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Town Confirm Roberts Signing Thursday, 28th Jun 2018 11:05
Town have confirmed the signing of former Crawley Town winger Jordan Roberts on a free transfer. The 24-year-old, who will officially become a Blues player on July 1st, has signed a two-year deal.
TWTD revealed yesterday that Town had made a move for Roberts, who was also interesting Bolton and Hearts.
Roberts, who becomes new manager Paul Hurst's first permanent Blues signing, left League Two Crawley at the end of last season having previously been among the players Hurst was chasing during his time at Shrewsbury.
“I’m over the moon to get the deal done and join such a big club,” Roberts told iFollow Ipswich.
“I want to go as far as I can and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to express myself here and hopefully give the fans something to cheer about.
“I’ve enjoyed my spells with different clubs but I would say that this move has come at the right time for me. It’s a chance for me to get out there on a bigger stage, at a good club and show everyone what I can do.
“Overall I would say I’m a player that likes to get on the ball, create chances and generally be as exciting as possible.
“And having had a brief chat with the manager and some of the lads, I just can’t wait to get to work.”
A youth player with Peterborough and Aldershot, Roberts broke into senior football with the Hampshire side, playing in both League Two and the National League during four seasons and making 68 starts and 24 sub appearances, scoring 12 goals. He also won two England C caps, scoring once.
Early on during his stint with the Shots he also had short spells in non-league on loan at Havant and Waterlooville, Tamworth and Bishop’s Stortford before eventually joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a permanent basis in 2015.
After one season in the Scottish Premiership - nine starts, four sub appearances and three goals - the Watford-born left-sided wideman moved on to Crawley on a free transfer.
During his two seasons at the Checkatrade Stadium Roberts, who is 6ft 1in tall, made 42 starts and 20 sub appearances, scoring 11 goals.
Roberts caught the eye of Blues boss Hurst during his time as Shrews manager and he made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him on deadline day in January.
He eventually left Crawley at the end the season and a week ago was reported to be close to making a return to Scotland to join Hearts having visited the Edinburgh club and been given a tour of Tynecastle and their Oriam training ground. Bolton Wanderers were also said to be keen.
Roberts’s signing will be far from new boss Hurst’s final bit of business before the transfer window closes on August 9th.
With Adam Webster departing - and the centre-half is unlikely to be the last exit as Hurst puts his own stamp on the squad - the Blues will need at least one more senior central defender, perhaps two, having already signed Trevoh Chalobah on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Hurst will almost certainly be after another winger, while he may also be looking to add to his strikers.
Meanwhile, winger Alex Rodman has left Shrewsbury having turned down a new contract. The 31-year-old was a key member of Hurst’s Shrews side and may be someone he could consider bringing to Town.
Photos: ITFC
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I think the signing of Roberts is a great bit of buisness, from the video I have watched he loves to take on a player, has a wand of a left foot & his delivery looks first class! As for playing for lower league clubs who cares, the boy has been learning his trade & hopefully by joining us he'll become the complete article. Can see Garner getting on the end of his crosses &hopefully another big hitman! Think Paul Hurst will also reveal another few gems, I think he's a breath of fresh air and for me a great appointment, COYB!
Webster sale looks good business. We turned down big money for McGoldrick and I'd imagine that ME didn't want to make the same mistake for another injury prone player. Both quality players on their day but if injuries continue and it is a gamble, that might be the peak of what we'd get. Much easier to replace a solid defender than a goalscorer too.
Other signings are potential and if PH can unlock it, also great business. If not, unlikely to be a huge loss. Seems sensible all round
Welcome to the club Jordan, looking forward to seeing you ripping up the Championship defences lad. Looking forward to the changes and a new season, just what we needed.
"Why do people think we're going to reinvest the Webster money, when we've not spent the Mings or Murphy cash yet?"
Are you sure about that? I suspect it's simply been invested in covering part of the huge losses the club makes, but that's still investment, albeit not at the glamourous or exciting end of the scale.
Nice to have a proper winger in the squad. Nothing overly exciting in the video package imho but certainly a step up to have round pegs in round holes, those videos are often very misleading anyway.
Doesn't seem to have a trick in him. No Clive Woods but knows where the goal is. Thus could work or perhaps it wont. Big step up from league 2. What I really want is an Anthony Knockheart type like Brighton got. We have cash now.
Things getting done quietly behind the scenes and moves happening as if by magic. If nothing else PH is showing he knows how to build/manage a squad. Hope he gets his targets in the door, cos if he does (whatever league they come from) i feel sure we will at least enjoy the coming season.
I think PH had already done his research even before he was officially names as the new ITC manager. Like Marcus said someone with new ways of doing things too many player left before he even joined for him not to have any input into those decisions. Slowly but sure is the PH way and he'll want to build a team that he likes, a team that will want to play for him. MM must have scared the living daylights out of the players because as soon as he went some of those players started to shine again. Freddie is one of those player who started to play better after MM left. Maybe these player will work well with PH and his assistant only time will tell might be one or two leaving if PH think they are not good enough and I trust his judgement. MM basically stuck his two fingers up to the supporters and played players just to be bloody minded and awkward.
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