again from injuries I don't see why the fitness coach moving on should upset anyone.

4

ArnieM added 20:04 - May 17 Judging by our injury list for the last two seasons especially and the time it takes for players to get fit again - not forgetting the number of injuries we seem to pick up in pre season training , I'd say good luck Liddell and it will be very interesting to see if our injury insides are as bad in the future !
2

docsavage52 added 20:33 - May 17 Less injuries next season then, because someone has been taking training sessions wrong with so many injuries last season
3

Lightningboy added 21:16 - May 17 “Fitness” coach....? Well,best of luck whoever gets his services next season.
3

itfctim added 21:20 - May 17 No brainer. Injured more players than he kept fit...these decisions are clearly not being made by Evans and/or Milne...hopefully it's Jack Ross making them
5

KiwiBlue2 added 23:03 - May 17 I wish Andy the best of luck. Given the nature of some of the long term injuries I wonder if there has not been enough focus on proper warm-ups, strengthening and routines designed to lessen the chance of doing hamstrings and other l and groin injuries..........
1

timspencero added 23:58 - May 17 bit mean guys - don't we have the hardest working squad in the league, with players covering more KMs than anywhere? Don't think it was AL's fault, think it's a combination of style of play - demands on the players, and on recruitment - getting in players made of glass, Good luck Andy, shame we don't have some elements of stability and hope we can recruit well to replace, and ensure that future player recruitment is smart and demands on players changes to make the ball do a bit more work, not having players just rumbling after the ball for 95 mins doing themselves in

2

timspencero added 23:58 - May 17 bit mean guys - don't we have the hardest working squad in the league, with players covering more KMs than anywhere? Don't think it was AL's fault, think it's a combination of style of play - demands on the players, and on recruitment - getting in players made of glass, Good luck Andy, shame we don't have some elements of stability and hope we can recruit well to replace, and ensure that future player recruitment is smart and demands on players changes to make the ball do a bit more work, not having players just rumbling after the ball for 95 mins doing themselves in

1

TonyHumesIpswich added 00:39 - May 18 good Luck to him. Don't know how many of you have read "Bend it like Bullard" but there is a section there about the intensity of Liddell's warm up and warm down sessions, so he always tried to get the max out of the players. There isn't much he doesn't know about intense interval training, and I'm sure he will get a good job elsewhere.
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Bergholtblue added 13:33 - May 18 I thought Evans said that the new manager will be required to fit into the existing structure and to work with our excellent back room team. There will be no-one left at this rate.
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Seasider added 18:43 - May 18 Not sure if it is his methods,all the chasing our players do in matches,or having injury prone players;but Arnie is spot on when he says we shall see under the new regime. Nino Severino has just joined the staff on the fitness side.He is the husband of the late Eleanor Baltacha(Sergies daughter);and coached her to Britains Tennis number one,before she sadly fell ill and died. Think he has now branched out into other sports,and is currently working part time at Town.

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