Town boss Kieran McKenna says Brentford target Omari Hutchinson “didn’t feel mentally in the right place” to travel with the squad for this evening’s friendly against Auxerre in France.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Bees are set to come back in with a £37.5 million offer for the 21-year-old, having previously had bids, the highest £35 million, turned down by the Blues.

Hutchinson was a notable absentee from the squad which beat Ligue 1 Auxerre 3-0 this evening.

“Omari, with the speculation around his future at the moment, he didn’t feel mentally in the right place to come for the game,” McKenna said when asked about Hutchinson after the match.

“It’s a challenging situation for everyone. He’s a player that we love and we support and we have empathy with the year that he’s been through and this important moment in his career.

“But also the career have the right for their position as well. We’ll keep working and communicating on that situation as well and hopefully it’ll be the best resolution for the club and for the player.”

Photo: Matchday Images

bricor2011 added 07:21 - Aug 3 No play, no pay, simple.
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thatsbonkers added 07:51 - Aug 3 If he is leaving we don’t want him to play a crocked £40 million asset is worth nothing.
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atty added 08:11 - Aug 3 This is football today. OK give Omari the benefit of the doubt but we now have players basically going on strike to get moves, Isaac and Wissa, and it’s clear that players are now the ones with the power. Some would say that’s how it should be, as opposed to being treated like cattle back in the day. Trouble is footballers don’t run the game, own clubs,run clubs, manage teams, coach teams, do the hard graft behind the scenes etc. if they get too superior and it’s going that way, it could backfire. The money could go elsewhere, as could others. Will the new regulator make it worse with player bias or achieve a fair balance?

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BlueRuin69 added 08:15 - Aug 3 Morsy, Mass, Phillips, Cajuste, Burgess, Delap, Hutchinson, Axel all gone Azor, Kipre, Young,..........................Weak
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Wonky added 08:51 - Aug 3 In other news a bunch of (probably) middle aged men (who have never been high profile athletes) slag off a 21 year old for being immature.
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Cadiar added 09:02 - Aug 3 Some really vile comments on here by many low life's. We do not know the real position but my take is Omari needs to be playing at the top for his career but loves it at Ipswich & has a brilliant relationship with KM.who has said he & Omari are always talking. It's a huge decision for OH to make, he's not refusing to play as stated by numerous muppets who have no more information than any of us. Perhaps as someone suggested a buy back clause would be a good idea. Perhaps the dumb idiots on here have all turned down better jobs, better pay & working in a prestigious environment. I doubt that very much. What ever the outcome we should be grateful ass supporters for what Omari has contributed but if he stays I expect the fickle hate brigade to treat him as Muric was treated who by the way certainly was not so bad according to the Opta ratings, James Beadle being the worst followed by Mellier. So get off his back.

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BlueRuin69 added 09:09 - Aug 3 In other news….young snowflake generation cannot handle criticism and play the anxiety card when things get tough or they don’t get their own way, ignoring all sense of responsibility in their self entitled world….
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Edmundo added 09:14 - Aug 3 From a squad position I'd rather Omari goes, we get big money, have cover already here, and hopefully keep Broadhead. COYB
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Phil1969 added 09:39 - Aug 3 Calm down guys the club aren’t stupid nobody else is leaving without replacements being lined up. Like the Borough supporters said Ipswich ?? Brentford ?? In the club we trust !
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Carberry added 10:10 - Aug 3 Maybe 'not mentally in the right frame of mind' means he's at Brentford having a medical?
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cardinaldom88 added 10:20 - Aug 3 As town fans, we have seen the big boys and agents come in and unsettle players such as Ben Knight and Tyreece Simpson it happens in football. I’ll give Omari credit for being honest with the coaches and saying he was not feeling right before the game. He was onto a loser, especially seeing the comments here, either way. If he plays and puts up a stinker of a game it would have been because he’s head was not in it, then gets slated. Instead, he lets the team know he’s not feeling right and still gets slated. Can’t win! I do hope that none of the people slating him here ever have issues with mental wellbeing, no stress, anxiety or depression. It’s horrible and can be debilitating at times. He’s been a great addition to the club and I, for one, hope he stays and gets the support within the club he needs.

