Town have confirmed the departures of out-of-contract quartet Freddie Sears, James Wilson, Emyr Huws and Tristan Nydam.

Sears, 31, had been expected to go having been in and out of the side this season. The striker had been with the Blues since January 2015 when he was part of the side which reached the Championship play-offs.

The former West Ham trainee made 151 starts and 66 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring 34 times.

Centre-half Wilson, 32, named Player of the Year at the weekend, joined the club in the summer of 2019 following a successful trial having left Lincoln City.

The once-capped Welsh international made 47 starts and two sub appearances, scoring twice.

Midfielder Huws, 27, joined the Blues initially on loan from Cardiff in January 2017 and impressed in the remaining months of that season, most famously scoring the third goal in the 3-1 win over Newcastle at Portman Road.

The Wales international joined on a permanent basis that summer on a free transfer but injury limited his involvement in the following campaigns and his exit comes as little shock.

Overall, the former Manchester City youngster made 43 starts and 12 sub appearances, scoring five goals.

Nydam, 21, came through the academy but saw his progress hit by a broken leg and damaged ankle ligaments suffered in pre-season ahead of 2019/20.

The Zimbabwe-born Colchester-raised midfielder returned to first team action last month and looked to have caught manager Cook’s eye, so it had been anticipated that he would win a new deal.

Overall, the former England U19 international made 14 starts and eight sub appearances for the club having come through the academy.

As reported earlier, Town have taken the options on Kayden Jackson and Janoi Donacien’s contracts and they are yet to make announcements on Teddy Bishop, Toto Nsiala, Gwion Edwards, Aaron Drinan, Ben Morris, Idris El Mizouni, Liam Gibbs, Bailey Clements, Levi Andoh, Bert White and Tommy Hughes.

Of those, Town have options to keep Bishop, Nsiala, Morris, El Mizouni, Clements, Andoh, White and Hughes.

We understand Bishop has made enough appearances to automatically trigger an additional year with the Blues and a number of other players' options have also been exercised. As previously reported, young midfielder Gibbs has already been offered a contract.

Manager Cook, who has made little secret of his frustrations and dissatisfaction with the players he inherited, met with the squad individually today.

TWTD understands that in addition to the released out-of contract players, a number of those whose deals still have time to run have been told that the club will listen to offers should they come in.

Meanwhile, departing loanees Mark McGuinness and Troy Parrott have tweeted their thoughts as they leave the Blues.

Photo: Matchday Images

runningout added 18:59 - May 10 I agree with all of these going. They'll need to improve elsewhere. Should be more than what seems to be the case after MANY a sad season. Liabilities if they don't pull their socks up!!! What has ANY player done to deserve a stay at this once decent club. I'll tell you absolutely. NOTHING!
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meekreech added 19:01 - May 10 Can't believe donacien , nsiala and Jackson are retained whilst nydam is being released ! Is it possible that they have some resale value because they certainly do not have the necessary skills to assist in any drive for promotion.
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Linkboy13 added 19:08 - May 10 Spot on Lennyboy the players at Ipswich have been there so long and have become part of the furniture and we become fond of them for what ever reason . For example about three years ago i was lucky to be allowed to watch the first team in training with my disabled friend. After training a number of players came and spoke to us including Tommy Smith (senior) who was really friendly. So i can see why he had lots of fans at Ipswich and they wanted him in the team. But it doesn't work like that in football players are judged on ability not popularity. And i think that's half the problem at the moment some of the current players are very popular and fans don't want them to leave.

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bluesman added 19:09 - May 10 Good luck Tristan. Hope you stay clear of injuries and become one of those we should've hung on to
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:14 - May 10 feel for Nydam ,but i suppose Cook needs to make his choice of players based on recent performances not hoped for performances , Good luck to the lad where ever he goes.The others have had their chances , focus now turns on the players brought in,they are the ones that will determin the future status of the club. Just hope Cook can now show he IS the man for the job. We must now have a better chance of bringing a bit more quality in.

