Boss Joe Royle says he is not surprised that former Blue John McGreal is doing well with new club Burnley, Town's opponents at Portman Road on Saturday. McGreal decided to join the Clarets in the summer when his contract was up after five years at Portman Road.

Royle told the club site: "I am not surprised that John has done well at Burnley because he's a good player. I never wanted to lose him and of the eight players that left the club in the summer he was my biggest regret.

"With Jason De Vos coming in and Richard Naylor here as well, we had options at the back to play two or perhaps all three of them and I felt they would give us a basis to build on for this season.

"It didn't work out with John leaving and that was a blow to me."

Town initially offered McGreal, now 32 and with a history of injury problems in recent years, a one-year deal and subsequently two years, however the Clarets offered him a three-year deal on more money, something the former Tranmere man could not turn down at this stage of his career.

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