Bailey Clements and Brett McGavin are among the younger players the Blues have confirmed are being released this summer, while talks continue with several of the U23s squad.

Clements, 21, made eight starts and one sub appearance for the first team, including four League One games during 2021/22.

The left-back or centre-half, who spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Stevenage, came through the academy having joined the club aged seven.

Midfielder McGavin, the son of former Blues academy scout and ex-Colchester forward Steve, made 10 senior starts and one sub appearance for Town.

The 22-year-old spent the whole of 2021/22 on loan at King’s Lynn in the National League.

Also among those moving on is right-back Dylan Crowe, 21, who won England caps at U15, U16, U17 and U18 levels and was linked with clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal while with the academy but made only one EFL Trophy start for the first team at Crawley in 2020/21. Last summer, he spent time on trial at Huddersfield.

Defender Levi Andoh, 22, spent the first half of the season on loan at Hereford. The Dutch-born full-back or centre-half joined Town in January 2020 after a trial having previously played in non-league with Worcester City and Solihull United. Andoh's only first-team appearance for Town was also in the EFL Trophy at Crawley.

Left-back Tommy Smith (above), 20, made one start and one sub appearance, both in the EFL Trophy, having come through the ranks. Smith spent much of this season on loan at Bury Town.

Winger or full-back Ross Crane joined the Blues from Bury Town in the summer of 2020 and like Smith made one start and one sub appearance for Town in the EFL Trophy and also spent much of 2021/22 back at Ram Meadow on loan.

Keeper Bert White, 20, joined Town in September 2020 having been released by AFC Wimbledon. Despite regular involvement in first-team warm-ups, White didn’t feature in the Town first team.

Striker Ola Bello, 19, came through the academy ranks, scoring a hat-trick in the 5-0 FA Youth Cup defeat of Chelmsford City in November 2020, but never made a first team appearance.

We understand announcements regarding the U23s players who are being kept on will be made in due course with discussions ongoing.

TWTD understands forward Tawanda Chirewa (above) is among those in talks - his current contract is up this summer but with the club having an option for a further year - while midfielder Tommy Hughes (below) has been offered a six-month deal and central defender Brooklyn Kabongolo and midfielder Alfie Cutbush are also set to stay having spent much of this season sidelined with injury, the latter after suffering an ACL tear.

Town are set to take the option on Tyreece Simpson's contract but with the striker having told the club he wants to move on. Luton Town, Peterborough United and Barnsley are all interested in the 20-year-old former Swindon loanee.

Photo: Matchday Images

OwainG1992 added 15:33 - May 13 Dylan Crowe. The excitement regarding his potential was crazy a few years back. Thought McGavin might have pushed on here too.
2

arc added 15:34 - May 13 Good luck to all these lads.
7

evansblue added 15:44 - May 13 Sad news for lots of these boys but I wish them all the best for the future.
4

BaddowBlue1 added 15:44 - May 13 Sad to see these boys go and wish them all the best for finding another club and kicking on with their professional careers. Wonder if we'll use Simpson as a make weight in trying to secure Jack Taylor from Peterborough.
3

BeattiesBackPocket added 16:11 - May 13 I wish these lads all the best. I know some on here will moan about this decision. A lot of these lads had potential but unfortunately didn't carry that on and fulfil that. Just look at the clubs they went to on loan etc and none had a glowing report and no clubs have come in for them. Ndaba was on loan and had a great season with Salford and was their player of the year hence why he's still with us and getting praise. It's a shame when academy kids leave but it happens. We still have plenty of lads who have come through getting some game time including Baggot, Humphreys and Chirewa. We can't keep every kid if they don't push on.

9

Marcus added 17:58 - May 13 Tough on the kids, however, it's up to them now to prove the club wrong by succeeding elsewhere. Good luck, unless playing against us!
4

Scuzzer added 20:09 - May 13 Hmmm....probably gives some context to Dyers resignation and to what he said at the time of it.
-2

Monkey_Blue added 20:18 - May 13 Crowe is a great example of how not to progress. Huge talent convinced by an agency he was the next big thing. He's had injuries as well but hope this motivates him to kick on
0

Edmundo added 21:06 - May 13 We moan about youth not being given a chance, but whatever successful Town 1st team you recall, there was never 11 local youth lads in it. Reality is some of these lads won't make it, some will develop late, and some will just flourish elsewhere. Nothing wrong with our system now, imo.
6

GiveusaWave added 04:11 - May 14 Some good players there but it is time for them to move on and make starts in the first team at new clubs. Dylan Crowe, Brett McGavin and Bailey Clements all showed promise but never looked like breaking permanently into the first team. Best of luck to all in the future!
1

Ipswichbusiness added 08:01 - May 14 Sad news for the lads and I wish them all the best finding new clubs. However, the sheer number of players being released suggests that KMcK isn't terribly impressed by the quality of what is coming through.
1

Linkboy13 added 08:47 - May 14 Like a lot of Ipswich players never lived up to the hype given to them by some people on here. Wouldn't be surprised to see Doddo and Mizo move on in the not too distant future especially if we get promoted to the Championship.
1

OliveR16 added 09:06 - May 14 If anyone can see an outstanding young player it is McKenna. Some of these guys will be fine in the lower leagues but Ipswich and McKenna will not be fine in the lower leagues.
1

ITFCBlue81 added 10:30 - May 15 Tommy Smith wasn't on loan at bury Town he was part of the under 23s winning team
0

tempzzzz added 12:27 - May 16 @ITFCBlue81 - It says he spent much of this season there on loan not all of it
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