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Rimsy added 19:31 - May 10 Not surprised with any of these. PC is obviously not going to hang on to players with fitness issues. Feel sorry for Freddie, he's had his confidence destroyed by previous managers, rarely playing where he could do some damage, rather being stuck out on the wing.
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CheffyCooky added 19:33 - May 10 Some strange decisions, ‘demolition man'? More like Mr Tickle
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TonyHumesIpswich added 19:48 - May 10 Some strange decisions on who we have offered contracts to and who we have released, but We only see them play on match days. Cook has got a much broader understanding of the situation. From what we see on the pitch Wilson and Nydam are obvious contract renewals or extensions.
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TonyHumesIpswich added 19:56 - May 10 And we offered contracts to? Jackson- 1 goal in 25 appearances Drinan- 1 goal in 22 appearances.
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Henz10 added 20:01 - May 10 Agree with all of these aside from Wilson. How can you win Player of the Year and then be released? Doesn't make sense Nydam seems like a great guy who's been very unlucky however he's spent so much time out injured and it will take him a while to get up to speed.
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ArnieM added 20:04 - May 10 In some ways keeping some of the squad as squad players for the coming season, might not be as mad as it looks. It helps to give some continuity or framework to hang the new players on ...But I will say I am amazed and dissatisfied that Nydam has been released. This can only mean Cook has targets he intends to bring in. Of the others released, Sears, we knew would happen. ...about bloody time. He's been stealing a living from ITFC for 4 years, ( thanks McCarthy), Wilson released...must mean another younger target is in his way in.

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buzbyblue added 20:11 - May 10 People keep saying we have given contracts to Jackson/Drinan, we haven't as such just a 12mth EXTENSION on the EXISTING ones Jackson IMHO is to be transfer listed, some fee is better than no fee, I think Drinan & Bishop have 12mths to prove their worth
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TractorRoyNo1 added 20:14 - May 10 Hey why is everyone getting upset about the release of a fringe player, perhaps the manager just might know what he's doing
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Edmundo added 20:17 - May 10 Nydam is potentially a great player, but how many times have we said that about our youngsters? In addition, there was a widespread consensus that we can't hang on to injury prone players, and maybe Cook has been advised that Nydam has not recovered sufficiently to be able to cope with a full season at this level. In which case we have to reluctantly accept.
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cat added 20:41 - May 10 Slightly surprised with Nydam and Wilson, but don't let sentimentality cloud your judgements. Most of the players have let the club and themselves down. League tables don't lie.
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cat added 20:51 - May 10 BTW - Cook's wedded to ‘the very modern' 4.2.3.1 formation and these guys obviously don't fit.
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Billericay12 added 21:14 - May 10 Not sure why so many think Nydam should be retained. Undoubtedly a good footballer but always looked very lightweight to me and we don't need another one of those in Midfield. Might not be the same player after the long term injury and not the type of player that will get you out of League One. We may have to put together a team to get out of League One and then another team to be Competitive in the Championship if we get there because as we have already found out League One Standard is well short of the Championship and some are not capable of making the transition. I think some of the players that have been kept on because they hope to get a fee although in the case of Drinan I am baffled. Looking forward to seeing some new recruits and roll on the new season.

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coolcat added 21:21 - May 10 Best of luck to Sears who was a great pro for the club. Wishing him all the best for the future. Shame about Nydam going considering Cook was singing his praises of late. Good luck to Wilson and Huws - hope they find success elsewhere.
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bobble added 21:52 - May 10 jackson would be first to go on my list
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Bert added 22:01 - May 10 Many posters were saying get rid of the whole lot a few weeks ago so now reality dawns. There is a shed load of departures that most agree upon and a couple of curve balls which are a surprise; namely Drinan and Nydam. Therefore, the reality is that most wishes have been granted but just like Christmas we don't all get exactly what we may have liked. I would assume Cook has a fair idea of who he wants to get in various positions so that is surely guiding his decisions. For every player, we need two in addition to cover so he must retain a few of the less talented.

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TonyHumesIpswich added 22:17 - May 10 @Bert Agree with your post but Drinan isn't going. He's staying. Nydam and Wilson are the surprises. Who knows though? Maybe they both wanted to play in the championship or something like that. For me, Jackson and Drinan were huge surprises. Not players to take the club forwards iMO. Both could do well at League 2 but have clearly struggled in league 1
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1RWR added 08:03 - May 11 It's pretty obvious Jackson is being kept purely to sell on & recoup the money he cost us = makes good sense. Drinan to be honest, hasn't set the world on fire......but......if he's cheap enough to 'take a punt' on & see what develops and also is used as 'emergency cover' then that again makes sense. Paul Cook is no mug, he's no 'rookie' manager, he knows what he's doing so give him a little slack & respect I think is the order of the day.

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Barty added 08:05 - May 11 No surprises with Sears & Huws but a little disappointed that we are not keeping Wilson & in particular Nydam but possible fitness / injury concerns. Good luck to all of them
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Linkboy13 added 08:11 - May 11 No sympathy in Football and big decisions had to be made at the club. Do feel sorry for Young Nydam and because of his injuries has a lot of hard work to do and might find it difficult to get a league club who are prepared to be patient with him. A spell in non league would do him no harm at all many players have started at that level Jamie Vardy for instance. I for one will be watching his career very closely and wish him all the best he deserves it.

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oldelsworthyfan added 08:29 - May 11 There is no point in hanging on to players with long term fitness problems.
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