Blues co-owner Brett Johnson says Town intend to keep 10 per cent of the large squad manager Paul Cook inherited in March.

Cook released a number of players who were out of contract, including skipper Luke Chambers and fellow stalwarts Cole Skuse and Freddie Sears, at the end of the season and told most of the rest of the squad that they could move on this summer.

Andre Dozzell joined QPR today, Gwion Edwards recently left for Wigan despite being offered new terms and keeper Dai Cornell’s contract has been terminated by mutual consent with plenty of others expected to join them in departing.

Speaking to The Athletic, Johnson says the plan is for around four of the squad Cook took charge of in March to remain at the club.

“We’re making wholesale changes,” he said. “We had long calls with Paul and we have a lot of faith in him.

“He was the manager that we were intending to appoint, and Marcus Evans reached out to us because (Cook) was appointed before we closed the deal, but that he was on our very, very short list.

“Paul showed up and there were something like 43 players on the extended roster; I think we’re keeping about 10 per cent of them. The question is how quickly you can bring in so much talent and get it to click.

“What we all want to do is take a sober approach to how quickly the turnaround starts to happen.

“You need a little time to gel and in a lot of environments, you’re not given a lot of time. We have to be pragmatic relative to the fact of how competitive the league is when you’re starting with a base that needs to be completely overhauled.”

Among those ear-marked to continue as part of the squad are the likes of right-back Kane Vincent-Young and striker James Norwood, while Town offered Edwards a new deal and took up an option on Aaron Drinan's contract.

Some of those who have been told they can move on will get the chance to convince Cook they're worth keeping hold of when they return for pre-season training a week on Saturday.

Already young forward Armando Dobra has stated his intention to win himself a place in the team.

The Blues have made two signings so far, forward Wes Burns and midfielder Lee Evans with West Brom’s Rekeem Harper set to become the third summer recruit, and Johnson is pleased with those additions.

“In these early days, I’m beyond encouraged relative to the quality and calibre of talent that we’ve already started to sign and a bunch of talent that’s sitting in the wings,” he continued.

“While there are some phenomenal clubs that we’re competing against, I also think given the dislocation that’s been happening in the global sport, there are a lot of clubs that are probably suffering right now.

“I think we’re well positioned to make sure that we can bounce out of this whole surreal period, in a very strong position.”

Photo: TWTD

BeattiesBackPocket added 19:29 - Jun 16 So again Betty do you want evans back and a huge debt, slow decline from championship challengers to league one average side with mediocre players from league two same team that got us to 11th in league one Or new investors with a passion to get us to the premier league, investment in the team, structure at the club and players who are gonna fight to get us up? If you say the former please get of our site budgie

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BeattiesBackPocket added 19:35 - Jun 16 Betty we're talking about what he's done at Bristol city? If you want to go back to 2004 then we've had 13 managers in charge so what's your point?? We now have one of the best CEOs about who has improved clubs that's a fact
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Dog added 19:57 - Jun 16 Beattiebackpocket - would you want to comment now on acceptable league position next season??. I am sceptical about Cook. We were one point off play offs and played dire foitball under him. Six games not scoring and a failure to inspire players or have a plan b. I am waiting for the five (possibly 3) this week before i get too excited. Ps you are correct on bristol managers.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 23:10 - Jun 16 Dog he's had rubbish to work with same as most managers past 10 years. Our squad got worse hence why we fell down to our lowest league position in over 60 years yet people are moaning because we have to start again? Thanks evans for that decline no one else. Cook has the biggest job EVER of any Ipswich manager the owner let 20 players contracts run out in one summer which he's been doing since he came in 14 years ago with leadbitter Norris etc he's the reason the owners have to start over and they've started with a structure we've not had on evans times, basics right first but to moan about the new season before it's kicked off is mental financially and structure is there we will see on the manager but as I said anyone on here who thinks we could've gone up with the players we had when we've finished 11th and out the top 8 both seasons needs to wobble their heads! Would butcher, de vos any of burleys teams come off after losing at home to Swindon laughing?? No frikin way the club has been rotten from the core for too long. I'll settle for an improvement this season that's what the club needs but people have to realise cook has to start from scratch which no manager has ever had to do give him a chance

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BettyBlue added 00:03 - Jun 17 19th and most of the fans happy to see the back of him... I think you'll find Ashton is actually trying to play FIFA 21 with someone else's money.
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UhlenbeekDownTheWing added 01:43 - Jun 17 Good news that Cook was on the short short list of the new hierarchy. Keeping only 4 players from one season to a next is quite a risk. See this sort of concept have success over a three year period when done in a structure with no relegation (US sports like NFL racing to the bottom to bounce back hard does sometimes work), but I fear we are in for a tough season - anything mid-table for 21/22 would be seen as success for this strategy I think.

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BettyBlue added 07:30 - Jun 17 "Ultimately a combination of failures on player recruitment, the performance of the fitness and conditioning teams, poor communication and a persona that to many was simply unlikable had already led many to question his role and demand change." Evans, Lambert,??? No Mark Ashton our new saviour.
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blueboy1981 added 07:54 - Jun 17 Some of the less blessed on here will no doubt expect miracles this coming Season, but for no other reason than the fact that they have no idea of the magnitude of the current clear out and revamp of our Club. DON'T EXPECT MIRACLES - it will all take time to come together, and be successful for us all. Also remember IT WAS NEEDED, and called for by many. Our Club needs YOUR backing now more than ever - not YOUR criticism. We now have the start of what we've been asking for - and that is a change of culture within the Club to move forward.

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shakytown added 09:56 - Jun 17 To be honest 90% of last years squad either were league 2 or lower standard or their attitude was the same. Very few actually had even the guts to fight for their place so no great loss. It will take time to rebuild the team so dont panic if we are not top of the league from the start of the season. Just look at what blackpool did in the second half of the season.
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Razor added 10:20 - Jun 17 I think that all fans agreed major surgery was required-----I still think that one or two of the contract players may still go, Drinnan and Hawkins for example. I think we will have a lot of new players in before training starts next week and that must include at least 2 new strikers with Nozzas lousy injury record.
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Edmundo added 13:14 - Jun 17 10% of the senior squad could mean 10% of those over 21. Justcsaying, before everyone goes mad/beds need changing... oh, too late. Great clickbait from Johnson though!
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KernewekBlue added 14:53 - Jun 17 @Betty(TheBudgie)Blue, Whilst I appreciate you have the right to your own negative points of view, I don't think anyone else on this site shares them, needs or wants to hear them or, indeed, cares what they are. Reading your posts is never a pleasant experience nor an enlightening one. You, sir, are a serial moaner, a doom-monger, a damp squib, a black cloud, the wasp at a picnic, less funny than toothache and less welcome than a dose of the pox. I've seen more cheerful manic depressives than you. Your face must have more lines on it than an ordnance survey map from all that frowning and grimacing. I suspect even the Samaritans have blocked your number! Chew on a bottle-full of Prozac matey and have a word with yourself!

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SickParrot added 18:51 - Jun 17 We have signed 2 new players so far, plus 4 (10%) of last seasons squad makes 6. Pre-season starts 26 June, so assuming Cook wants a squad of at least 20 we need to sign at least another 14 soon!
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BettyBlue added 20:21 - Jun 17 KernowBlue, when you are the moderator I'll listen to you. Unfortunately you are the unpleasant "so-called" fan on this forum. Why are you so eager to abuse other comments? Is it because there might be some truth in them. Say anything you like but this is not the place for personal abuse. Thanks.
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Kingfisher49 added 11:50 - Jun 18 As many have said on here we need to see some signings arriving soon. I have no doubt they will be coming through the door very soon. It will be large quantity of players but also lots of quality and experience amongst those players and I somehow think people will be surprised when the names start to be announced. The future I feel is bright. The money being invested would not be there if the owners did not believe in the Manager and CEO. Exciting times ahead for sure and ITFC will soon be on the way back up.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 12:41 - Jun 18 All that's left to say to bettyblue and monkeyblue is go read Alan Lees damning verdict of evans regime. This is why so many people have been let go and he's not the first person to say it. If you really would rather have that regime back then you have to be budgie supporters or you're actually concerned about the club and the fact we have to get rid of so many players and staff refer to Alan lees interview THATS WHY so thank evans for the fact we have to have a complete reset all over again because of his tenure don't blame the new people they're trying their best

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KernewekBlue added 14:01 - Jun 18 Well said Beattie
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