Town striker James Norwood has been transfer-listed ahead of the January transfer window.

The 31-year-old last featured for the Blues in early October and has been a conspicuous absentee from squads since then. In the league, he has made just two late sub appearances this season. His only 2021/22 goal came in the Papa John’s Trophy tie against West Ham’s U21s

Norwood has been training with the U23s for a number of weeks with the Town management having become increasingly frustrated by manner in which the striker has conducted himself off-field and in the last couple of days the decision has been made to make him available for transfer in January.

The frontman is currently appealing a drink-drive conviction, while his involvement on social media has often raised eyebrows since he was brought to the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2019 by former manager Paul Lambert.

He recently deleted his Twitter account but remains on Instagram and last month posted pictures from Playford Road while at U23s training.

Norwood has had a frustrating time at Portman Road with injuries hampering him in both his full seasons with the club.

In 2019/20 the former Forest Green Rovers man netted 11 times and last season 10, top scoring for the club on each occasion but in disappointing seasons overall.

Norwood, whose Town deal is up at the end of the season, is likely to interest former club Tranmere, where the manager from his previous spell at Prenton Park, Micky Mellon, is back in charge, along with a number of League One sides.

Photo: Matchday Images

Ipswichbusiness added 12:21 - Nov 11 He has the talent and could, should, be hammering in the goals at this level. Unfortunately, injuries and personal conduct have undermined him. If he moves club, finds fitness and gets his head together then he might well come back to bite us.
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Europablue added 12:31 - Nov 11 It's amazing that people get a lot of heat for saying something slightly un PC years ago, but actual harmful behaviour like drink driving barely gets a mention. I don't know about cancelling a contract, but offenders should be doing the rounds on an apology tour, fined a painful amount and not considered for selection for a certain amount of time.
6

bluearmy81 added 12:33 - Nov 11 Good riddance. No time for those who put other people's lives at risk
10

SouperJim added 12:35 - Nov 11 What a waste, but he has nobody to blame but himself. Still picks up a nice pay cheque though. Ta ta.
3

NorthLondonBlue2 added 12:36 - Nov 11 I really wanted him to succeed, liked his outspoken character online (but didn't see the furore which led to him deleting his account). It's a tough life for anyone being a footballer, particularly a striker, given the attention and pressure, injuries etc. There have been hints that his mental health has taken a hit and I'm sure the court cases haven't helped. I hope that he gets a decent offer elsewhere and thrives.

1

Portman51 added 12:38 - Nov 11 Some of the biggest names in the club's history weren't exactly saints, but if you deliver regularly on the pitch as they did you can get away with a lot off it. Unfortunately for one reason or another Norwood hasn't been able to. Hopefully with what looks like a very professional set up having taken over, the days of signing the likes of Michael Chopra and Paul Taylor apparently without due diligence are over.

5

Jugsy added 12:49 - Nov 11 Always too hot headed, looked like a walking red card. Also, when he was top scoring in his first season, Sky put up shots to goal ratio and his was vastly imbalanced, like 6:1. So not really a 'natural' goal scorer. Always wanted him to do well and will remember his goals like at Hull away but too much of a liability on and off the field. He did do some good, like the charity wrestling and enjoyed bringing profile to the club but with regards to Drink Driving and seeing him appeal, I really can't understand what's to appeal and when that's out there in the press and representing our club it depresses me.

10

Billybobblue added 12:50 - Nov 11 Doubt anyone will take him off our hands in January, unless we negotiate or pay part of his contract off. League 2 or potentially relegation threatended league one team he'll move on to. At least he'll leave us with a good head of hair for his next venture!
0

runningout added 12:51 - Nov 11 Norwood has loads of good time left in football. Shame it won't be with us
1

MickMillsTash added 12:51 - Nov 11 He's a Bell End on the pitch and it seems (with his drink driving) He's a bell-end off the pitch. Shame because in his first 3 games he looked a great player and in tight games his aggression gives us something different. Often needs 5 opportunities to score 1.
3

Suffolkboy added 12:55 - Nov 11 Sadly there was always a character fault line evident ,and it very soon showed ! Undoubtedly a fully committed individual on the pitch , he had no special technical assets ,nor the physical qualities to cause defences any great problems in the penalty box; fitness and a bullying attitude were strengths but unfortunately he simply could not control his mouth and emotions ,getting totally needlessly carded on many an occasion . A likeable fella maybe, a class act on the field never ,at least not in an ITFC shirt ! Nevertheless wish him well and hope he can put troubles behind him ,and make the very most of his talent for the remainder of his career . COYB

0

TimmyH added 13:06 - Nov 11 A lot of people taking the moral high ground about his personal life on here, since when did that matter regarding a footballer (maybe if you're playing in the upper echelons when TV is always on you maybe)?...the writing was on the wall that he would be transfer listed particularly as Cook seems to have no time for 99% of last seasons players, for me it's a bit of a pity as he certainly would have been a good squad member...a reasonable goal record when fit and always was a physical presence in the penalty box. All the best James...

