Former West Ham defender James Collins won’t be joining the Blues with the Welshman expected to sign for Stoke City.

Collins, 35, spent time training with Town recently but suffered a hamstring injury which put manager Paul Hurst’s interest on hold. However, in the meantime another club, believed to be the Potters, who Collins said he was in contact with at the weekend, have come in for him.

“I’m surprised we haven’t seem some news in the press in some shape or form but he won’t be signing for Ipswich Town,” Hurst confirmed.

The Blues boss admits he’s disappointed not to have added the former Aston Villa man to his squad.

“I’d made no secret that I would have liked to have tried to do something there and I stick by the decision that he wasn’t fit at the time and I would have liked him to have proved that,” he added.

“And again that’s trying to make the right decision for the football club. If what I’m led to believe happens, then I can understand it, it’s not an issue on that side. But like I said, he was here and genuinely did enjoy his time here, that’s what he said to me.

“Thankfully we’ve got three lads [Luke Chambers, Toto Nsiala and Matthew Pennington] and I’ve got a big decision to make [on Saturday].

“But ultimately if we had added another one in to that it makes it even more difficult. If they all stay fit and in form, we haven’t got a problem, the danger is if they’re not, whether that’s injury or they’re out of form then it would have been nice to have that extra one.”

Hurt says Collins didn’t reject Town’s offer as such: “No, I think in fairness the offer was common knowledge between the relevant parties. It was more about just being fit and in between another club showing an interest.

“I don’t think it’s right for me to [name the club] but I don’t think it’ll be long unless something’s gone wrong. I haven’t had a message or a call to say, ‘Can I come back’ or anything like that.”

Hurst says Collins’s decision to move elsewhere wasn’t linked to the money which might be on offer: “Again, without being personal to James, I’m not sure that it’ll be a financial reason that he’s not joining us.”

Photo: TWTD

BotesdaleBlue added 15:47 - Sep 20 It may or may not be a financial decision, but I supect he will earn at least double at Stoke than we can offer. Salary must surely come into most players thinking when agreeing a move, especially what may be your final move.
3

Northstander_Blue added 15:49 - Sep 20 Well I'm glad we could help with the training now p1$$ off out of our club
2

tractorboybig added 15:56 - Sep 20 not a hard decision for him to make
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muhrensleftfoot added 15:57 - Sep 20 If he's not fit then quite right not to sign him. Let some other club pay his wages while he spends his time in the treatment room.
1

suffolkpunchdrunk added 16:17 - Sep 20 That is a big surprise said no one ever.
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hampstead_blue added 16:27 - Sep 20 Interesting couple of sharp points by PH. 1) He's like the player to 'prove he is fit' 2) When someone says 'it's nothing personal' you can bet it is. He comes across, PH that is, as quite the passive aggressive. A bit narky and bitchy in some comments. The Adeyemi one was similar and I am sure there are others if I trawled through the verbage. Makes me wonder if this is a reason he's hacked-off a few. I'd certainly be miffed by that.

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runningout added 16:35 - Sep 20 No news here
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Michael101 added 16:57 - Sep 20 Well Hurst is pi 😈😈ing the players,mad Mick done the same to the fans,you pay the money you make the chose.if only it was possible to keep them all happy
1

ihatecanaries added 17:20 - Sep 20 Not surprised. I guess he doesn't want to play in league 1 next season
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raycrawfordswig added 17:46 - Sep 20 Time wasting To55er
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therein61 added 17:56 - Sep 20 While I feel he has messed about and used us by keeping fit at 35 I cannot blame him for getting the most out of would be his last contract I think we've been down this road to many times in the past!!
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aas1010 added 18:01 - Sep 20 No loss there , train with us but can't be bothered to sign . Not worth off wearing the shirt ... so show wouldn't be committed or faithful
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jas0999 added 18:05 - Sep 20 We don't need another injury prone player.
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Edmundo added 18:41 - Sep 20 Jog on. We have 3 centre halves now, Pennington is class. Also Knudsen and Chalobah if needs be.
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Popeye added 19:22 - Sep 20 The telegraph reported today that he's joining Aston Villa. They also previously reported that Collins was one of the 20th most injured players in PL. Between 2010-2015 he was injured with alarming regularity and had 27 injuries resulting in 27 different periods out injured mainly with calf and hamstring problems. PH might just be right on this one.
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ThaiBlue added 20:20 - Sep 20 Must of known how much he was on or after b4 he trained with us, complete waste of time and effort.This club needs to buck up on all areas not just the pitch!
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