Town boss Kieran McKenna believes the Blues’ squad is of a size which is appropriate for the rest of the season having trimmed it down during the January window while making two senior signings.

Tyreeq Bakinson and Dominic Thompson came in on loan from Bristol City and Brentford respectively, Town’s only new additions during the month, aside from former academy keeper Nick Hayes, who returned from Hemel Hempstead Town to vie for the role of third keeper.

The Blues also secured first-choice keeper Christian Walton on a permanent basis from Brighton following his loan and 12-goal top scorer Macauley Bonne remained at the club on loan from QPR after the clubs renegotiated the terms of switch with Town believed to be paying a greater share of the striker’s wages.

Meanwhile, rather more players were on their way out of Portman Road. Jon Nolan joined Bristol Rovers yesterday after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, while Toto Nsiala and Scott Fraser departed for Fleetwood and Charlton full-time, Tomas Holy Port Vale on loan, and Myles Kenlock, Rekeem Harper and Bailey Clements Colchester, Stevenage and Crewe on the same basis.

Hayden Coulson’s loan from Middlesbrough was ended and the left-back subsequently joined Peterborough, while Louie Barry returned to Aston Villa early in the month before moving on to Swindon.

McKenna says he was keen to establish some stability at the club given the volume of ins and outs since the end of last season.

“There was a lot of change in the summer,” McKenna told the club site. “We felt that what the club needed was a bit of stability and consistency, because of the big turnover in the last transfer window and then a turnover in management and coaching staff as well.

“We are of course delighted with the loan signings, though and the fact we were able to secure Christian on a permanent basis.

“It was also confirmed that we would have Macauley with us for the whole of the season, which is a positive for everyone.

“We feel that we have added some depth in the positions we needed a bit of cover, but we have trimmed the squad down a bit. It is now a size that we feel is appropriate for the remainder of the season.

“Our main aim is to be successful, but we also want to foster a good group dynamic and spirit, and a competitiveness where everyone feels like they have a chance to play if they perform well in training and when they get a chance in games.

“We feel comfortable with where the numbers are at and where we are at in terms of depth and quality.

“The club wants to move forward and the transfer window will be important again in the summer. The most important thing right now is that we have a strong squad and we feel ready for the games coming up. We certainly feel that is the case.”

Elsewhere, former Town boss Paul Cook has been somewhat surprisingly linked with his old club Chesterfield, now in the National League.

The Spireites have suspended their current Ipswich-born boss James Rowe following allegations of misconduct. According to the Derbyshire Times, Cook would be interested in a return to the club where he was boss between 2012 and 2015.

Cook, who left Town in December after nine months in charge, has also been mentioned in connection with Sunderland along with two other former Blues bosses, Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane, who have both previously had spells in charge of the Black Cats.

Photo: TWTD

Suffolkboy added 16:48 - Feb 2 Appropriate thinking , appropriate action which is based on all the right values and objectives ! We've a good man ! COYB
13

ImAbeliever added 17:28 - Feb 2 I agree
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DavoIPB added 17:38 - Feb 2 Sensible! Realistic. Did what needed to be done. Think he can get squad playing well. Probably won't go up this year but stand a good chance next year.
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gosblue added 17:57 - Feb 2 Tyreece Simpson adds another dimension. I wonder if he'll get any game time.
2

Bazza8564 added 18:09 - Feb 2 So pleased not only with the sensible comments but from the reaction from the fan-base. This fella is obviously the real deal and even from the few comments above, people clearly get him. I still remain convinced that the clear out last summer was for the best, now we have a guy who is in harmony with the CEO and the fans, all of which points to a positive future. I, however, still remain positive about our chances this season, someone is going to do the daft run, and I dont feel compelled to give up with 17 games still to go. :)

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ThaiBlue added 18:14 - Feb 2 Like what mckenna has done in his short time here.how is kyle edwards doing?
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Linkboy13 added 18:20 - Feb 2 There will be some ins and outs in the summer as this squad has proved incapable of putting a decent run together. Cook put a decent squad together (or was it Ashton) but it's unbalanced with too many lightweight forwards and not enough ball winner's. Seems to be an ongoing theme at Ipswich signing lightweight players.
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dubblue added 18:37 - Feb 2 Overall I am happy with the comings and goings needs to be seen whether Bakinson is a better fit than Harper and Thompson works out better than Coulston.
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cat added 18:42 - Feb 2 Now we have upped the deal we need Bonne to start banging them in again cause that will be key to hitting top 6. That loss last week has hurt us badly and left a lot of work to do. Still possible but everyone has to step up
7

OliveR16 added 18:49 - Feb 2 Nice to get a clear explanation from a manager.
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Saxonblue74 added 19:05 - Feb 2 Agree Cat, they all need to step up. Tinkering with the squad on Saturday didn't work at all and was in my opinion, the first mistake from McKenna. Best business was signing Walton. Bakinson and Thompson I think will prove useful. No doubt a very disappointing January for some who thought we'd be crawling with fringe first teamers from Old Trafford!
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Len_Brennan added 19:42 - Feb 2 Needed to be done, the squad size made it awkward in a sense & several players who might have performed had they gotten a run of games, had no chance of doing so. I think Thompson will be a good addition for us, signing Walton on a full contract is a great bit of work, and securing Bonne for the rest of the season has to be a good thing. While I'm disappointed with how it has worked out with Fraser, I can live with it, but the main disappointed that I have about this transfer window, is that we let Jay Matete get away, to join a rival club. I'll admit that I haven't seen a lot of him, but what I did see made me think that he is a fine player, in a key position, and is very young with years of improving ahead of him. I would have preferred if we had tied him up on a long contract, rather than bringing in Backinson on loan. Different types of players I know, but we need defensive strength in our midfielder to allow our defenders to play out, our wing backs to push on & our forwards to play on the front foot. I have no doubt that he could have played alongside Morsy, and would have been a particularly valuable asset when Sam was suspended or injured. Not to be though. Also, I still have hopes the Rakeem Harper will get himself sorted & come back into the squad next season as a match day regular.

5

rgp1 added 20:04 - Feb 2 Everyone likes a good clear out every now and again.
1

Hamish1979 added 20:24 - Feb 2 Len_Brannon - A very sensible and balanced summary. Thank you.
1

clive_baker added 20:52 - Feb 2 Not to be a pedant but it's Rekeem Harper to Crewe and Bailey Clements Stevenage. The squad needed a trim, not going to lose any sleep over anyone who has left this window to be honest. Onwards and upwards.
2

DerryfromBury added 21:02 - Feb 2 Sensible business, all for the right reasons. Bolton result aside, KMc has exceeded my expectations. Now for a good run at the play offs.
2

ArnieM added 21:51 - Feb 2 We were always going to lose to SWFC on Saturday when we'd had the guts ripped out of our midfield and played new ( and largely inexperienced ) players in there - but we had no choice ! We have cleared the decks now in this window for early recruitment in the summer, almost a line under this season effectively. We go again next season .
1

PortmanTerrorist added 23:59 - Feb 2 Agree ArnieM, the squad we have is not without a chance still this season, but the foundations are being laid for a what will be this Club's most important transfer window in many years, regardless of Division, with resources to both plan ahead for it so we actually identify our targets rather than grab who is available....but also with all the necessary financial backing of ambitious new owners. Still positive re this season, but exciting times ahead with grown ups running our Club !

1

Ryorry added 00:31 - Feb 3 “Our main aim is to be successful, *but we also want to foster a good group dynamic and spirit, and a competitiveness where everyone feels like they have a chance to play if they perform well in training and when they get a chance in games.* Well said KM . Cook just didn't seem to get those things (and a lot more as well!)
1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 04:36 - Feb 3 Sensible thinking: consolidation is what is needed at this point, not more sweet-shop raids. Trust the players we have, and get them all on board and playing for the cause. Then look at any updates in the summer, if necessary. So far, McK is doing very well. Long may it continue.
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JewellintheTown added 09:40 - Feb 3 All in all reasonably pleased with the transfer window, especially after being spoilt with all those summer almost daily signings, although with the Man U/ Spurs connections surprised at so little speculation or results from that. Not sure yet how happy I am of Jackson still being here, but either McKenna sees something he can work with or no one will have him for what we want for him. He has his moments so hope he can step up & give us some return on investment. Little disappointed with Fraser but understandable. A sensible clear out & happy with who we brought in. Might want some tinkering in the summer though with loans situation once we know where we'll be playing next season.

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Monkey_Blue added 11:22 - Feb 3 Having so many first team players must make training harder. A smaller group must make it easier to focus on what they want to get from the players. I haven't disagreed with a thing McKenna has said or done yet. You can see there is a brain in there and everything he does is for a purpose and thought through. I'd be shocked if we aren't fighting to keep him at some stage but let's hope that later rather than sooner.

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Monkey_Blue added 11:24 - Feb 3 You all know I wasn't a Cook fan, but that's purely because I didn't think he was right and he is nothing like McKenna. This is the sort of manager we needed.
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