New assistant boss Chris Doig says he’s excited about the prospect of working in the Championship with Town having played at that level for Nottingham Forest.

The 37-year-old Dumfries-born former centre-half was with Forest between 1997 and 2005, making 76 starts and 17 sub appearances, scoring once, a spell which included periods in each of the top three divisions but mainly the second tier.

He later played alongside Luke Chambers at Northampton prior to the skipper’s own spell at at the City Ground.

The ex-Scotland U18 and U21 international, who also played for hometown club Queen of the South, Central Coast Mariners in Australia, Indonesian side Pelita Jaya, Aldershot, York City and Grimsby Town, followed new manager Paul Hurst from Shrewsbury having previously been his assistant at Blundell Park.

“I’ve played in the Championship and I know what a slog it is,” Doig told iFollow Ipswich.

“It’s a massive challenge for me and the gaffer, we know that, but we are really excited at the prospect of working at the club and competing in the Championship and hopefully being successful.

“We are not big on setting targets. We will see how pre-season goes and take it from there but we are big on the players enjoying being at work, enjoying their football and hopefully that will show out on the pitch.”

Heureux de vous annoncé ma signature à @APOLLONOFFICIAL ⚽️🔥 pic.twitter.com/ulhPt9Ojv6– kevin bru (@kbru75) June 13, 2018

Elsewhere, former Blues midfielder Kevin Bru, 29, has confirmed he has signed for Cypriot side Apollon Limassol, who announced that he had agreed a two-year contract subject to a medical earlier in the week.

Photo: TWTD

cat added 17:37 - Jun 13 Welcome aboard ‘big man'. The bone of contention for me next season is how Chambers and Skuse are going to fit in with this alleged progressive football. Skuse had a decent season last time around but if possession based football is ‘coming home' then from what I've seen they going to struggle. Chambers will probably kiss ass (that image of him cosying up to klug on the bench at the back end of last season will live long in my memory banks) but in my honest opinion these are the types (favourites) that we need to move on from a pure footballing perspective. MINUSES AND COMMENTS WELCOME (Lol)

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SpruceMoose added 17:40 - Jun 13 Oy vey. So much wrong in one comment. Almost deserves an uppie for cramming all that tosh into such a short space!
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Suffolkboy added 17:53 - Jun 13 Here we go ! Season & pre season not yet started and already ' supporters ' can't wait to 'vent ' feelings , instead of recognising that almost all players fulfil a role and discipline agreed within a team formation , and as a result perhaps have to,limit their 'creative ' instincts etc ! We saw without doubt how LC demonstrated a totally different range of skills when relieved of conventional r/ b responsibilities , and CS is just too underrated by too many , looking ,one suspects, to pin blame and express overall frustration ; its A NEW start, A NEW season , let's all get behind the Team from PH & CD down , and save hopefully intelligent assessment for later ! Up the Town!

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mathiemagic added 17:56 - Jun 13 @cat I think we should all give those so called "Favourites" a chance with the new management team. They may well not be favourites for much longer depending on what PH & CD think of them. I for one think they are decent Championship players who definitely give you 100%, Something PH seems to say he looks for in a player. Definitely interesting times ahead but i suspect he wont rock the boat too early and i fully expect Chambo to the skipper again this season coming. It all depends on his favoured formation for the coming season but with the emphasis being on Wingers then we are going to have to sign some quickly. I fully expect Waghorn and Garner to be the main strikers and would hope he plays two up top but think Sears may well be sacrificed although he did find his scoring boots once MM had gone and was finally played in his preferred position. I am so glad we have the World Cup to tide us over as waiting for Town transfer and team news over the summer period without a distraction would be unbearable. Under MM you just switched off, enjoyed the sun and the BBQ and then August would come around with you knowing that not a lot would have changed. Roll on this August however !

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cat added 18:42 - Jun 13 Mathie - good post fella. Everything in ‘the cats' garden is rosy ITFC wise, happy with the board/manager, season ticket purchased and raring to go, but with the exception of that bone of contention. Your right though, fresh start all round for everyone, but like I say, it going to be interesting to see if Chambers is capable of retaining possession and passing out from the back and if Skuse is capable of receiving the ball and moving it forward quickly. It's all about opinions and debating on here, but thanks for your knowledgeable response, unlike your predecessors!!!

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Bert added 19:03 - Jun 13 Skuse may not be the most exciting midfield player and he does have an awkward stride but he had a pretty good season, got forward more and chased. In the championship you need a few grafters so as far as I am concerned Skuse is a good squad member and should be played when required.
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Murphys_Law added 20:26 - Jun 13 If you read HarryFromBath's review of PH at Shrewsbury his final formation preference looks to be 4-1-4-1 which suggests that there is a place for both Chambers and Skuse providing he rates them! The 1 in front of the back 4 must surely be holding (there is no debate that Skuse is very good at this)to provide the additional defensive protection when using two wingers? Chambers whilst not the quickest is still a very decent championship centre half so I wouldn't throw either under the bus just yet!

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SouperJim added 20:28 - Jun 13 Cat it's about having a balance, something which Mick couldn't grasp. At this level and with our budget you're not going to get a technical player in every position who can also graft and do the ugly stuff. Most will be good at one or the other, Mick went for a team full of grafters which is why we were so dull to watch. Hurst wanting to pass the ball more doesn't mean we don't need hard working players like Skuse and Chambers to give us balance and ensure we're not powder puff when we haven't got the ball. Uppa Towen.

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GatesPerm added 20:43 - Jun 13 Personally, I have never understood the criticism Skuse gets from some people. There are two Cole Skuse's. The first is the one we saw for the majority of the Mick era, the one who was told to sit in front of the back four/five and break up play particularly when the opposition break. A player does what the manager tells him to do otherwise he doesn't play the next week. Whether you agree with the tactic or not, Skuse did this very well often being the player to get that vital tackle in the box. The second is the one we saw for the final few games of the season under Klug. A player given more license to go forward and create which again he did well. In my view Skuse is a good Championship midfielder.

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cat added 20:58 - Jun 13 SouperJim - I get balance and understand systems, styles formations etc. From what I witnessed last season, Chambers turns to jelly when the opposition close him down and resorts to hoofing, and Skuse tends to slow play down and is not really a forward thinker with any pace or intent. Don't get me wrong here, they both fitted in very well and suited McCarthy tactics to a tee, but in a progressive forward thinking style playing out from the back, it will be interesting to see if their up to it.

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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 21:42 - Jun 13 New management, new season, clean slate. No bias, no predetermined opinions. All players get a chance to impress who may have had stumbling blocks with MM before. How can you not see this as anything but a good thing?
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howdonblue added 22:04 - Jun 13 GOOD LUCK Chris (deputy) Doig. Welcome to our Football club .
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ITFC76 added 23:59 - Jun 13 If they ever decide to make Twins 2 then look no further!
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Dalty added 06:42 - Jun 14 Don't understand much of the stick Chambers gets on here. When looking at most successful CB partnerships, they usually consist of one technical passing player and one no-nonsense player who does much of the dirty work (Ferdinand and Vidic being a classic example). On that basis, Webster and Chambers complement each other well. Even Guardiola played Otamendi at the back for much of last season, the idea that you need all 10 outfield players to be great passers of the ball is a myth.

3

Brownie added 07:49 - Jun 14 Big fan of Skuse and I suppose if PH picks him then maybe he isn't just one of Mick's favourites and more that he does his job very well. Same applies to Chambers and the rest of the team. Pleased with new manager - not an expert on him but like the profile of young & progressive manager who seems to want to play on the front foot. Time will tell but I for one am looking forward to the new season. Now back to the barbie for the summer..

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ArnieMsBigToe added 09:27 - Jun 14 That Deputy Doig. He is a big unit, ain't he?
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Bildestoned added 11:18 - Jun 14 'Cat' has certainly got his tongue here! Lots of seeming 'knowledge' about two players in particular with absolutely NO idea how they'll perform under new management. I thought Skuse was admirable last season, plus these guys are professional footballers FFS so just let them get on with their work please. Oh, and by the way I'd suggest that far from being simply a 'favourite' Skuse is one of those players in the Geraint Williams mould who supporters often fail to appreciate but who those in the game do!

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cat added 13:26 - Jun 14 Bildstoned - As I endeavour to answer anyone that calls me out, I will obviously give you a response. I've covered my opinions on more than one occasion and I'm sticking to them. My first post was never going to win me any popularity contests and I personally don't give a flying one. What you will get from me on here is honesty, and they are my opinions. Like you say though, it's a fresh start and a blank canvas, so we will simply wait and see what happens.

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Northstandveteran added 15:28 - Jun 14 Perhaps Skuse might turn into a box to box midfielder in the Jon Wark style under new management. And let's not forget how he took that budgie out at carrot roood Lovleh 👏
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cat added 16:13 - Jun 14 Northstandveteran - lovleh straight lines Sir, plenty in the tank, despite being lynched by ‘the mob' (lol). Be seeing you!! 👌
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Northstandveteran added 19:58 - Jun 14 😂😂😂
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Sparky85 added 08:26 - Jun 15 I think a few people may be missing the point. Progressive attacking football is great but you don't need 11 ball players to play it. Look at Man Utd in the day. Are you seriously going to tell me that Vidic was a ball player?? No he was a typical old school defender. Same with Terry at Chelsea. I'm not for one minute comparing the likes of Chambers to these players. But it just goes to show that you need some typical old school defenders as well as the players good on the ball. Really looking forward to this season to see how things shape up. COYB!

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