Town have offered professional contracts to Massimo Luongo, Sone Aluko and Tawanda Chirewa, but have announced the release of Joel Coleman, Richard Keogh, Matt Penney and Kane Vincent-Young as well as 10 U21s players.

The Blues were required to submit their retained list to the EFL on Saturday and have now made it public.

It comes as little surprise that Luongo has been offered new terms, the Australian international having joined Town for a second spell following a trial in January - he was previously on loan from Tottenham at the start of 2012/13 - after spending the first half of the campaign with Middlesbrough without playing a first-team game.

The 30-year-old made 13 starts and three sub appearances, scoring twice, including the second in the 6-0 hammering of Exeter which confirmed promotion back to the Championship.

Town didn’t lose a single game that the former Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon and QPR man played in.

Aluko’s offer of new terms might be viewed as more of a surprise, the 34-year-old having made only four League One starts during 2022/23, a knee injury in August having hampered his campaign, although manager Kieran McKenna spoke about the role the forward played in the dressing room during the season.

The former Nigerian international joined Town in the summer of 2021 having left Reading at the end of the previous season and having had a spell on trial with Derby.

Overall, Aluko has made 31 starts and 24 sub appearances in his two seasons with the Blues, scoring three times.

Academy product Chirewa has previously turned down the offer of new terms with the Blues, Town having taken up the one-year option in his previous deal.

The 19-year-old forward, who West Ham were keen to sign last summer, has made one senior start and two sub appearances for the Blues.

It seems likely that Town have made the contract offer in order to make sure they receive compensation when he moves to another club rather than with an expectation that he will sign.

Of those departing, central defender Keogh returned to the club where he had been an academy schoolboy in August last year from Blackpool.

The 36-year-old former Republic of Ireland international went on to make 11 starts and five sub appearances for the Blues.

Despite their lack of games, McKenna recently praised the role played by Aluko and Keogh during the season.

“They’re absolutely huge,” he said. “I have to say, and it’s one thing I don’t think people will realise until you’re in and around it, the impact that the mood and the dynamic in the squad will have on their performances and the preparation for games, which in the end dictates the performances.

“We’re very fortunate with that, fortunate with the characters we have in the building. Richard Keogh and Sone Aluko have both been absolutely outstanding, have had a massive impact on the season.

“Richard Keogh in my opinion has had a massive impact on the clean sheet record that we have and our defensive record because of the way that he works every day, the way that the other centre-halves can learn habits and traits from him, the way that he speaks to them.

“And Sone has had a massive impact, not just on the pitch in games that he’s played like Richard where they’ve played some important games and minutes for us, that have made a difference.

“But also in his impact on developing the other players, developing the younger players, speaking to them, being a voice, being a mentor and setting a terrific example in training.

“I think those two players as an example, we’re lucky to have them. Of course, they would both like to play more, it’s not easy for them not playing as many minutes as they would want to play, but they also understand that the team has been performing very well.”

We understand Keogh plans to continue playing and will be looking for a club at League One or Two level.

Vincent-Young joined the Blues from Colchester United for £500,000 in the summer of 2019 - having been on trial the previous summer without being offered a contract - and made an excellent start to his Town career before suffering an injury in his ninth game.

That knock and further subsequent injuries as he made his return saw the Londoner sidelined for the next 17 months.

However, the full-back was never able to hit the heights of his early spell and in 2022/23 made only two League One starts in addition to 16 appearances from the bench, as well as another four starts in cup competitions.

Overall, Vincent-Young made 42 starts and 22 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring twice, in consecutive matches during his early games after his move.

Keeper Joel Coleman signed for Town on a short-term deal in November after third-choice Nick Hayes picked up an injury playing for the U21s having left Rochdale last summer.

The 27-year-old signed another deal which ran to the end of the season in January but never made a senior appearance for the Blues, although was on the first-team bench for the FA Cup games against Bracknell and Rotherham.

Left-back Penney joined the Blues on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 after leaving Sheffield Wednesday.

The 25-year-old made 21 starts and five sub appearances during 2021/22, most of them under Paul Cook, scoring once.

Last summer, he was sent out on loan to Motherwell, where he enjoyed a successful spell, before joining Charlton in January, where he made only three starts and two appearances from the bench.

Janoi Donacien’s contract was due to end this summer but the club exercised a one-year option in his deal last month.

