Colchester United boss Steve Ball has confirmed that the League Two U’s made contact with Town regarding their former striker Freddie Sears but doesn’t expect the proposed move to happen.

Ball is looking for another striker following Luke Norris’s exit to Stevenage. News of the North Essex club’s interest in Sears broke earlier in the week.

"There's been continual talks,” Ball told the Colchester Gazette. “Luke Norris has obviously moved on and we're just trying to make things happen.

"Freddie was one we liked and obviously looked at and we had some contact with Ipswich.

"At the minute, it looks like that won't be going ahead. We're in the market for a striker and possibly others.

"It's good to have the support of the recruitment staff at the club and get those guys pushing names forward and hopefully bring one in soon - that's the plan.”

TWTD understands that Town aren’t prepared to allow the striker to move on, while Sears is unlikely to have fancied a drop into League Two.

In September after scoring twice in Town’s opening day 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bristol Rovers, he said: “I know what I can do in this league [League One]. If I’m honest I think I’m too good for this league, I’ve been there before, I did it with Colchester.”

The 31-year-old, who joined the Blues from the U’s in January 2015, is out of contract at the end of the season, although with Town having an option for a further season.

Sears was left out of the 18 on Saturday having recovered from the hamstring injury which had kept him out of action prior to the Blues' unexpected Christmas break due to positive Covid-19 tests.

Photo: Matchday Images

Bergholt_Blue added 15:15 - Jan 14 Good to hear
4

tetchris added 15:20 - Jan 14 Let him go at end of season
0

BlueBlood90 added 15:31 - Jan 14 Freddie's been a great servant over the years but no way is he "too good for this league" as he thinks. I personally don't think he's good enough for the top end of this league and wouldn't mind us moving him on to free up his wages.
4

BLUEBEAT added 15:31 - Jan 14 Feel sorry for Sears. Should be played as a striker, not a winger.
9

MonkeyAlan added 15:33 - Jan 14 Play him where he is supposed to play and he will score goals. Has never really been played in his rightful position since he came here.
6

blues1 added 15:40 - Jan 14 Monkey Alan. I get all these calls that he hasnt played in his correct position, based on the fact he played as a striker at col utd and when he 1st signed. But actually, he played most of his games at west ham as a winger. So it's not entirely true that hes played out of position. Personally I feel the bad injury he had has done for him at this level which is a shame. So I'd let him go.

0

unknown100 added 15:43 - Jan 14 I always wonder why he hasn't himself wanted to move on... if I was a striker being played left wing poorly, I'd be frustrating and want to move to a team and play as a striker. It's the route I think Jackson will be going down too, striker and the wing are very different as you are expected to defend and you are either too forward and screw your fullback over or over compensate to defend and forget to attack and end up in this non effective role

2

grow_our_own added 15:45 - Jan 14 Our squad is 45 players. I worry so much competition is bad for cohesion. Worst-case, players are tearing lumps out of each other in training and this is one of the causes of our long-standing injury problems. Yes great servent, but I see Sears as part of the fat that we'd be better to lose. He isn't Championship-standard and that's the calibre everyone in our team must be.

2

Upthetown1970 added 16:19 - Jan 14 Sorry Freddie but I believe you time here is over. Whether it is now or ar the end of the season I feel you are done. To good for this league? you haven't shown that when you have played. Make way for a youngster to come through. Thank you for your service
1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:31 - Jan 14 Seems a nice low-key guy and no visible tattoos! But I think he's lost some form after his injury and it's not easy to come back, maybe, at his age. Happy if he stays, not too depressed if he leaves, although the latter would be with my best wishes for his efforts at ITFC.
0

algarvefan added 16:42 - Jan 14 I find it very hard to be unkind about a player who has given so much in terms of effort, in a role he clearly is not best suited to and asked to perform time after time. Would be best suited to being one of a front two, cannot fault his commitment, work rate or attitude. I would be sorry to see him leave in this window as he has quality that the other strikers don't.

4

BeattiesBackPocket added 16:58 - Jan 14 Blues1 yeah but the fact is he's being judged on goals as he came as a striker not a winger if he was classed as a winger he wouldn't be getting half the stick from some of our fans On here like he does as his work rate has never been in question. When he's played through the middle he's a menace however as some fans need to realise he does his best work with a target man him and Murphy were a top force playing up front together and that was championship level. Personally think he can still play at championship level if given game through the middle with a partner that's not similar to him. Problem with this club is too many round pegs in square holes always has been since McCarthy joined we should buy the players that fit the style we play.

3

Linkboy13 added 17:33 - Jan 14 Throughout his career Freddie has never been a prolific goal scorer and blues 1 you are correct he started his career as a winger at West ham. But having said this i think he has served this club very well and shown great quality and composure on the ball. He did form a good partnership with Darrell Murphy but did not score that many goals Murphy being more prolific. Whether he should go im not sure as there are a number of players who i think would perform better under new management. If he's one of our higher wage earners might be better to release him.

0

terryf added 17:58 - Jan 14 I think we all agree that left wing isn't his best position, but lets face it apart from his first season he's not exactly been prolific. He runs around a lot but there's just no end product. Rather like Judge. Can't say I agree with his comment about being too good for div one. He along with Judge and Huws should have been ripping up this division but none of them have set the world on fire. Very disappointing.

1

aas1010 added 18:03 - Jan 14 Sell him sell the whole lot sack manager . Sell club too . They sold rubbish footy to us
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 20:27 - Jan 14 Terryf name me some prolific wingers please?? As I say he's being judged on being a goal scorer when he's playing out wide if he was playing through the middle all the time fair enough but he's played most games out wide after a prolific first season up top with Murphy that idiot McCarthy played him wide since as has lambert!
0

Berts_chin added 22:16 - Jan 14 Let Colchester take Drinan on loan until the end of the season. Experience of first team football will benefit him and he should return ready to challenge for a starting place for next season.
1

budgieplucker added 23:44 - Jan 14 I don't completely buy into the fact that Freddie will perform much better up front in a two albeit that's where he prefers to play. Freddie has actually had several chances to score this season but his conversion rate has been poor. He can play in a three up front but not best served if he is told to hug the touch line all the time. Freddie is a good player at this level but we do need many of our players to be consistently very good and not injury prone to get us promoted. Unfortunately like Allan Judge (both players who cannot be faulted for their effort and attitude) these are the experienced players who should be lifting us as a side and making a difference but clearly they are not making a difference.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls