Archive for May, 2008

Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks has been sidelined and will assume a non-executive role from July 1.

Sheepshanks will continue to chair both the club and plc boards but he admitted his new role will see him take a “less active” part in club proceedings.

The news effectively means Sheepshanks will no longer have any say in how the club is run as a non-executive and will be forced to take a backseat role in the Blues' decision making process.

The Old …

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Owen Garvan is planning to hold further talks with the Blues before deciding whether to commit his future to the club.

The midfielder has just been offered a two-year extension to his contract that would tie him to the Suffolk outfit until 2011 but so far the young Irishman has not put pen-to-paper.

Garvan will now return home to Dublin for a break after being involved in the Republic of Ireland senior squad but he expects to hold more talks with Town boss Jim Magilton …

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When former Town assistant coach Willie Donachie agreed to take charge of Antigua and Barbuda for their World Cup qualifier against Cuba next month he knew his preparations would be difficult to say the least.

A lack of training facilities and the fact there is a relatively small talent pool to choose players from were always going to be major obstacles for Donachie as he looks to lead the Caribbean island a little closer to the 2010 World Cup.

But Donachie perhaps …

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Bolton Wanderers could be set to scupper any Town deal to bring Emile Mpenza to Portman Road.

Gary Megson is apparently keen to offer the striker a Premiership home after he was discarded by Manchester City, who have told the 29-year-old he is surplus to requirements at Eastlands.

Mpenza's agent, Rachid Tajmout, confirmed Ipswich have also enquired about the former Hamburg striker but, like any top flight player, he is reluctant to drop down a division.
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Premier League new boys Hull City have stolen a march on Ipswich Town in the race to sign David Healy.

Tigers boss Phil Brown has identified the 28-year-old as the man to replace free-scoring striker Fraizer Campbell, if City cannot broker a deal to bring the Manchester United striker to the KC Stadium on a permanent basis following a successful loan spell.

Hull chairman Paul Duffen has pledged to back Brown in the transfer market this summer and a bid of around ?1.5m is …

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For every Frans Thijssen and Arnold Muhren there's a Cor Lems or Marco Holster just waiting to nose-dive into the ointment.

Outside of planet football, life's no different. For every Alec Issigonis, immigrant and designer of the classic British Mini, there's a one-legged Romanian roofer giving the talent import business a bad name.

But you get Alf's point? The news that Town are hoping to soon unveil a new international scout is welcome news to Alf, but …

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Ipswich boss Jim Magilton's quest to find a replacement for departed skipper Jason De Vos has taken him to Holland � in the shape of central defender Pim Balkestein, who will sign for the Tractor Boys in the next few days.

Ferret's man across the North Sea tells me a fee has been agreed for the tall � 6ft 4ins to be precise � 21-year-old who apparently impressed in a trial spell at Ipswich and is said to be �very excited� about his impending move to England.

And …

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Town chairman David Sheepshanks believes the club's academy must “raise the bar again” and produce players capable of forging a first team career at Portman Road.

While the takeover of the club by Marcus Evans has given the Blues money to spend in the transfer market, Sheepshanks insists the academy will not be neglected as a result and believes it can play a crucial part in achieving the club's long term goal of Premier League football.

The Town academy has …

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If I were in Jim Magilton's shoes I would be looking to rebuild the spine of the Ipswich team in readiness for what I expect to be an even tougher promotion battle next season.

I can see the Championship being stronger next season, especially if Leeds join Swansea and Nottingham Forest from League One. Birmingham and Reading, two of the three relegated teams, will also be among the challengers, but I wouldn't bet a penny on Derby being contenders.

Add that little …

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Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric has issued a hands-off warning to any clubs thinking of making moves for their star players.

Following the Foxes' relegation to League One several of their players are expected to move on in the summer with Town boss Jim Magilton never hiding his admiration for defender Gareth McAuley.

The likes of Richard Stearman and Joe Mattock have also been linked with Premiership clubs but Mandaric intends to try and hold on to the spine of …

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