Town have confirmed that Stephen Ward has played his last game for the Blues and will leave the club at the end of the season, as TWTD revealed yesterday.

The 35-year-old former Republic of Ireland international joined Town on a free transfer last summer having been released with Stoke and has made a total of 31 appearances for the Blues.

In League One he has made 29 stats with a 30th triggering the one-year option in his contract as was the case with Alan Judge, something Town weren't prepared to do.

“Stephen has been an absolute pleasure to work with,"boss Paul Cook told the club site.

“He conducts himself great, he leads by example, and it's no surprise he's had the career he's had.

“Everyone at the club wishes Stephen all the best for the future and thank him for his efforts this season.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Unhinged_dynamo added 14:55 - May 5 Good luck in the future, if he'd signed 5 years ago he would of been a valuable asset. Was pretty solid in his time here but not what we need going forward
10

Timefliesbyintheblue added 14:59 - May 5 An unintended pun, Unhinged_dynamo, I guess. True however on both 'going forward' fronts.
4

Suffolkboy added 15:02 - May 5 Thanks for everything and very best wishes for your future ! COYB
4

nick8 added 15:09 - May 5 Let's hope he's the first of the majority of them
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Unhinged_dynamo added 15:13 - May 5 I didn't spot that timefliesbyintheblue... But as you point out it does apply to both meanings
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ButchersBrokenNose added 15:15 - May 5 I was quite happy when we signed him last summer, as I had always been impressed with him when I saw him play for Wolves or Burnley. Clearly, his best days are behind him but I thought he acted professionally whenever he played for us and he obviously had the respect of the younger lads on the pitch with him. Personally, I would have liked to see us keep him for another year (I think it would be good for continuity and stability), but I wish Stephen well, wherever he lands.

0

stocktractor added 15:19 - May 5 happy daysssssssssssssssssssss
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PortmanTerrorist added 15:21 - May 5 Desperate signing, and did it really make us better, for more than a game or 2 ? Good pro but a symptom of the problem and clearly not part of the solution and we all move on and wish the chap well.
8

Tractorboy58 added 15:40 - May 5 first of many I hope
2

Bert added 15:54 - May 5 As others have said a good pro as is Chambers but we have to have more forward looking and attacking full backs for today's game. Does not deserve the vitriol from some posters. Good luck to him and all who will be departing.
10

Radlett_blue added 16:00 - May 5 Were we really any better off with Ward - a solid but unspectacular 35 year old - than giving Kenlock a full season & seeing if he's really up to it?
3

Portman_Pie added 16:09 - May 5 Kenlock is 100% good enough for this league - and should be our LB next season.
12

TimmyH added 16:34 - May 5 Agreed Kenlock over him any day at this level, Ward might be a touch better defensively but not anywhere near elsewhere and wouldn't have been seen as a future player over the next season or so...all the best Stephen on your next venture.
3

therein61 added 17:02 - May 5 He was a good influence on the central defenders in his first few games with his cajoling and advice but the more games he played at 35 he was looking tired, i wish him well as he will make a good coach somewhere.
4

jas0999 added 17:08 - May 5 I wish him well, but clearly hasn't been good enough, nor suits Cooks playing style. No surprise that he moves on.
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multiplescoregasms added 17:15 - May 5 Hoping thay had spelt Chambers wrong in the headline.
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multiplescoregasms added 17:16 - May 5 **they
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buzbyblue added 17:35 - May 5 Another one bites the dust Another one bites the dust And another one gone, and another one gone Another one bites the dust Hey, I'm gonna get you, too Another one bites the dust
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Monkey_Blue added 17:48 - May 5 No arguments with this decision. Full back catches up with you far more than centre back.
1

BurleysGloryDays added 17:49 - May 5 Cheers Wardy. Good pro - but not in Cook's style moving forward. Kenlock also not good enough guys, sorry. OK as squad cover - but we need a very good leftback for Cook's style. If we accept players of Kenny's level we simply won't get out of this league. It's how we got into it in the first place.
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BettyBlue added 18:00 - May 5 Any chance of a bus tour at the end of the season around Ipswich so we can throw insults and vegetables at the worst team in ITFC's history? Tie Paul Cook to the radiator like the bin men do.
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Ipswich1970 added 18:00 - May 5 OnWARD & UpWARD, time to move on.
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CraigEdwards added 18:03 - May 5 Taxi
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spanishblue added 18:24 - May 5 BGdays 100% decent 2nd choice at this level but he is getting better
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grow_our_own added 18:51 - May 5 Shame Cook didn't realise Kenlock was the better fullback 15 matches ago, we might have made the playoffs. Wimbledon's goals came down Ward's side, MK Dons & Lincoln's wingers absolutely skinned him. Oppo managers were clearly instructing to exploit our left-side weakness.
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