Former Nigerian international Finidi George says he will be happy to take a pay cut to move away from Portman Road and play first team football. The ex-Ajax man was given a free transfer by Town this week who want his £20,000-a-week wage off the payroll.

Finidi joined Town for more than £3 million in the summer of 2001 but despite seven goals last season he has never really adjusted to English football.

He says that more than anything he wants to continue to play and is not bothered if that means a drop in pay: "I really don't want to be here just drawing my wages and not playing. I love football and I need to play. If I find the right club then I'll be happy to take less money."

Town are understood to be talking to a number of Spanish and Portuguese clubs, moves which would interest the former Real Betis and Real Mallorca player, particularly with his pregnant Spanish girlfriend already having returned to her home country: "Spain would be good, but we'll have to wait and see.

“This is a great club and the supporters have been magnificent to me, and the team as a whole. We got relegated from the Premiership and it was taken so well. At most other clubs it would not."

At present he has an ankle injury which he picked up in the recent reserve match against Spurs but aims to be back fit again soon.

He says he feels things have not worked out for him at Town and that he would prefer a more central role these days: “I wanted to be a success in England with Ipswich. I wanted it to work out, but sadly it has not. I feel that these days my best position is in the middle of the midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.”

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