McKenna: Woolfy's Made It Clear He Wants to Go Saturday, 30th Aug 2025 21:04 Town boss Kieran McKenna has confirmed that central defender Luke Woolfenden wants to leave the club and could move on before Monday’s 7pm deadline.
The 26-year-old, who signed a new contract which runs to the summer of 2027 with an option for a further year in January, looks unlikely to play regularly this season with skipper Dara O’Shea in his right-sided central defensive role.
Rumours have circulated all summer that the academy product wanted to move on with Watford, Coventry and Stoke City understood to be interested.
A move looked less with the Blues’ proposed move for Club America’s Uruguayan international Sebastian Caceres having broken down, but McKenna says Woolfenden, who is from Chantry, could be among those to depart on deadline day.
“Luke’s made it clear for quite a while that he wants to go, so we’ll see what that situation ends up in,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk.
Town have 30 players who qualify for their 25-man squad. Conor Townsend won’t be registered as he’s out for the season with an ACL injury, while Elkan Baggott seems certain to move out on loan.
McKenna revealed at his post-match press conference that Chieo Ogbene could also go on loan, while Ali Al-Hamadi, Harry Clarke and Cameron Humphreys are others who may make moves.
Photo: Matchday Images
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Bromley_Blue added 07:34 - Aug 31
I think our starting centre backs are better than Woolfenden and for his status in the club I do not see what has changed since he signed his contract extension in terms of his place in the pecking order of defenders. Of course it’s great to see local players in the side but I just think the starting two are better and Kipre from the 78 minutes or so at Bromley looked good as well. I think since he left the abilities of Burgess have been inflated. I thought he was a solid centre back but was quite slow and had limited passing range. I am sure there is a technical term but I thought the areas of the pitch he could pass to are less than Greeves (so you have a player with the ball facing down the pitch towards the opposition goal and imagine there is a protractor in front of them. I think Greeves can more easily play a pass more quickly easily and accurately for more degrees covering the pitch) I think Woolfie has a great passing range as well but just is slower in what he does. I think a lot of the criticism of the current centre back pairing is unfair I think O’Shea is excellent and Greeves giving away the penalty at Preston was an unfortunate incident as I think he had to rush into something which you could debate was a penalty anyway but there were other players in a better position to cover and clear but the communication was poor. Something that is appearing a bit in these early games which although some players are new they need to make sure communication improves significantly. With players going for the same ball and some attacking movement being quite off as players assume the move rather than making sure. Returning to Woolfie I wish him well if he does go his agent Town former left back Scott Baron also represents Walton and Baggott (and Donacien) he doesn’t strike me as someone who would agitate for a move but Woolf wants to be playing more regularly no doubt and if he does move in it will be interesting to see where he ends up. |  | |
Widj123 added 07:41 - Aug 31
This team is being destroyed Super Woolfy been a fabulous player being frozen as was Cam Burgess by McKenna Sir Bobby and Sir Alf must be turning in their graves after watching what has happened to this wonderful club in the last 18 months SHAME ON YOU MCKENNA |  | |
Bazza8564 added 08:29 - Aug 31
Sorry, the usual volley of nonsense. Burgess turned down multiple contract offers over 18 months, ran his contract down and left. (As he is entitled to do). Luke has asked to leave and the club is trying to accommodate that. Facts. Wingers costing £20m passing sideways have nothing to do with this at all. Wolfy realises as a RCB he won't get ahead of Dara, who is a first choice full international and club captain. Everything else is irrelevant. Luke, I hope you get the right deal for you mate and well done whilst you were here. I will be sad to see you go but it's your prerogative to try new pastures |  | |
BangaloreBlues added 08:30 - Aug 31
Mmmm not sure I like this but if he wants to leave then he should be allowed to go. Might end up being a loan move with the minimal time left, but let's hope for a bit more cash if he truly wants out. He's a great player and he's been loyal to us. Can't blame him for wanting to move on if he's not getting game time. I hope he goes to a club that he wants to go to rather than being forced to choose based on the time that remains in the window. I'll certainly miss him :-( |  | |
MickMillsTash added 09:00 - Aug 31
O'shea gets injured this week playing for Ireland and what the hell happens ? Wolfy needs football but we need a ball playing back up. |  | |
Lightningboy added 09:42 - Aug 31
Hmmmmmmmm....?.....not so long ago every player was saying McKenna was the best coach they'd ever played under....so why have so many asked to leave? Just a thought...when you lose the dressing room....do you go out and buy another dressing room....? Something ain't right and hasn't been since May 2024. |  | |
PositivelyPortman added 09:44 - Aug 31
If ever there was a game for Kipre to be involved in, it was yesterday. DOS was completely bullied and outplayed for most of the game and apart from Greaves’ headed goal, he was no better. Kipre’s power and strength would have greatly improved the team. |  | |
blueoutlook added 09:47 - Aug 31
Greaves and O’Shea are never£30 million quid better than Luke and Burgess were. Still think letting Burgess go was a crime! |  | |
blueboy1981 added 09:48 - Aug 31
Cannot say I blame you Woolfy - to be honest. You deserve to move on, and do better - you’ll only do that elsewhere, not here !! Thanks and Good Luck. |  | |
blueboy1981 added 09:51 - Aug 31
Ipswich Town - need a MANAGER !! - full stop. How much more evidence does anyone need ?? |  | |
Carberry added 11:24 - Aug 31
Well you've hung him out to dry there, haven't you Kieran. |  | |
TimmyH added 13:11 - Aug 31
It's not surprising when you play 2nd fiddle for a period of time...still not convinced by the O'shea/Greaves partnership they looked very suspect on direct play yesterday, the end line is we shouldn't have kept Burgess and offered him a new contract and Morsy should have seen his contract out here. |  | |
Linkboy13 added 13:27 - Aug 31
Why is it when players are in the team they get slagged off as being not good enough soon as they are out of the team they become world beaters funny thing fans. Personally ive always rated Wolfy he's a championship defender any day of the week. |  | |
Cadiar added 13:53 - Aug 31
Blueboy at it again. Basically saying KM should be sacked, he was very quiet when we got 2 promos back to back. |  | |
Northstandveteran added 14:01 - Aug 31
Ooh, so pedantic cooper4england. If McKenna wants to rip soles out of players boots and refuses to let them eat fish so be it! |  | |
JewellintheTown added 17:18 - Aug 31
Love Wolfy. Blue blood in his veins. Nostalgia, would like him to stay but for his sake mostly I'd wish him well & thanks for the great memories. Deserves a starting place somewhere, but he knows he's surplus here sadly. Don Goodman will send him a leaving card, I'm sure. |  | |
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