Defender Wayne Brown has been given a free transfer after failing to secure a first-team place under new manager Joe Royle. Brown had long been unhappy at playing a bit-part role at Portman Road, refusing a contract extension last season.

Brown met with Royle this week, the manager telling the club site: "Wayne has made it clear to me that he is looking for first-team football.

"But with Chris Makin showing his ability as a central defender it was felt that it would be better to offer the lad a free transfer.

"Wayne is a lovely lad, a great character and is at a point in his career where he needs regular football.

"I am sure he will find a club ready to take him on and everyone at Ipswich Town wishes him all the best."

Brown made his Town debut back in January 1998 at Middlesbrough after two games on loan at Colchester. But it was another 11 months before he made another appearance, at Sheffield United, and that was his only run-out of the 1998/99 season.

He made his biggest contribution during the promotion season of 1999/00 when he made 30 appearances. During the Premiership years he made only a handful of runs off the bench but spent successful loan spells at Wimbledon and Watford last season.

This year he looked likely to play more of a part at Portman Road, but despite his first Town goal in the 8-1 hammering of Avenir Beggen, he has failed to nail down a starting position.

Brown, 25, made precisely 50 appearances for Town, scoring just the one goal.

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