This season’s loanees, George Hirst and Tyreece John-Jules, have returned to Leicester City and Arsenal respectively, although it’s expected the Blues will look to sign the Foxes frontman on a permanent basis, while the Gunners forward also enjoyed his time at Portman Road and might well favour a return to the club on loan or on a permanent basis should he be in McKenna’s plans.

Town have also released 10 members of the U21s squad including central defender Albie Armin, who TWTD revealed has spent time on trial at Brentford and West Brom and we understand also recently trained with AFC Bournemouth.

Midfielder Matt Healy, who is currently on loan with his hometown club Cork City, U21s skipper Fraser Alexander, who has been on loan with Cheshunt for most of the season, and Wales U19 international keeper Lewis Ridd are also among those being let go.

Speaking to TWTD in March, after the young players had been told they could move on, Mark Ashton said the club isn't keen to hold on to players for too long.

“It’s [director of football operations] Gary [Probert]’s area. It’s that time of year, it’s always difficult. But what we’re not going to do is warehouse players,” he said.

“I know previous regimes would do that because I’ve had conversations with Lee [O’Neill] when he was here, they were always scared to death to release players.

“I don’t think that’s fair on the players, it’s tough, but I just don’t believe in warehousing them for the sake of warehousing them.

“And I think what you’ve seen now, when you’ve got the likes of Kieran [McKenna] and his coaching staff, the demands are going to be even higher, so they’ve got to be really sure they’ve got a chance.”

Released U21s: Fraser Alexander, Albie Armin, Harley Curtis, Alfie Cutbush, Matt Healy, Max Hudson, Brooklyn Kabongolo, Callum Page, Lewis Ridd, Charlie Woods.

Photo: Matchday Images

Help added 17:09 - May 23 Bearing in mind how badly both U21's and U18's did in their respective leagues, is it any surprise that a clear out is needed.
0

chepstowblue added 17:26 - May 23 Disappointed at KVY. Certainly signs before the injury that he was a terrific talent. Delighted about Aluko. Definitely still good enough to have a huge impact at championship level. Hopeful about Luongo and Hirst signing up. Not overly concerned about the rest, but thanks for being part of the club and wishing them well in their future endeavours.
1

Europablue added 17:27 - May 23 troyparrotsleftear, There is a difference between keeping on players and caring about them. The comment about not warehousing U21s surely is a positive. There is money to be made from some players, but although they are assets, they are also human beings who deserve respect.
5

joyousblue added 17:40 - May 23 Whats happening to piggot , the comment about vardy wanting to stay in the premiership, is rubbish he is leicester through and through, and he is 36 , my bet is he sees the championship as his swansong , hoping to go out with a glut of goals , plus they have 5 top defenders out of contact and two top midfielders plus dean smith is only there until the end of the season , so thats a lot of players to either pay more or whoever the new manager is sell the likes of hurst to rebuild

2

beachcomber added 18:02 - May 23 To @help - that's a pretty harsh comment about how badly the academy boys have done. The current u21s got to the semi-final of the Youth Cup a couple of years ago, going out to Liverpool - a huge achievement and the best for many years by a youth team. A big chunk of those lads have been injured badly and have been out for months and the rest have done what the club asked of them which is to go out on loan and get some experience in the men's game. The players that have been left playing this season have done ok, many playing up a couple of years which is a big leap physically at that age. Those that have performed for their loan clubs have also had an hand in the first team success, often training with them and doing shape-work etc. It would have been a nice gesture for the club to invite them to the awards dinner or the celebration event in Christchurch Park in recognition of this especially as the club knew they wouldn't be staying. Cutbush and Alexander have been there for 13 years!! The first team success has meant that these boys have been released rather than being taken along on the crest of the winning wave! With luck, those young lads will stay positive and pick up a new club and keep working hard. Good luck to them all in their careers ahead - they have had an excellent grounding in this academy and deserve to do well in whatever they choose to do next.

4

SussexTractor added 18:28 - May 23 Leicester will be relegated and George Hirst will be back as they slash their wage bill - well that's what I hope 🤩
3

Trequartista added 18:29 - May 23 Sad for Charlie Woods, but probably the right decision now that he's 82.
4

Saxonblue74 added 19:10 - May 23 Aluko may have only played a handful of games, but was absolute quality in those he did. KVY is talented for sure, but I can't help thinking he stood out in what was a pretty poor squad when he arrived with us.
0

Saxonblue74 added 19:10 - May 23 Aluko may have only played a handful of games, but was absolute quality in those he did. KVY is talented for sure, but I can't help thinking he stood out in what was a pretty poor squad when he arrived with us.
0

BurleysGloryDays added 19:12 - May 23 KVY - too many mistakes, pens or red cards. and too many injuries. nice guy but not going to be able to take us forward. Good luck, though
0

BurleysGloryDays added 19:12 - May 23 KVY - too many mistakes, pens or red cards. and too many injuries. nice guy but not going to be able to take us forward. Good luck, though
0

Bazza8564 added 19:15 - May 23 Pleased for Aluko, and I think Keogh will eventually be back as a coach if not immediately. We do have first option on Hirst, don't forget the window isnt open until mid June, these are just OOC contract players. "What about Pigott?" well hes got another year so we can hardly release him.... This is just a tiny bit of the business and no real surprises. Suspect MA is looking at options for loads still to go out, El Miz, Baggott, Ndaba, Harper, Hladky possibly, and a dark horse for a loan out next season might be Cam Humphreys to get experience. And then the "ins". So many names mentioned, let's leave it to MA, this will be a very attractive club for players to come into, we are tipped to be challengers and one season from PL with momentum is light years ahead of where we were two years ago. Sit back and enjoy the ride all :)

6

KiwiTractor added 21:27 - May 23 Assume Harper and Pigott are still under contract (?), but I expect both to move (perm or loan) one way or the other. Can't see Ahadme playing for us either.... Be interesting to see what happens with the likes of Ndaba, Baggott and El Mizouni - will they be good enough to break into the squad. Big season for Camara, can he get fit or is he the next Tom Adeyemi?
3

Michael101 added 22:19 - May 23 Of all the players released how many will end up at Colchester???
1

HARRY10 added 23:42 - May 23 There are 13 players whose contract runs out summer '24. How many can we get (or want) signed before then ? Perhaps some will depart this summer.
0

Europablue added 08:16 - May 24 Michael101, Colchester have realized that taking all our cast-offs just doesn't work.
0

blues1 added 08:48 - May 24 Troyparrottsleftear. Did u notched the story where it says they wont just keep young players, forctge sake of it, as has happened in the past. If kmk doesn't believe those players are going to get into his,1st team, what's the point in keeping them here. Unfair to those players too, as could find themselves other clubs wherecthey may get to play. Also what has Ashton got to do with it? He doesn't decide who to keep, and who to release. Thsts,down to kmk, and his staff.

2

blues1 added 08:51 - May 24 Troyparrottsleftear. * should say, have u not read
0

blues1 added 09:02 - May 24 Saxonblue74. U say aluko has been class in the few games he's played? Really? Yes, he looks exciting with his turns and his ability to go past players, but what does he actually do. No goals, no assists. All the things u need from a number 10? And not even likely to get into the team in the midfield positions with the players we have there. Or at number 10 tbh, with Chaplin, broadhead, harness, and even camara who can play there. Just seems an odd one considering he had only 4 starts in lge1. Hardly likely to play many in the championship is he? Of course, me having said that, he'll probably go out and have a barnstorming season.

5

Linkboy13 added 09:18 - May 24 Yes agreed blues1 if it was a popularity contest I'd play Aluko every game, he comes on excites us and then lets us down with no end product. I think McKenna see's him as a future coach and good to have around the dressing room. The pace and the physical demands will be way too much for him.
1

filobiz added 11:09 - May 24 wishing KVY all the best - i watched him v shrewsbury in 2019 (?) and thought he looked absolutely brilliant. shame to see him go but hoping you keep progressing. as many have pointed out, pre-injury KVY was awesome. all the best lad
0

Cadiar added 11:10 - May 24 Aluko still with a championship club whereas the club who released him are now League 1. Hope Chirewa stays.
0

Cadiar added 11:10 - May 24 Aluko still with a championship club whereas the club who released him are now League 1. Hope Chirewa stays.
0

Cadiar added 11:10 - May 24 Aluko still with a championship club whereas the club who released him are now League 1. Hope Chirewa stays.
0

baxterbasics added 12:07 - May 24 Not seen a lot of games in person last season but when I did, and Aluko was on, he was the best player on the pitch. Although this was before the second half-of-season run of form with the current starting players. But glad he gets another stint.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls