Town manager Kieran McKenna says he would have liked to have kept Nathan Broadhead at Portman Road but that the Wales international made it clear early in the summer he’d like to move on to Wrexham.

Broadhead, 27, signed for the Red Dragons yesterday, the clubs having agreed a £7.5 million fee, plus further top-ups of £2.5 million.

“A player that we would like to have had here this year, there’s no doubt about it,” McKenna said. “A high-quality player, someone who's had a really good experience with us over the last couple of years. 
 
“Nathan made it clear from the early part of pre-season that he'd had an offer from a club, and an incredible contract offer really for his personal situation. 
 
“So, I fully understand his desire to take that opportunity and it's a club close to home that he has an affinity to. I understand all aspects of that. So, from his point of view, it was a transfer that he wanted to happen. 
 
“He sort of made that clear right the way through pre-season. So in the end it was a difficult situation to go in another direction.

“Of course, he's on a contract here and he's an important member of the squad and we'd like to have kept him. 
 
“But in the end, it wasn't possible. His desire to leave was really, really strong and he makes the move to Wrexham.

“He goes with fond memories of his time at the club. I know all the supporters will wish him well.
 
“I'm disappointed with how it came about in some ways, but at the same time it's a really fantastic deal for Nathan. It's a good deal for the club in terms of return on what was invested in the player.
 
“And he'll go with a lot of people here's best wishes. And for us, it's about trying to replace that quality and still have a really good season.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Swailsey added 17:08 - Aug 15 Sure sure, which is why you tried to bomb him out last season? Covering yourself slightly here sir I think.
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Phil1969 added 17:10 - Aug 15 Starting to wonder if we are in business for the benefit of the players Morsy Broadhead Burgess Hutchinson what’s good for them not necessarily the club. If McK wanted to keep them why did we let go. All very well if we replace with quality but time is running out until January!
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 17:23 - Aug 15 So (Phil1969) a player want's to go and you think that what's best for the club is forcing them to stay against their will?
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Global_Blue added 17:27 - Aug 15 I noted that KM said NB would go with the best wishes of people at the club, but not his best wishes. Compare that with the comments about Omari. Maybe the relationship was part of the problem, maybe I'm just reading too much into it all. Personally, I'm sad NB is going, of all our attackers i thought he was one of the best and carried a huge threat when he went at defences, much more so than Clarke has shown so far.

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Oldschoolnumber9 added 17:29 - Aug 15 Jas0999. Whilst I agree we need more good signings, Especially with these two departures. Demanding the news that we’ve spent ‘big fees’ is moronic.
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Northstandveteran added 17:33 - Aug 15 McKenna clearly didn't rate him. That's an amazingly high fee we've received for a player with one year left on his contract though. Good business.
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Phil1969 added 17:51 - Aug 15 Tim, more than one way to skin a cat. New contracts for all four for example. If the rest of the squad feel like a change we’re playing U 21’s
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armchaircritic59 added 18:24 - Aug 15 Two sides to the same coin. Players wishes and clubs wishes. You can argue which one, if any, is more important than the other. One thing I know for certain, as it's fact and not opinion, is that we make an initial R.O.I. on Nathan of 400% rising to 556% with the top ups, based on his signing on fee of 1.5m here. Now the opinion part, that has to be sound business sense for a player ( and yes, a good one ) in the last year of his contract. It's sense for him too, as he's going somewhere that should seem like a home to him, and Wrexham will be happy too. For me it's win, win, win. Finally I wish him the very best of luck for the future.

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eunos added 19:08 - Aug 15 Best wishes for the future Nathan, and thanks for some great memories. My 2p - I think all parties handled this pretty well, much better than Omari, broady wanted to go last summer and we were happy to let him go until the last minute when deals for his replacement fell through - he could've thrown his toys and tried to force a move but didn't. He could well be playing in the prem for Sunderland now. But we got an excellent fee for a last year player that would've left on a free and no hard feelings, he got a lucrative move home and will be given a starring role instead of 20 mins here and there for us. Everyone is happy = a good deal all round. Coyb

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