Town boss Paul Lambert admits it could be a struggle to keep hold of Flynn Downes, who he believes is the best midfielder in League One, in the summer and says there can’t be further cutbacks at Portman Road during the close season.

“Listen, it could well be,” the Blues boss said when asked whether it might be hard to keep hold of the 21-year-old come the summer, the England U19 international having been watched by a number of clubs including West Ham and Fulham this season.

“As I’ve said before if someone comes in with a helluva lot of money are we in a position to turn it down? No, we’re not. In my opinion he’s the best midfielder in the league.”

If Town are in League One again next season they will be constrained to a greater degree by the division’s FFP system, the Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP).

This caps player salaries at 60 per cent of turnover for most clubs but for sides relegated from the Championship at 75 per cent in their first year, in addition to other measures to help cushion the blow.

Asked whether he believes there could be more cutbacks at Portman Road during the summer if Town are still in League One, Lambert was forthright: “There can’t be. It’s too big a club, it’s far far too big a club to do anything like that. [Owner] Marcus [Evans] is only one guy, but it’s far too big a club to do what it’s doing.”

Downes had been due to return to the Town side for tomorrow's now-postponed game at Bristol Rovers along with striker Kayden Jackson, the duo having served their suspensions for reaching 10 yellow cards and a red card against Burton respectively.

“I think he’s had a really good season, Kayden,” Lambert added. “He’s scored a lot of goals, a lot of assists as well, which is important for us.

“Obviously, the three-game ban was a blow, but I think he’s had a good season Kayden Jackson I really do.”

Photo: TWTD

Doctor_Earman added 00:39 - Mar 14 ''We Could Struggle to Keep Downes in the Summer''...AND Woolfenden, AND KVY, AND Dobra, AND Dozzell. We could be looking at a mass exodus of our young talents, folks. Probably at a bargain basement price if Evans has anything to do with it.
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marco5113 added 02:03 - Mar 14 accept it the club is in serious trouble, no matter what is said. its taken years to get us in this awful position and it will take years to get the club out of it.
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chepstowblue added 07:40 - Mar 14 Offers energy but little else.Hasn't imposed himself enough this season and never dominates a game.Decent without the ball but very ordinary with it.Hasn't looked any better than the opposition he's been up against and not one opposing fan would have noticed him. Hanging on to the genuine quality of Dobra and Bishop is far more important. To say that he's the best midfielder in the division is comical. Can't see many offers coming in for him....certainly not from any clubs with ambition.

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ThaiBlue added 08:13 - Mar 14 I really hope we dont struggle to keep you mr lambert.
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SpiritOfJohn added 10:00 - Mar 14 If we had any ambition Downes would be our captain next season.
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blues1 added 10:34 - Mar 14 Dose of reality. Yes, bcse fans not renewing season tickets is really gonna help the financial situation of the club isnt it?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:19 - Mar 14 Call my cynical, but I interpret this as he is already as good as sold.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:20 - Mar 14 *me
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Ebantiass added 13:54 - Mar 14 No sh+t sherlock. Everyone of any remote potential will be off loaded.
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therein61 added 16:23 - Mar 14 Good shout spiritofjohn we could do with him staying next year i feel he would inspire the rest of our young players we also need some senior guys to compliment them and play a settled side from the off that means getting rid of those that think they are bigger than the club and are untouchable.
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Cheshire_Blue added 21:07 - Mar 14 Yes, the 10,000 or so 'happy clappy' fans would still have MM in charge and we would still be in the Championship. Some so called 'supporters' will never learn.
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:06 - Mar 14 jas0999 we wont be talking promotion , or at least not about us getting promoted, If Evans can dupe 20,000 again he will be happy its his level in Lge1 , jog along just below playoffs, sell any up coming prospects , The only thing in question is ,how many fans will he fool next season . The figure hopefully will reflect the fans disappointment in the way things have been ,and not one of false hope .

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DoseOfReality added 11:00 - Mar 15 Blues1 ... Yes boycotting will get Evans attention. He will continue slowly killing the club and we're better off without him, he's no saviour. Fans are more likely to stick together if we dropped non-league and fought our way back to where we are - without any debt. It could be done in a few seasons, otherwise it will be mid table lge1 for the same period of time then worse to come. Every season with Evans in charge is a season lost and wasted and we end up in more debt. How can we be £120million in debt and be this sh1te in Lge1 ... That really is some achievement and no Evans doesn't deserve a penny back because it's all his fault.

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:17 - Mar 15 EVANS, Come out, come out ,where ever you are ! give us your take on how your 5 point plan is going .
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JewellintheTown added 09:27 - Mar 16 News released on Friday 13th no coincidence. Friday 13th will be renamed ITFC 13th after coming up to 13 years of Marcus Evans owning ITFC and the "bad luck" we seem to have adopted.
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Michael101 added 16:46 - Mar 24 Wonder how many clubs will be after our premier class numbers 4&8 will have to pay some mug to take them .If it more than 50p then Evans will not pay out
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