Town will issue their official retained list on Monday.

Manager Paul Lambert met with the seven players whose contracts are up following the final game of the season but the club is yet to release official confirmation of who will be staying and who will be going with the deadline for submitting the retained list to the EFL tomorrow. The EFL will publish the retained lists for all clubs on June 1st.

“We’re obviously working through that,” O’Neill told TWTD on Monday. “The retain and release list will go out just after the third Saturday in May but conversations back and forth with players and agents are ongoing.

“We’re very close to getting sorted out but it’s still a few more days before we can confirm what that plan is going to be going forward.”

Among those whose departures look certain to be confirmed are Jonas Knudsen, Jordan Spence and Simon Dawkins, while discussions have continued with Dean Gerken, Grant Ward, Tom Adeyemi and James Collins. Town have had an option to keep hold of Gerken, Ward and Adeyemi for a further season.

As previously reported, young defender Chris Smith and attacking midfielder Conor McKendry have been released.

Would like the thank @IpswichTown for the past 6 years at a great club. Met some great people along the way. Time for a new chapter 🙏🏻⚽️ pic.twitter.com/iDrD2T7MmC

— Conor McKendry (@mckendry_conor) May 13, 2019

Photo: Action Images

SouperJim added 16:27 - May 17 It's like one of the classic TWTD transfer sagas, we've gone from "close" to "imminent"!
3

Juggsy added 16:36 - May 17 "This week" ...
1

runningout added 16:39 - May 17 as usual things take longer at our once organised club than others. Do we have any football people in admin etc, and are any of them Ipswich Town supporters. Have a ugly vibe we will be retaining too many from our last few sad seasons. Big clear out needed! Then get some arrogance in that aren't camera shy or too soppy over their hair and tatts
4

BlueBlood90 added 16:39 - May 17 Presumably we'll be offering Adeyemi, Ward and Collins a pay as you play type of deal to prove their fitness before getting a proper contract. I personally wouldn't bother keeping Gerken though. There's surely better goalkeepers than him available if Bart leaves.
11

Counago93 added 16:39 - May 17 Part of me would like to see Adeyemi stay. If he can get and remain fit, he would be a good asset in League One. Plus, what other teams would want an injury ridden player who hasn't played in a long time? Certainly no Premier League or Championship club...
4

Hipsterectomy added 16:42 - May 17 Not sure why this is all being so secretive. I wouldn't be upset if they all left.
8

positivity added 16:46 - May 17 wonder if the delay is down to the uncertainty over bart. would personally keep ward for sure, adeyemi would depend on the contract details, should be heavily performance-related, but worried he'll be the next didzy! would only be interested in collins in more of a coaching role, think he's past it as a player, we can't carry him and chambers. he's by far our best organiser though, so can see why we'd want to keep the voice in the dressing room.

2

Ipswichbusiness added 16:52 - May 17 It depends on things which we will never know about, such as fitness and wages. I suspect that there will be a very complicated negotiation in progress.
6

dirtydingusmagee added 17:02 - May 17 its about the most interesting thing to happen since last August, so they want to keep us all on edge of our seats ill Monday lol.
4

ArnieM added 17:07 - May 17 Counago93: I honk there's more chance of Adeyemi getting and staying fit then Huws. The latter of which Lambert has already stated he can't trust ( to stay fit).
2

jas0999 added 17:56 - May 17 It seems to have taken longer than usual to announce departures. I see very little point in keeping injury prone players - particularly as we look to reduce the squad considerably. Gerken is a very average back up goalkeeper - so would hope to see him move on.
2

sixtyblue added 18:21 - May 17 Would let them all go.Have not featured enough in the last two years so cannot see where they would contribute enough to be worth the money spent.Too many of this type on the books holding back young players who could have the chance to play regularly and further their town careers.
3

MooseJuice added 18:21 - May 17 Ouu Arnie... you little honker! 😏
0

LegendofthePhoenix added 18:25 - May 17 If a L1 contract is roughly 50% of what a championship contract is, and you would reasonably hope that a player might make 30 appearances in a season, then you would hope they could work out a reasonable pay as you play deal for Huws and/or Adeyemi. For example if the wages for an average player are £4k a week, for 52 weeks = £208k a year, that is £7k per game based on 30 games. If a deal was around that or a bit more, could be well worth it for the players and us.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:30 - May 17 Anyone else thinks things still won't be clear on Monday?
4

Gforce added 19:14 - May 17 The only one out of the above list I would keep would be Ward. This club has had a horrendous record with injuries in recent years,we simply cannot afford to keep carrying injury prone players,especially in league one where funds will be tight. The club needs to do its homework and bring in players who are hungry,ambitious and above all injury free.
4

RobITFC added 19:22 - May 17 Gerken - No, think he needs to go and play elsewhere as a 1st choice, Collins - cannot see him staying fit enough , Ward - yes would keep, Adeyemi - would keep if he is fit? Huws - the same , but cannot see him staying fit,
1

IRTractorboyz added 19:51 - May 17 Lots of Long ball teams in league 1 Collins would be an asset
1

boysof1981 added 20:17 - May 17 Don't understand why some would,want Adeyemi to be offered a contract. Barely set foot on a pitch for the last two years, the further away from this club the better
3

Blue_Heath added 20:36 - May 17 Collins and Adeyami wouldn't get through 90 minutes between them so no thanks.
0

inghamspur added 21:44 - May 17 Ward is crap
-1

busterjames1 added 22:07 - May 17 Get shot of the lot !! Cant wait for monday to come !!
-1

algarvefan added 22:41 - May 17 We don't need or want injury prone players, however the question that needs answering is why do we have so many players carrying serious injuries and is there something wrong with the training standards at Town? Hurst intimated that we were carrying some players with poor fitness and attitude problems towards fitness, those players need to go, we need a small, tight, fully fit squad to star the season with. I'd be tempted on Collins maybe a pay per play deal or coaching/player deal, I think his experience would be brilliant for the side.

3

eddiespearitt03 added 00:55 - May 18 Get rid of ALL the players who have contributed very little at this club. Ban the sick notes !!!
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harlingblue added 04:01 - May 18 Lose the sick notes Huws, Adeyami, they would be a part of a great midfield, but are not man enough to be fit and are just taking wages and have given nothing to our club. Forget Collins and Keane, again far too injury prone. Have faith in our young injured forward players Lankester, Morris and Folami. Neither Bart or to a lesser extent Gerken have covered their selves in glory this season, have been poor and have lost us points, both should be easy to replace. A return of Rowe, Woolfenden and Drinan from successful loan spells should boost our squad. Plus the Hurst signings could now play a big part in a Town team ready to push for a return to the Championship.

1

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