Town axe former player of year

By Derek Davis

YOUNG Blues midfielder Ollie Fenn has become the first Ipswich Town player to link up with Eircom League side Galway United under the new association between the clubs.

The 19-year-old has gone to the Irish side after he impressed in a friendly game between the two clubs at Playford Road last week.

Galway manager Tony Cousins is keen to strengthen links between the two clubs and last week made cheeky bid to take Liam Trotter on loan but said then he liked the look of Fenn.

It is hoped a flow of players between the two clubs will follow after Town played a friendly in Ireland 18-months ago and Galway spent a week training in Suffolk recently as part of their pre season.

Fenn, born and bred in Ipswich, has been told he will not be offered a contract in the summer and will become a free agent.

Last season Fenn won the Harold Smith Award for the most promising academy player but has been unable to push on this year, having missed most of pre-season due to a bout of shingles.

With moves forging ahead to create an All-Ireland league, Town boss Jim Magilton see value in creating a string link with Galway and Fenn will be something of a pioneer.

Magilton said: “Irish league football is taking off and it will be a good opportunity for Ollie to move is career on.”

Keeper Andrew Plummer, 18, will join Blue Square Premier side Oxford United on trial next week after being told he will not be kept on at Ipswich.

Magilton said: “Andrew has not played enough reserve team football and he needs the chance to get his career going. Hopefully that will happen for him at Oxford.”

Fellow academy player Jordan Rhodes spent a loan spell with Oxford in the early part of the season scoring twice in a move that helped his development.

Young Irish defender Michael Synott has also been told he will not be getting a new contract in the summer and is available.