Flynn Downes, Kayden Jackson, Teddy Bishop, Armando Dobra, Myles Kenlock, Jack Lankester and Brett McGavin are set to start pre-season training with the Blues U23s later this week.

At the end of the season, manager Paul Cook told most of the first-team squad that they could move on in the summer and the Blues boss appears to be reinforcing the point by relegating a number of them from first-team pre-season training, which begins on Saturday.

Lists of players set to start pre-season training with the first team and the U23s have been circulating on social media this morning with only 11 players included in the senior squad. However, both lists indicate that the situation could change “at the manager’s discretion”.

Downes is understood to be interesting Championship Barnsley and we understand the MK Dons' interest in Bishop, which we revealed this morning, is well progressed.

The 24-year-old has also been eyed by hometown club Cambridge United, who, according to the EADT are now showing interest in Lankester.

It has been a quiet close season with regard to links with Jackson, Kenlock and Lankester. Huddersfield were keen on Jackson late in the January window but have not been mentioned in connection with the 27-year-old during the summer.

Photo: Matchday Images

Pezzer added 15:50 - Jun 23 Rather harsh on Dobra if true
3

PhilTWTD added 15:52 - Jun 23 And obviously I have other sources backing it up.
11

Dog added 15:53 - Jun 23 Gav and Phil - who were the players that reported back to training early. Would be nice to know and see which list they now appear on.
2

Michael101 added 16:01 - Jun 23 Looks like cookie will be trying a rush goalie next year,mightiest work😈
0

Bazza8564 added 16:02 - Jun 23 Im not surprised people that initially this is a fake, but I actually believe it to be true. Ive been using this site for 20+ years like many others and anything spurious or unproven is rarely up for very long and heavily dressed up as unconfirmed. Phil would not stake the credibility be leaving it up, nor publicly defend it, if there was any doubt. This would lead me to believe that Drinan is already done deal somewhere and that a few of the others are just waiting for July 1st before clubs announce their signings. One the outward deals of the many mentioned today reached me from a connected source about two weeks ago as pretty much done, there is clearly a timing issue at the moment but make no mistake about the seriousness of Brett's 10% number, and the 1st team squad on that top list would back that up.

2

BettyBlue added 16:05 - Jun 23 Does Cook realise you need 22 players for a training game or is he intending to play practice games against Copleston or Northgate High School football teams on Wednesday afternoons?
1

Monkey_Blue added 16:07 - Jun 23 PhilTWTD. Been a supporter of this site for more than 20 years, met you a few times at away matches and I'm glad to hear you have sources backing this up. I just wonder if you are in support of this carpet bombing of the squad. I have a contact, one I won't describe as I know the club reads this site. There is a feeling Cook is on a power trip partly because he's been given Carte Blanche by the new owners. As I've managed teams and huge projects I know that not everyone is a kick up the backside person, not everyone is a pat on the back person. Man Management in involves a balancing act between the group and the individual to get the best results. You do understand that players are also friends with each other? I resigned from a job once where I was treated fine, because of the treatment of a colleague. This is ham fisted and crude if it's supposed to motivate.

3

Monkey_Blue added 16:09 - Jun 23 Btw the “ham fisted” comment was an accidental pun 😉
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SpiritOfJohn added 16:16 - Jun 23 For those questioning the validity of the story on the basis of Jon Nolan's inclusion in the 'retained' list - please note he was born on Merseyside and came through Everton's academy. Enough said.
0

dirtydingusmagee added 16:47 - Jun 23 Fake News ! [i hope]
0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:57 - Jun 23 According to EADT (3:40 pm UK time today), "Blues players were informed yesterday, via written correspondence, which squad they would be involved with when reporting to Playford Road on Saturday." So I think we can credit Phil with some grasp of the situation other than Twitter rumours. Cook seems to be living up to his "demolition man" image, but I think this is all part of his motivational strategy. That the decisions are "subject to change at the manager's discretion" is obviously a call for anyone in the U23 list to prove themselves. Whether that is the right way to go about things, I'm not sure. But it looks like a plan, not a whim.

6

IpswichToon added 17:02 - Jun 23 There's a few things here that jump out at me that lead me to think this is fake. 1. This seems to be an actual computer image, not a photo taken of the print-out. That would infer that who ever created the document decided to share it? 2. The '1st team' list is purposely really tightly spaced together, despite having only a few lines to write. But the '23s team' despite having far more names to list, is spaced out far more. My only guess is this is done to exaggerate the differences in the lists for comedic effect, by artificially taking up more room. 3. No word processor document would let you stick the content so close to the footer text as shown in the first image. It's photoshopped.

