Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that full-back Jonny Parr is close to joining Strømsgodset back in his native Norway. TWTD revealed that the Blues were in talks with the Norwegian top flight side last Saturday and that a deal was close on Friday.

“There is a potential move for him,” McCarthy confirmed at his press conference following the 2-2 FA Cup draw with Portsmouth.

“I think that’s his team and he really wants to go back. He doesn’t want to be here any more, he’s got that chance to go back.

“There’s sort of not really any point in keeping him, his contract is up at the end of the season, that’s going to be a player down for me.

“I think it’s better for him that he goes and good luck to him because he’s been a good player for me, he’s come in and stepped in, coming on at Millwall and scoring, he’s done all of those jobs, so if he gets his chance, and that’s what he wants to do, it’s probably best for all parties.”

Parr, who was left out of today's 18, joined the Blues following his release by Crystal Palace in the summer of 2014 and has made 29 starts and 14 sub appearances, scoring three goals.

Strømsgodset boss, former Sheffield United striker Jostein Flo, later told Norwegian TV channel TV 2: "We've agreed with Ipswich the transfer of Jonathan Parr, which was why he wasn't in their squad today.

Strømsgodset er enig med Ipswich om en overgang for Jonathan Parr. Medisinsk test og personlig kontrakt gjenstå. pic.twitter.com/ITLWg5JOra– Strømsgodset Fotball (@strmsgodset) January 9, 2016

"It remains for personal terms to be agreed and medical examinations to be taken over the weekend, but I have great faith that this will be in order and that Jonathan will be our player."

We understand that the deal could be completed as soon as Monday with Norwegian sources indicating that Strømsgodset will pay the Blues a fee of around £70,000. McCarthy will seems certain to bring in another right-back as cover.

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 17:47 - Jan 9 If Jonny wants to leave then so be it. I wish him well for the future and fully understand his decision. What would be disappointing though is if we don't sign a permanent replacement. No loans, but a permanent player for a permanent player. That person must be versatile and have experience. If a fee is involved, so be it. We are limited at the back and whilst Mick has stated the youngsters aren't ready, I'm not convinced Digby is either, whilst the £8K polish fella is more a central defender and distinctly average.

7

Keaneish added 17:52 - Jan 9 The other report said he was happy here so which is it!?
1

pointofblue added 17:56 - Jan 9 Keaneish - he was probably happy at being here but wanted first team football. Frankly he must have wondered what he had to do to get a chance considering who we're playing full back at the moment. Good luck, Jonny - you deserved more chances than you got IMO.
29

TractorCam added 17:59 - Jan 9 Good... for him. I'm happy if he gets this move as he will get the first team football he deserves
17

Popeye added 18:05 - Jan 9 Should have played more but also seemed to be injury prone. Hopefully MM can get in a decent replacement but will probably be a loan from a PL club.
2

Bluetone added 18:18 - Jan 9 I begin to think that George Burley and Mick Mills wouldn't have got into a McCarthy team.
12

Mark added 18:19 - Jan 9 I am sad he is leaving as he always played well when I saw him and probably deserved more of a chance. Anyway, we will need to replace him as today shows what a shambles the defence can be with senior players missing. We can't reply on Knudsen (who still needs to improve himself) and Chambers (not a natural right back) as our two senior full backs, as what do we do if they get injured or suspended?!

6

ParisBlue added 18:27 - Jan 9 Unlike many I'm happy with Chambers at right back but we definitely need backup on both sides. Josh Emmanuel doesn't look ready yet. We were linked with Brad Smith during the summer and I thought he looked useful for Liverpool last night. Fully expect at least one to come in and hopefully MM will surprise us.
-4

truckerblue added 18:48 - Jan 9 Word is there's a new signing imminent.
0

BoredWithThisNow added 18:48 - Jan 9 JP has been treated appallingly by McCarthy. Good luck Jonny, you deserved much better treatment.
15

hampstead_blue added 18:53 - Jan 9 The past few games I've seen him play have been less than average. Not sure why he's got such positive reviews. He is average at best. Best to get cover in and save on the budget.
-9

jonbull88 added 19:06 - Jan 9 Parr wants to leave and return to his homeland so is there for unsettled. why would you play him over players that want to be here.
-8

phillo added 19:24 - Jan 9 I'm not surprised Parr wants to leave ! If I was a full back & I saw Mick bring in someone like Digby - who was appalling today - to play in the position I played in I'd leave !!! Treated appallingly imo ....... good luck to you Jonny go somewhere where you will be appreciated !!
15

blueboy1981 added 19:32 - Jan 9 ABSURD ........... Jonny is a CLASS Defender.
15

prebbs007 added 19:43 - Jan 9 Great idea Mick. Get rid of our BEST full back. Bring in a 20 year old who can't into a team in bottom 6 of league 1 (he was so bad today you moved him from CB to RB to sub), then stick with Chambers & Knudsen, neither of whom are good enough full backs to lace Jonny Parr's boots. Something must have gone on behind the scenes otherwise there is no way we would be allowing this to happen. Absolutely mental !!! As for the people saying clubs won't let their best players go in January, that's factually just wrong !!! Blackman just went from Reading to Derby. Clough going from Bolton to Bristol City. Afobe leaving Wolves. Davis going to Sheff Wed. Teams around us will strengthen we will go backwards by standing still. Mick somehow keeps us in touch with woeful players and even more woeful football but most of the fans hate it. We have one player of true premiership ability in our side and he doesn't even belong to us. Really hope I'm wrong but I feel that January is going to move the club's above us further away and the ones below us past us unless ME & MM swallow their pride & stubbornness and lose the no fee transfer policy !!!!

18

Lightningboy added 21:15 - Jan 9 Don't blame Parr if he wants to leave - he's been seriously ignored by McCarthy - Knudsen is not a better left back and Chambers is not a better right back - unfortunately we have a manager who plays his favourites no matter how pi55 poor they are at times..i'd be off too. No point in signing a replacement as it will take Knudsen or Chambers getting injured to get in ahead of either. Getting shot of decent players when there's no need really gets my goat.

8

thebeat added 21:56 - Jan 9 Ridiculous! Our best fullback by a mile but his face simply didnt fit. Also are we getting a fee for him? I should hope so because to give him away for nothing would be very poor business.
4

bluefeast added 22:08 - Jan 9 How very odd that a player who is clearly better than we have is shown the door ,which is what it is. MM you have signed dig by to replace him ,what an absolute farce you are. You are the Dave Bassett of the modern era. Look at all the coaches in the league that promote good football ,can we have one of those , like the portsmouth manager ,who admitted he has spent a lot of time studying the way bournemouth play and has watched them train ,spoken to eddie howe etc etc. Mick the long ball bully boy tactics ,ruins good players.

7

GiveusaWave added 22:32 - Jan 9 So we lose Parr and bring in Digby. I can't see how that's at improvement by any stretch of the imagination.
9

SohoBlue added 00:12 - Jan 10 Mick is a consummate pro when it comes to handling fans, owners and press. He has a plan he's happy with, and very sadly Jonny isn't part of it. It's absolutely his responsibility to balance the team to compensate for Jonny leaving, and I've every confidence he'll do it. And I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a couple of signings made in the next couple of weeks or so. And being the calculating, experienced manager he is, even if my speculation on new player(s) is wide of the mark, Mick knows he has enough credit in the bank for Jonny to leave and not lose sleep over complaints or accusations. Who knows. Could even be exciting times ahead...I mean God forbid It might turn into a positive..!

-6

sidtheswan added 07:31 - Jan 10 Parr's got to go he plays too much football and no good at hoofball!
8

muccletonjoe added 08:28 - Jan 10 Was never a big fan. Think knudsen will be the better option long term
-3

Stato added 09:07 - Jan 10 There must surely be more to this than meets the eye. Maybe he was offered a new contract and turned it down and that's why Mick has left him out of the side ? Knudsen looks ok for a squad player but for me he ain't as good as Parr. We won't get a fee for him as he only has 6 months on his contract and he isn't in the starting eleven. We are losing someone who can cover both fullback roles and hopefully his replacement will too.

0

prebbs007 added 09:11 - Jan 10 A down mark again from essex57 Every single post Hahahahaha You truly are an idiot I could post "today is Sunday" and you would down mark it ... Can we banish him to the land of idiotness Phil ??
0

Warkys_Tash added 09:50 - Jan 10 Why wouldn't Jonny want to leave? You signed him as a left back Mick, then you played him at RB during our best spell last season (up to 2nd) & we played our best brand of football & then inexplicably dropped him & signed what appears to be a lesser player to replace him in the team! Good luck Jonny & thanks for your efforts here, it's a shame you are going.
10

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls