Midfielder Jack Lankester’s move to Cambridge United has been confirmed, TWTD having revealed yesterday that the clubs had agreed a deal, subject to a medical.

The 21-year-old has signed a two-year deal at the Abbey Stadium for an undisclosed fee.

“I am very happy to be here.” Lankester told the League One U’s official website. “As soon as it came up I was very excited to get it going.

“I am from Bury St Edmunds and know the area really well so it was definitely my first choice. A fresh start is something I need and I don’t think there is a better place than here to do it.”

Cambridge boss Mark Bonner added, “Jack joins us at a stage in his career where contributing more often to the first team is key for him.

“His ability level saw him play 11 times in the Championship as an 18-year-old and although injuries have curtailed his development a little along the way, having returned to full fitness, he made a good impact in League One last season.

“His challenge now is to work for a place in the team and to adjust to a new environment quickly.

“He is well balanced, has an excellent left foot and superb vision to open teams up with incisive passes.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for him and I am excited to be working together with him. We aim to give him the confidence and opportunity he needs to show how good he is as we believe we have a player with real potential on our hands.”

Lankester came through the academy at Town having joined as an U7 and went on to make 13 starts and 17 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring three goals.

He made his senior debut in the 2018/19 campaign but stressed fractures to his back hampered his progress and he missed the whole of the 2019/20 season.

Lankester returned in 2020/21 but was unable to nail down a regular spot in the side and was among the players told he could find another club at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, former Town defender John McGreal has left his role as manager of League Two Swindon after less than a month.

McGreal and his assistant Rene Gilmartin have terminated their contracts by mutial consent, while CEO Steve Anderson has also left the County Ground today.

In a jointly issued statement, they said: “This is a decision we both have made, as we feel we are not able to carry out our duties as manager and assistant manager.

“Our intention from day one was to build a football team to compete in this league, but unfortunately due to the current circumstances the club is facing, we do not feel we are able to do that.

“As mentioned earlier this week, we have signings ready to be announced, however the legal proceedings involving the ownership has not allowed us to do so, making our positions at the club untenable.” - John and Rene.”

Photo: Matchday Images

boroughblue added 14:42 - Jun 25 Hmm, this is the first one I haven't been too sure on. I trust Cook and Ashton etc of course, but I must admit I thought Jack could offer us something this season. Anyway, all the best, Jack
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TheJam added 14:42 - Jun 25 All the best, fellow Moreton Hall guy
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oldelsworthyfan added 14:43 - Jun 25 I like this guy and hope he does well at Cambridge United. He could not hold down a place with us, so it's a good move for him.
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Nottsboy added 14:45 - Jun 25 Shame Jack was hampered by injury never got to prove himself after, but in my mind Jack is destined for better things than ITFC can offer, good luck Jack.
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Cadiar added 14:50 - Jun 25 Hopefully Bishop will following.
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RobITFC added 14:51 - Jun 25 Nottsboy - Cambridge United better than ITFC can offer :D :D :D
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Europablue added 14:52 - Jun 25 I'm not happy to see all of these academy lads leaving the club. I don't want to support a team that could be from anywhere in the world. On the other hand, we have a promising group of lads coming through the system, so as long as the academy is central to our plans going forward, I won't question management too much about getting rid of certain players. I still felt that at least two or three of them deserved to stay on and would be better if they were nurtured in a more structured and disciplined environment.

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blues1 added 14:54 - Jun 25 It's a shame hes gone but the truth is that hasnt been the same player since his injury. When he has played he hasnt shown that same form. Hopefully this move will help him to get his career back on track. So good luck to him. Other than twice this next season.
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Cadiar added 14:59 - Jun 25 More interesting than Lancaster moving is John McGreal being available again. Wonder if PC is going to get him in as a part of the coaching team.
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carsey added 15:01 - Jun 25 Personally I'm disappointed that Jack has gone and I am hoping Bishop doesn't follow him because both are young enough to coach into the way Cook wants to play. Also both have the ability to be crowd pleasers. That said no one knows what's going on behind the scenes or what their attitude is so for now we have to trust Cook and Co that they get it right. In truth nothing could be much worse than what we have experienced the past few years.

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Bazza8564 added 15:05 - Jun 25 Said this before but this one will be mainly about the salary cap. JL signed two deals in quick succession before we went down, the second of which would have been to keep him here as the Premier clubs were already lurking. Sadly his subsequent injury curtailed his progress and gave him limited chance at PR under Cookie at significant cost to the club, as some or all of those deals for the younger players enticed longer dates with no relegation clauses. I wish him well, he will get a fresh start at CUFC and will get the chance to kick on. Good luck to him

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cressi added 15:13 - Jun 25 When he first played like Huwes when he came I thought wow but alas never being the same since injuries prove me wrong Jack
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Nottsboy added 15:16 - Jun 25 RobITFC Ipswich1970 buzbyblue You marked me down but your missing the point ITFC only offered him the door Jack will not stay at Cambridge he will move on to bigger and better clubs PC should have kept him and gave him the chance to prove himself. And NO Cambridge in my mind are not better that Town that's why in a normal season my lady and I do about 3000 miles a season home and away to support the Town.

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itfcasual added 15:22 - Jun 25 As much as our sentimentality dictates that we want to hang on to our academy players and build our first team around them, unfortunately that's not our reality. The academy has to be cash generative as well as provding a pipeline of first teamers. In the end it will be better for all parties if players are moved on to new opportunities sooner rather than later if their progress into the first team is blocked. Find a player, develop the player, sell the player. In the end we will actually benefit if ITFC Academy gains a reputation as the foundation of many successful careers in football. There should always be more players coming through than 1st team places on offer. Good luck Jack, you seem like a good bloke.

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dav86 added 15:22 - Jun 25 There should be no sentiment here, we've been utter dross for years now, I want to win and change is needed and it is happening. Trust in cook coyb
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itfcasual added 15:25 - Jun 25 If the past few seasons has taught us anything it is that hanging onto the players for too long doesn't lead to success. Players need new experiences to challenge their develop and the team needs new blood and new ideas to be competitive. The sad truth is this club ran out of ideas...
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ldnj added 15:35 - Jun 25 I don't blame him for moving on given the boss's views and attitudes towards the squad. I admire Cambridge's ambition, seemingly seeking out younger potential talent. If it works they stand to benefit and ITFC would get some of the sell on at least, though not too much I'd guess. I hope he's one that gets to play regularly and thrives as he seemed to have good potential before his setback.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:41 - Jun 25 As much as I loved his debut and when he was playing in the championship he has struggled with injury and any kind of form when he has played. If as Alan lee said he has a poor attitude as well then ask yourself this, if he was anyone else and not a youth teamer would we want him here based on that?? No we wouldn't. He's another that had potential but didn't realise it. I hope he goes on and does well but he has gone to a small what has been for the past few years a league two club no one in the top parts of league one of championship wanted him so maybe we need to stop being blinkered just because he came from the youth set up. Our last decent player from the youth team was Wickham and how long ago was that. If you're good enough you'll be in the team

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Essexnblue added 15:47 - Jun 25 I have said this before but the last homegrown Premier League player that we produced was Connor Wickham and we had to nick him at 15 from COLU. There is a reason that Jack and others are going and that is that our youth isn't as good as most posters think. We play tier 2 academy football and produce tier 2 youth team players. That is why clubs from Div 1 and Div 2 are with the possible exception of Downes and Dozzell are the destinations for these lads. The root cause of the lack of homegrown talent is simple get academy 1 status and then see what we produce.

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ringwoodblue added 15:50 - Jun 25 Everyone that leaves Town deserves to have future success unless they end up playing for the Budgies of course so I wish Jack well at Cambridge and beyond. Only time will tell if this was a good decision or not.
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Eddie1985 added 16:04 - Jun 25 Wish him a successful career, would like to say I trust Cook but that trust has been slowly diminishing since his appointment ., hopefully he brings in mcgreal or an assistant and steers us on the right track
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Talbs77 added 16:08 - Jun 25 This one could either way and could come back to haunt us, a fresh start and staying clear of injuries and they could have a real player there, wish the boy all the very best.
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Steelmonkey added 16:22 - Jun 25 Best of luck Jack, you looked a very promising prospect who I rated better then Bishop, but like so many of our academy players for one reason or another have not made the grade and turned the promise into reality. A fresh start and a new beginning, your destiny is in your own hands.
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istanblue added 16:42 - Jun 25 I think his back injury may have put paid to a top footballing career. Experience tells us that you never hear people say that they ''used to have a bad back''. It'll most likely be something that hinders him for the rest of his career. He wasn't going to be a regular here so it's for the best that he departs. As a fellow ITFC fan, I wish him all the best (except when he plays against us).

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grow_our_own added 16:46 - Jun 25 The problem with offloading the likes of Lankester, who let's face it, we aren't sure won't make it in the top leagues, is that successful young players breed successful young players. If I was the most talented 14 year old in my district, and my parents and I were looking for the best chance of becoming a successful pro, I'd want to choose a club that gives youth an extended chance. Would I still choose Ipswich? Lankester and Dozzell being replaced by journeymen proper-blokes to bludgeon their way out of L1 is myopic. When we used to be among the best clubs in the world from outside of big cities, we had a local identity. Local pride. I ask again, why not put them out on loan if they're not quite ready? Grow our own!

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