Town will not scrap their reserve side next season despite being excluded from the FA Premier Reserve League along with other Football League clubs. TWTD reported in February that the Premier League was set to oust Championship clubs from their two reserves divisions.

Boss Joe Royle said: "There is absolutely no way we are going to give up on reserve football at this club. We still regard it as a vital component.

“We would never do anything to halt the progress of our up-and-coming youngsters. A reserve team has a worthwhile function, acting as it does as a bridge between the youth team and the first team.”

Town are yet to decide the format of next season's games, one possibility is the formation of a new regional league or the Blues may be forced play friendlies.

However, Portman Road is likely to have hosted its last reserve game for the time being. Town are likely to use Needham Market's Bloomfields and other non-league grounds as well as the Playford Road Training Centre.

The reserves have finished their Portman Road fixtures for the season but the academy face Manchester United in a friendly on May 1st.

Friday is a big day for Town's new academy recruits with their induction day taking place at Playford Road.

Already confirmed amongst their number is striker Jordan Rhodes, son of goalkeeper-coach Andy. The other scholars expected to be announed this week are Icelandic U17 striker Viktor Unnar Illugason, who is already playing first team football with hometown club Breidablik, Scottish central defender Paul Watson, New Zealand schools central defender Tommy Smith, midfielder Jai Reason, goalkeeper Andrew Plummer, midfielder Edward Upson, full-back Kurt Robinson and midfielder/central defender Curtley Williams.

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