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Carberry added 10:22 - Aug 3 So, what does it say about our club that our brightest young star wants to leave for a team that is about to be relegated (so people on here say)? It sounds like he hasn't bought into the project, as it is fashionable to say these days, regardless of his fireside chats with McKenna. That is the most worrying aspect of all this.
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Bert added 10:29 - Aug 3 Sadly hate speech has infected this forum. Hutchinson is a young kid, not as mature as some his age and he is faced with a huge dilemma. He needs time to sort his head out as does anyone in life when situations occur that pull you one way and then another. Just because he gets paid a lot and has a near £40m tag on his head does not mean he should be treated as a villain.
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Guthrum added 10:46 - Aug 3 Note he didn't say Hutchinson refused to play, but that they - the coaching team - decided to leave him out. The fact he may not be part of Town's future would likely also have played a part in not using him for a pre-season workout with no points at stake (which we won, anyway).
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ArmaghBlue added 11:13 - Aug 3 I personally didn’t think he looked ready for the premier league last season. But, if they want to take that gamble, good luck to them.
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Lightningboy added 11:17 - Aug 3 He never looks happy (same with Philogene). Sell him tomorrow and bulk up the squad with 2 or 3 players who want to be here.
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chepstowblue added 11:39 - Aug 3 Echoing what many have said previously. A quite pathetic snowflake generation who go out of their way to conform to the stereotype. God knows what type of mutations they will spawn. Put your boots on and play football for Christ sake. I hope he stays, but five days lying on a couch in a darkened room talking to somebody professional mightn't hurt. Bless 'em.
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ImAbeliever added 11:43 - Aug 3 Players come and go, just like the rest of us change our jobs for various reasons, don’t get what all the fuss about.
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BlueArmy999 added 11:44 - Aug 3 Surprised and disappointed in Omari. He had a fantastic season in the championship, not so much in the prem but he grew into the season. Have some loyalty for a change … McKenna and Ipswich gave him his shot in men’s football, I may be wrong but Brentford could well be in n a relegation dogfight next season. He may as well stay with us show some loyalty and if we get promoted he’s a nailed on starter. He is paid to play, the club have been good to Omari and the fans have shown him so much love. Yes Brentford are premier league but they are hardly a massive club. Broadhead has been linked and still willing to play for us. We want players who will go out there and die for the badge week in week out not someone who is mentally not ready to play because Brentford want him. Come on get a grip

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Runner added 12:07 - Aug 3 I have a different view on this. All we have is McK talking on behalf of the club. The message puts OH & Brentford in a bad light. It also keeps a £40m asset free from damage.
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MK1 added 12:25 - Aug 3 Get him gone, spend the money in midfield and top 2 is realistic. No player should be able to hold the club to ransom like that. We took a punt on him and he should be grateful, but no, now thinks he is too good for us. Get him out the door as quickly as possible.
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Monkey_Blue added 12:33 - Aug 3 I have zero issue with a player wanting to move to the prem. Do wedoubt Szmodics character who admitted he refused to play in a friendly last summer when he wanted to leave Blackburn for us. Players are not fans. Omari won’t have grown up a Town fan, Suffolk boy, dreaming of playing for us. I don’t blame him for thinking of his career although I worry for his sake that Brentford might be the wrong move.

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Linkboy13 added 13:10 - Aug 3 Completely the right decision not to travel if there's a transfer on the horizon. If he had got injured the deal would have been off and 30 million pounds down the drain so no point in travelling. Some people just like an excuse to have a moan.
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Town_Jewells added 13:30 - Aug 3 Don't assume that Omari's going to Brentford, looks highly likely that RB Leipzig is his destination.
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Whos_blue added 13:31 - Aug 3 Sad to see some pretty crappy comments from some pretty crappy people posted here. Some people need to have a word with themselves.
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