Town and keeper Andy Marshall's representatives are negotiating a pay-off on the remaining ten months of his contract. Marshall, out of Joe Royle's plans, is being targeted by two unnamed clubs.

The keeper, who joined the Blues on a Bosman from Norwich in the summer of 2001, is now one of the highest-paid players at the club on around £15,000 a week.

His exit would be welcomed at Portman Road with the wage bill now at a more affordable £8 million, down from £24 million two years ago. Next season Town are aiming for an annual payroll of £5 million, if they remain in the Nationwide League.

Marshall's agent says his player wants to play football and that a deal could take place soon: "We are talking to two clubs and there's a possibility something will happen this week. But that's all I can say at this point.

"I'm not going to name the clubs, or even say whether they play in the Premiership or the First Division."

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