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jas0999 added 17:42 - Jun 23 I am more concerned that we only have eleven first team players going into pre season. Let's hope that changes quickly. Clearly those training with the under 23s are close to leaving the club. No Drinian on either list
0

Scuzzer added 17:43 - Jun 23 What a load of tripe. Fabrication all the way. Why is it a news item on here Phil?
-2

itfcasual added 18:00 - Jun 23 Town performances for the past three seasons have been very very poor. In that time our players have drawn salaries in the hundreds of thousands, each. They are paid to perform and as a group they have failed. If they're not happy they know where the door is. Cook told his players what was coming. The gravy train has stopped. If Cook doesn't deliver he'll be sacked, why wouldn't that apply to his players? Ashton must be busy on the phone....

3

karl1426 added 18:06 - Jun 23 It is getting more and more absurd each day passing. I remember the bulk of players Paul Cook inherited were tipped to win promotion and all were highly regarded in League One. 2 seasons gone and almost the whole squad gone. The saddest thing is to see all our homegrown players got discarded! Shame on you Cook!
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ArnieM added 18:08 - Jun 23 Well it definitely looks like a clear message from Cook to those players still at the club….. “ you're not wanted, you won't be playing, so you may as well find another Club”. Given the “performances” they put in for him, there following Cooks arrival (when a top 6 was well within reach but they decided to down tools), Id say good on ya Cookie boy , and f luck the lot of em.

0

cat added 18:18 - Jun 23 I personally couldn't give a monkeys what P.C does with the squad cause I'm behind him all the way.
2

Monkey_Blue added 18:20 - Jun 23 It's worth pointing out that Flynn Downes has been open about suffering from depression. A good man manager wouldn't just know that telling someone like that to go away won't get the beat out of him, but risks his mental health. Man management isn't easy because it's about understanding the individual and working out how to get the best out of them. As I've mentioned some people not just players need a kick up the backside and some need a pat on the back. I grew up in Nottingham and cloughie was as good at this is not better than Bobby. Evans is using a sledgehammer and expects the players to respect him rather than fear him. I've my reservations about a group of people, the new owners, ceo and chairman who are new to the club taking the word of a manager who is new to the club as gospel. If it's harsh to judge Cook on 16 games coaching and managing it's harsh for him to judge the players in such a short space of time given none of the above have a good understanding of the players. I hope I'm wrong but we could be the next Bristol City

-2

ArnieM added 18:23 - Jun 23 Monkey blue: I'm past caring if this hurts the players feelings. As someone else has said, many of this squad have taken the money and offered NOTHING on the pitch for far too long…some often out injured for most of their contracts, so no I don't feel sorry for them. If Paul Cook is on a power trip, blooming good luck to him, ( he still has to produce the results for our American owners and there will be no sympathy from them towards him if he fails to produce the goods),. So to my mind it's tough shyte for the players. They've had their chances in spades. They've been stealing a living from this Club en mass for far too long, and frankly giving the royal 🖕 salute to us fans too. They deserve no pity from the club or the fans, and frankly they can sod off now and find another mug of a club to line their pockets. The cozy club is no more at ITFC, and about time too.

4

midastouch added 18:33 - Jun 23 Goodness me, if Paul Cook thinks this is good management then he's probably not as good a manager as I was hoping he was going to be! Is he trying to copy Brian Clough's approach at Leeds? If McCarthy, Hurst or Lambert did something like this they would have been hammered. There's perhaps one or two who deserve to be put on the naughty step but surely not as many as that! I really hope he knows what he's doing, however, pulling a stunt like this starts to give me some doubts!

1

Monkey_Blue added 18:39 - Jun 23 ArnieM… I take it you either lack any level of empathy for human beings or have never managed a team of people?
0

NthQldITFC added 19:33 - Jun 23 wrt to one of the comments above; remind me not to come to the comments section when I'm in the market for a forensic typographist.
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Eddie1985 added 19:45 - Jun 23 Clearly the takeover is a positive step but I feel Cook may be another poor manager, clearly some dead wood needed to be removed but bishop, downed and dozell!! Really, these players were dragged down by those around them and there is genuine concern about taking him without leam Richardson. Nothing would make me happier than being wrong but it doesn't look great so far, poor form at the end of the season and a now alienated squad with no replacments

0

brittaniaman added 19:54 - Jun 23 He had to put Holy in the first team block because he is the only GK. we have got even though he is out of favour
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