Town have denied a claims of a bust-up between manager Roy Keane and defender Damien Delaney.

An exchange in training had been claimed to have developed into blows with the former QPR man told he wouldn’t play for the Blues again, but a club spokesman has dismissed the story out of hand: "Ipswich Town Football Club categorically refutes the malicious suggestion that an incident took place between the manager and Damien Delaney."

Meanwhile, a source close to Delaney has made a similar denial in the Irish papers: "Damien is aware of these rumours, the club chief executive has already been onto him about them.

"He utterly refutes any suggestion that a dispute with Keane escalated to the point that they had to be pulled apart. It’s a complete joke, there’s nothing to the story."

The Ireland international has been left out of the Blues’ 18 for the two games since he returned from his one-match ban for his red card at Norwich.

Speaking on Friday, prior to the visit to Preston, Keane explained his reasons for leaving his fellow Irishman out of his squad: “Damien was suspended for the West Brom game when the team kept a clean sheet and I thought played reasonably well. I didn’t think there was any reason to change it.

“Damo had a run out in the reserves in the week and he’ll have a chance of being involved on Saturday.”

Photo: Action Images

campowasgod added 10:09 - Dec 14 Keano v Damo Sky Box Office - must be better than Hay v Harrison. Proceeds fund new players
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yorkshire added 10:10 - Dec 14 I think that this is a story that the Keane 'outers' have latched onto. They have generally been calling for Keane to stop tinkering - he does this after the West Brom game with the defense (who did play well) and now he is getting grief for it. I actually would be happy to see Smith and Brown forge a partnership - they are both Internationals (Smith -New Zealand and Brown Wales U21's), are both young and hopefully have a big future in the game. Delaney w.as poor against Norwich and at the moment doesn't deserve his place

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KenDubZ added 10:15 - Dec 14 Well Well Well Keano thinking he is doing something right again yet to find out he is wrong AGAIN Keane just do us a favour and walk
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itfcst added 10:18 - Dec 14 Keane could fall out with himself in a room alone and end up coming out with a black eye
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BluePlough added 10:27 - Dec 14 "i like Keane, but then i like delaney.....but which is better?......theres only one way to find out!...FIGHT"
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PhilTWTD added 10:28 - Dec 14 Perhaps given the club statement and the potential for legal issues in this sort of thing, commenters could take it as read that the incident didn't take place and not speculate to the contrary. Cheers, Phil
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bluelady added 10:35 - Dec 14 whether this happened or not, just sums up our club at the moment..... nothing will change until we get a change at the top or some form of clear statement on his long term intentions from Evans, until either of these things happen rumour after rumour will start to circulate. Perhaps it was a verbal exchange that chinese whispers turned into fistycuffts????
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blaggers added 10:35 - Dec 14 If the incident didn't take place, then why write the story? You can't expect people not to comment on a 'training ground bust-up' story. This piece is the first I'd heard of it anyway.
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hampstead_blue added 10:37 - Dec 14 Well said Phil. In an environment full of competitive alpha male types there is always the potential for flare-ups. As a former soldier I can vouch for that. Even if true, it is not worthy of publishing.
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KenDubZ added 10:40 - Dec 14 Fight Fight Fight Fight Fight.........
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whymarksmyhero added 10:43 - Dec 14 So we kept a clean sheet v West Brom, but were awful against swansea at the back, and with Roy's penchant for changes, I cannot believe that he wouldn't bring Damo back after that performance !
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warwickblue added 10:43 - Dec 14 I'm with you blaggers - if you remove the underlying assumption that there is some truth to the incident then it shouldn't be put into the public arena as an item of news,thereby rendering it liable to discussion and speculation. Otherwise the story should read "Absolutely nothing has happened at all between anyone whatsoever." Personally I'm perfectly happy to accept the club's assertion that this is a piece of mischief, and totally without foundation, but isn't it indicative of the general malaise that reports like this are A) Being made B) Being believed?

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PhilTWTD added 10:44 - Dec 14 Blaggers I take your point but it's a story which is being widely reported, so think we need to cover it here. As for speculation regarding the incident, given the strength of the Town statement, just think it may be wise for people not to suggest that the situation is otherwise.
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blueherts added 10:45 - Dec 14 No news here - Get the Clown out of Town
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bobble added 10:45 - Dec 14 sack sack sack...........
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Mark added 10:46 - Dec 14 There was an argument for sticking with Smith and Brown, but Keane is the one using young players as an excuse for not winning matches and making comments like some only just being "out of nappies". When an experienced professional like Delaney is left out of the 18 altogether it makes no sense, and assuming no bust up it just must be very poor decision making then not to even put Delaney on the bench. Yes, Delaney got sent off at Norwich BUT he was being played out of position, some thought the card was harsh, and he did score a goal in that match remember. Exclusion from the match day substitute's bench is strange.

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Suffolk_n_Good added 10:49 - Dec 14 ------- Let It Snow! (Alternative Lyrics!)-------- Oh the football we see is frightful, But Keane still thinks it's delightful, And since theres nothing to show, Let him go! Let him go! Let him Go! It doesn't show signs of stopping, At the fans, he keeps-a-popping, As theres no tea-cups to throw, Let Him Go! Let Him Go! Let Him Go! When we finally kiss goodbye, It'll bring a swift end to this storm, We won't need to keep asking "why" A new manager will bring back our form!! Our great club is slowly dying, And to Keane we should be, goodbying, But Clegg still loves him so, Let Him Go! Let Him Go! Let Him Go! Well, you've got to try & keep a smile on your face!!!

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cats_whiskers added 10:51 - Dec 14 We need more FIGHT on the pitch.... and not to be continually rolled over by other sides At the moment we are a team of Pansies
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cats_whiskers added 10:55 - Dec 14 We need more FIGHT on the pitch Not to be continually rolled over by other sides like we are At present, we are a team of Pansies
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blaggers added 10:58 - Dec 14 Cheers for the reply, Phil - This reminds me a bit of the relegation season, with broken jaws, player bed hopping and message board mayhem. Do I suggest that the club's strong worded denial is in itself a news worthy item?
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blue1986 added 11:00 - Dec 14 lisbie, stead, counago, walters and now supposedly delaney who next to fall out with keane?
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BlueToad added 11:04 - Dec 14 PhilTWTD, ha ha, have heard it all now. Seriously, if you don't want people to speculate remove the article. Simple as. Good grief.
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PhilTWTD added 11:06 - Dec 14 BlueToad Not really a case of me not wanting, more that from a legal standpoint it's probably wiser for users not to.
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O2BITFC added 11:20 - Dec 14 Mr Spock has informed me that logically this story must be untrue. If RK had physically abused DD this would be a case of Gross Misconduct and RK could be sacked without notice (No compensation) which would be the perfect way to get rid of an unwanted Manager. Therefore the story is either false or The Town do not wish to get rid of RK, bummer!!
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Bluecasp added 11:24 - Dec 14 Suffolk n good great lyrics, and the first thing on here for a while that has made me laugh. Maybe it's time for this chant on saturday!
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