By Peter Donnelly
March 22 2003

Ipswich Town are set finalise a transfer for youngster Darren Ambrose, which would allow the midfielder to join Newcastle United for a fee of around £2.5Million. Ipswich Chairman David Sheepshanks has admitted Town need to sell. Sheepshanks said,

"These sales were a necessity in our current situation and the matter was largely out of our hands.

Supporters will be disappointed about the need to sell when we are so close to the play-offs. No matter how much we wish it were different, regrettably financial institutions only work on certainty and not on hope value.

We still have a strong team and we all hope that in the face of this adversity we can still challenge for and gain a play-off spot."

So, Bobby looks to have captured yet another young talent and if your wondering where he plays, then I can tell you is he very flexible and is more than capable of playing anywhere accross the middle of the park - however, I've heard he's mainly played central.

United's interest was very clear since the day Ipswich accused them of taking advantage of Town's dire finanical situation a couple of months ago, when we put in bids for both Ambrose and Darren Bent. It was because of this finger pointing that Newcastle had to make an official statement admitting that they put in bids for the two youngers, although they denied any improper approach.

But while Ambrose has got rave reviews this season surely there might be a case of too many midfielders when he arrives. Anyway, if he joins he WILL be able to play this season, as a result of the FA's rule for "clubs in financial distress".