Ex-Town striker Connor Wickham was back at Playford Road today to say his goodbyes to his former team-mates as they began their preparations for the 2011/12 campaign. The 18-year-old joined Sunderland in a deal which will ultimately rise to more than £12 million earlier this week.

Boss Paul Jewell said: "It was nice to see Connor pop in and say his goodbyes. We are sad to see him go. It's disappointing but we couldn't stand in his way and he goes with our best wishes and hopefully it's a move that will work out for both parties."

Wickham is now off on holiday having been away with England’s U21s at the UEFA European Championship in Denmark this summer.

Meanwhile, defender Tommy Smith enjoyed this morning’s training session, tweeting: “First day done. Good to be back! Feeling good, looking forward to tomorrow already!”

Elsewhere, former Town skipper David Norris has completed his Bosman move to Portsmouth, signing a three-year deal.

Wickham with Chris Hutchings and Malcolm Webster this morning

The midfielder said: “I’m delighted it’s finally done and dusted. I spoke to the manager back in January, and we’ve been in touch and I’m happy to be here.

“Portsmouth seems to be everyone’s favourite neutral team — everyone seems to like to see Pompey do well, especially with the troubles they’ve had.”

Photo: Action Images

jclark20 added 15:31 - Jul 1 Bang em in against norwich!
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Legend added 15:32 - Jul 1 Top lad!
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blue_em_away added 15:32 - Jul 1 Norris..... No Pompey are NOT everyones favourite. Your deluded. Good luck Connor.
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robdaful added 15:37 - Jul 1 Noris hasn#t got a clue.
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Talbs77 added 15:38 - Jul 1 Good luck Connor, hope you become the top player we think you could be, good bit of business for all parties. As for Norris, will be missd for popping up wih the goals that he did but never quite made the impact I thought he would when 1st joined. As for Portsmouth being every neutrals favourites, do me a favour, say that to all the local companies still owed money by them!

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whoppit added 15:38 - Jul 1 Good luck Connor. Thanks for the glimpses of that talent !!!!
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Breedonblue added 15:39 - Jul 1 Is Norris admitting he was in contact with Portsmouth without our permission here? Still gutted about Connor, Tweeted him last night saying the same, feels like we've lost a member of the Family...
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Sindre94 added 15:41 - Jul 1 Wellwell... Hope he does good in the Premier League, I look forward to watch him there (as a Norwegian I have access to every Premier League match on tv).. A shame you aren't ours anymore.. but we all know. ONCE A BLUE, ALWAYS A BLUE!
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NoCanariesAllowed added 15:44 - Jul 1 Aside from the fact that Norris has confused the phrase "everyone's favourite neutral team" with "every neutral's favourite team", Pompey are NOT either of those things! Still, nice to see Connor was thoughtful enough to stop by and see everyone for one last time. Given the lack of holiday he's had I dare say he was glad not to be training today(!)
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arc added 15:47 - Jul 1 Portsmouth?? Everyone's favourite other team??? What a bizarre idea.
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martleshamitfc added 15:53 - Jul 1 "Nice to see Connor pop him" - lol
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martleshamitfc added 15:54 - Jul 1 Pompey will be my favourite team in League one when they are relegated next year...
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Marshalls_Mullet added 15:58 - Jul 1 Correction Norris; 'especially with the recent SELF INFLICTED troubles they have'. Nice to see you were chatting to Pompey in Jan and came back to tell us bare faced lies. Grow a backbone you f*cking dwarf.
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Ryorry added 16:05 - Jul 1 popping back to say ta-ra - nice touch, good lad - don't forget your friends wherever you go.
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Special_A added 16:53 - Jul 1 Good luck Conner! Chuck Off Norris!!!
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Amberjadewickham added 17:08 - Jul 1 Good luck to connor and i will always love him <3
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Buryblueboy added 17:12 - Jul 1 So an 18 year old has the respect for the Town to pop back in whilst our former 'leader' was cooking up deals to leave us for a long time- of course he has to settle his future but you'd have thought he'd have the decency to show some recognition by even giving Ipswich the briefist metion of acknowledgement; after all, we had only paid him handsomely over the past few years/gave him the honour of captaincy/stood by him when he did that idiotic handcuff celebration etc. Connor and Norris - leagues apart both in class and ability.

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BYRNE_16 added 17:23 - Jul 1 Norris FYI Portsmouth are GASH
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Cr0wman added 18:13 - Jul 1 Always remeber "Connor Wickham was a blue, was a blue"
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theblueginger added 18:17 - Jul 1 Norris-Quite a good player, piss-poor orator.
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pazelle added 18:23 - Jul 1 Good luck Connor, I'm sure you'll become a superb player - just wish we could have kept you for ONE full season! Please come back on loan if you get farmed out!
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Ebantiass added 18:35 - Jul 1 Best of luck Connor and do one over the budgies for us. Norris well lets see what hes made of this season, I for one hope and believe pompey will struggle and i wont miss him.
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gypo added 19:12 - Jul 1 Nice touch connor and good luck for the future mate. DAVID "i`ll carry on getting paid for someone i don`t want to play for" NORRIS well you can go and F*CK yourself matey spoke to pompey in january then by the sounds of it from then on .Town turned down a bid so why were you talking to them !!!! Hope they go bust and you don`t get paid W@NKER
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PorkChopras added 19:20 - Jul 1 What's Norris talking about, no doubt good signing for them but oh dear!!
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Umros added 19:27 - Jul 1 Bye Then!
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