Blues winger Kyle Edwards wants to move on to a club where he can start more games, manager Kieran McKenna has revealed.

News that Edwards is set to move on had been expected after the 25-year-old was left out of the 20-man squad for the Carabao Cup tie with Bristol Rovers in midweek.

The former West Brom man has never been able to secure a regular spot in the Town side since signing on a free transfer after leaving the Baggies in the summer of 2021. In the league, he has made 14 starts and 36 sub appearances, scoring three times.

“Kyle is someone we’ve had conversations with at the end of last season,” McKenna said. “We both agreed that he is at the stage in his career where he wants to go and start a few more games.

“He needs to become a more regular starter. He has been a really important player for us and certainly as an impact player role last year.

“But he now wants to go and start more games and build his career and he’s at the age where he wants to do that – whether a loan move or a permanent transfer.

“He's had some interest but nothing that’s been right for him yet. So he is training with the group, he’s had a really good pre-season, and he is available for the games and the squad.

“Just with the Carabao Cup, to be honest, it was a decision to help Kyle as what we don’t want to do is tie him for the season for the sake of an appearance in that competition, where you can only play for two clubs over the course of a season.

“If he played some minutes the other night, that would possibly limit him with regards to loan moves or maybe a permanent move in this window or the next window.

“We made that decision with him that for the Carabao Cup, so he keeps his eligibility until the end of the window. And then after that, we will see.

“He is with the group, he is training well, he is an asset to us. If he stays here, he will be with the group. And if he has an opportunity to go and play, which is what he wishes to do, that is something we will look at.”

Edwards was the subject of interest from a number of clubs, believed to include Hull City and Swansea, in January but with the Blues then keen to keep hold of the former U16, U17 and U20 international for the run-in.


Anyone else with whom similar conversations have been had? “I won’t go into every single situation but we have a big squad. We want to keep a big squad as it is going to be a long and physical season.

“But we want everyone to feel they are competing for starts or are close to starts. There are different players in the squad whose situation we have discussed and will assess.

“There are three weeks left in the transfer window so it is not impossible that one or two might look at opportunities elsewhere.

“But on the other hand, we are happy with the squad. We want to have a big squad, we want two for each position, and that’s a strength we had and utilised last season.

“It was really important for us in the first half of the season when we had a lot of injuries and that’s how we want to go into this season as well.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Bluearmy_81 added 18:14 - Aug 11 Edwards over Jackson for me all day
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Linkboy13 added 18:15 - Aug 11 Problem with Harness his all round game is limited which is probably why he'll never be a regular in the team. His distribution is poor at times along with his decision making which is why Edwards is also not a regular in the team. Yes Harness played well in the preseason kick abouts but i never pay much regard to them. Anyway all that matters is the results on the pitch and in that respect i have one hundred percent confidence in Kieron McKenna.

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Dab added 18:36 - Aug 11 Edwards has said that he wants to start games. Much as I like him as an impact sub Im not sure he is up to starting games in the Championship.... yet... Presumably that is what KM has told him so he wants to go and start games somewhere else. Fair play to KE for wanting to play. Fair play to KM for being honest about the situation. It is what it is!
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OldFart71 added 18:44 - Aug 11 A shame really. I like the lad, but can understand his point of view and Town's as well as he's never really hit the heights. Just hope we can achieve a decent fee for him. I do wonder given that we signed the new goalkeeper if one of the senior keepers will move on ?
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London_Blue added 18:47 - Aug 11 The Championship demands players with strength, power and pace. Edwards has the pace but not the attributes so in my opinion, won’t have the impact he had last season.
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Orraman added 19:29 - Aug 11 Edwards is certainly capable of raising excitement levels with his dribbling and mazy runs but I have always been disappointed with his decision making and wasting that crucial final ball. Best for him that he moves on and gets regular game time
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RobsonWark added 19:47 - Aug 11 To me Edwards always looked a threat when he came on and ran at defenders. I feel he wasn't given the chance to show us what he could do. Players like him need to play week in week out to gain confidence and I'm sure if he had been given a run of games he would have been a big asset to our style of play.
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Davidwb20 added 20:07 - Aug 11 Firstly, I for one will be sad to him leave permanently if that is how this pans out. Pleased to see Kieran being honest about the situation. Kyle has asked to leave for more game time and I totally understand and respect that. Good luck! Also with such a big squad which I believe we need Kieran cannot keep everyone happy.
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jacobnikons added 20:38 - Aug 11 a far better player than Jackson, Harness and Hutchinson in my view and I am very sorry to see him leave because I feel he has a big part to play if given an opportunity. I wish him well whatever he does, he is a great talent and it will be Ipswich's loss if he leaves permanently.
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Davidwb20 added 22:42 - Aug 11 Apologies jacobnikons I meant to hit the up arrow not down arrow!
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Karlosfandangal added 00:13 - Aug 12 Is that why Town brought in Hutchins…..only seen him play at the Bristol Rovers game but feel Edwards would be better…..but I prefer Jackson than Edwards. Not sure we should sell but if we can buy better then yes…..has talent Really not sure
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Westcountryblue added 00:56 - Aug 12 Not sure this is a wise move from the club. Certainly offers more than Harness and Aluko and quite rightly should be getting more first team minutes. Ashton et al will need to do some serious business in the transfer market over the next couple of weeks, as we look light currently and this won't help things.
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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 04:32 - Aug 12 Hope it turns into a loan move with possible recall in Jan rather than anything permanent. At the end of the day he wants to start regularly and we are really using him as a squad player rather than a first 11 starter.
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scorpioblue added 06:52 - Aug 12 blues1. I get it’s not a case of keeping one and losing another, and I get the reasons why he wants to leave, however it was just my opinion that I prefer Edwards over Harness and think he’s worth bringing on for the last 20 mins or so. Yes Harness has done well preseason and hopefully he’ll reproduce the form he had when we brought him, but I’m not totally convinced that he will but am happy to be proved wrong :) like I said it’s just my opinion over them both.

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Theipswich added 08:55 - Aug 12 Creative and a great dribbler when on form....I like him a lot and think he has much to offer and not only as a bit part player. Would prefer to play and keep him rather than Hutchinson loanee personally..
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