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Town Sign Dawkins on Short-Term Deal Wednesday, 9th Jan 2019 16:23
Town have signed former Tottenham, Derby and San Jose Earthquakes attacking midfielder Simon Dawkins on a short-term deal until the end of the season with the club having an option for a further year.
Dawkins, who was 31 last month, has been training with the club for five weeks, as TWTD revealed at the end of last month, and impressed as the U23s defeated their Bristol City counterparts 4-2 on Monday, a result that keeps them on top of the Professional Development League Two South table.
“This is a massive club and I want to do everything I can to help get it back to where it should be,” he told iFollow Ipswich.
“I've enjoyed my time here so far and the lads have been brilliant. Everybody is very much together and it’s probably one of the only dressing rooms I’ve been in where that is the case.
"Everyone gets along and we definitely have the foundations to get out of this situation.
“And new additions can give a club that lift and experience that it needs. Hopefully that’s what we need to turn the good performances into results.
“This is an opportunity for me as well. I like the manager and the style of football here and I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve had a good five weeks training and played a game for the U23s on Monday so I’m ready to go when the gaffer needs me.”
The 19-cap Jamaican international, who will wear the Town number 49 shirt, was born in Edgware and joined the Tottenham academy, going out on loan to Leyton Orient, the Earthquakes, Aston Villa — where Town boss Paul Lambert was in charge at the time — and Derby while on the books at White Hart Lane.
Dawkins failed to make the breakthrough with Spurs and was sold to Derby for £500,000 five years ago before moving on a permanent basis to San Jose in January 2016.
He was close to joining Minnesota United before leaving the States in February last year and after time on trial at League One sides Charlton and Luton in the summer he failed to land a full-time deal at either club.
Missing out on target Anthony Pilkington — the 30-year-old Cardiff winger opted instead for Wigan Athletic for family reasons — saw Lambert turn his attention to Dawkins, who will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s home clash with Rotherham.
Meanwhile, Blues centre-back Luke Woolfenden is back training with the Blues squad at Playford Road this week with manager Paul Lambert taking his first look at the 20-year-old.
Agreed that we have taken him due to missing out on Pilkington, but interesting that we have an option for another year though - may mean PL thinks the player could actually be worth something at the end of the season...
For those that are being so fickle? I suggest they watch the Netflix series Sunderland until I die, now there are a bunch of so called supporters that seriously need some help, unbelievable how they would turn on their team so quickly, If I was ever a professional footballer that would be one club i would never have joined! So c,Mon let's get behind these lads! I shall be there in Saturday! First game in years due to serious I'll health!! And will probably be my last ever visit to my club, and yes I will support whatever the outcome!!
Firstly, welcome Simon - now a Town player who the majority of us will support. Potential in your initial short term deal for all parties to benefit. Huge challenge awaits - but you clearly know that! If selected, give it your very best shot - who knows, you might surprise some of the less than impressed amongst our ranks.
(5 solid weeks training should produce a decent level of fitness - but it's playing games that matters).
Why is it that people who have an opinion that doesn't fit with the blind faith optimists are suddenly 'boo boys'. Everything has been going so well that anyone with a negative view must be deluded! Come on, we went into this window hoping to see players we had heard of with track records we could admire. Instead we have a striker who hasn't scored any goals and a winger nobody fancies. What's wrong with expressing the view that the owner has once again put his money where his mouth is and the manager's hands are tied. Anyone who thinks that's all great news needs to have a long spell of contemplation and leave people alone who express concern. Let's hope the two of them turn into saviours but that is unlikely, surely?
Have no idea why people are complaining. Deal is only until the summer. If he rips it up then great we extend his deal. If he's poor then we release him. Hardly going to be on wages that'll stop us signing someone else so what's with all the complaining? Not as if he's going to be replacing someone who's been electric for us this season because nobody has!
Miles, agree entirely. Why are some of the doomongers on here seeing this as a "risk"? A short term deal with an option, what's the worst that can happen? And why is he being considered as second choice to Pilkington? He's been here on trial for a little while now, maybe the outcome of AP deal had no bearing on this whatsoever? Give the guy some support and see what he can do. I think we also need to remember that it's still early days in this transfer window. Come on the Blue Army, chin up!!!
Carberry, I think you need to lighten your shade of blue to the "sky" of Man City! We're not in a position to sign household names!!! Perhaps you could qualify your thoughts by offering up a few candidates you'd like to see us chasing?
He was unemployed, so we should have signed him very cheaply. It's only until the end of the season so if he turns out to be a duffer then we have lost little. If he is a star and helps to save us from relegation, then we win big.
i thought under 23 werent games we could use as a bench mark or if we do why is Rowe not playing. He has ripped up every under 23 game i have watched and looked like the Messi of the under 23 world. A constant goal threat, goal scorer on the same wing as what this guy plays on. Doesn't catch a break so must be taking a nap on the halfway line during training is all i can assume.