3

dirtydingusmagee added 13:07 - Nov 11 confirms what i expected, I am only surprised he didnt go in the big heave ho . Too many problems to get any further with Town, could never be relied on . IMO he will fade into obscurity now. Jackson should be gone too, he just isnt up to it.Both have blown it .
2

TimmyH added 13:12 - Nov 11 Good post @blues1...scratch beneath the surface and you probably see the problems not condoning drink driving though in the slightest.
2

tempzzzz added 13:15 - Nov 11 This is a really strange photo, looks like a FIFA game version of himself. Regarding the transfer, couldn't care less. Did alright to start but petered out and then didn't help himself with his off the pitch antics. I saw a lot of Tranmere fans tweeting him a while back begging for him to go back to them so sure he could go back there and would be appreciated there more than here. Not sure how much we are going to be asking for him but as a free to begin with I would imagine we won't be too strict on the selling fee. Good news though as this frees up his wages to hopefully sign Bonne on a permanent deal in January. Let Jackson, Holy, Barry and Kenlock go as well and we could be able to bolster the defense a bit more too.

2

philpott2 added 13:20 - Nov 11 Jugsy - spot on. His aggression and willingness to get stuck in is/was a definite plus, but I too always felt he was needlessly raring up at opponents, lino's and the referee at times. There was a game I went to where he got the hump not long after coming on and took a wild kick at a player, I think the ref could easily have sent him straight off for it (Morecombe at the beginning of the season it may have been). He's fun, funny and entertaining, and there is definitely a decent player in there. Just needed to be fit for long enough to play more, and everything else would no doubt have fallen in to place. Good luck to him!

4

Saxonblue74 added 13:24 - Nov 11 Only surprise for me is that Cook stated only a couple of days ago that he's part of his plans. May suggest that a deal for Bonne is on the cards though?
1

SuperCoops added 13:39 - Nov 11 On his day, a very valuable striker who knows where the goal is. But his injury record, attitude and off-the-field antics (drink-driving and social media exploits) make this move understandable. A good player and could have progressed his career, but Town seem the best he could manage and you say he's wasted his chance by doing his talking off the field instead of on it. Best wishes to him though.

3

midastouch added 13:41 - Nov 11 His goals to minutes played isn't too bad overall for us but nonetheless, he's not lived up to expectations for me. I was hoping for more when we first signed him. Might as well free up the wages and move on. I could see him scoring more goals at the right team but for whatever reason it's just not quite happened for him here. Time to move Jackson on soon as well I expect. Tyreece Simpson is doing really well at Swindon and I'd rather see him given a chance here next season over Jackson.

3

Alan_Handsome added 13:53 - Nov 11 He's the human personification of the football club at the point in time when he was signed - an absolute steaming mess, lacking in all sense of identity and direction. The football club has turned itself around, Norwood hasn't, time to cut ties and move on. The King is dead (Norwood), long live the King (Bonne).
6

Karlosfandangal added 14:04 - Nov 11 Does this mean Bonne will be signed in January
0

JewellintheTown added 14:06 - Nov 11 Sorry, just dreaming for a moment that we could offload Jackson & Norwood to QPR as a swap for Bonne. Right, back to reality it is then.
4

ChrisFelix added 14:17 - Nov 11 I was excited when he joined us. Goal scoring record good but spent far to much time in the treatment room. He should be regarded as a past era & part of the dismal Lambert period
2

ringwoodblue added 14:21 - Nov 11 A very good summary from Alan in his post above. I think it's the right decision but only if we buy Bonne permanently or we get another striker in Jan as proven on Tue night, we can't rely on just Pigott. I fear Nors could end up at one of our promotion rivals where he will score plenty of goals but I wish James well personally
0

Bluroo added 14:32 - Nov 11 Might as well stick him in a field rather than on the transfer list. I doubt we'll get any offers that include a transfer fee, this will be more about getting his wages off the books and him out of the club - predict he won't agree to any offers and he'll be paid up and released in Feb.
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