Wright has made over 300 appearances for Ipswich in two spells

Ipswich Town will not offer former England goalkeeper Richard Wright a new deal for next season.

The 32-year-old began his career at Portman Road, before joining Arsenal in 2001, and returned in 2008 after spells with Everton and West Ham.

Defenders David Wright and Pim Balkestein as well as young midfielder Ed Upson will also leave in the summer.

Meanwhile manager Roy Keane has offered new contracts to midfield pair Liam Trotter and Shane O'Connor.

Keeper Wright, who also had a loan spell with Southampton while at West Ham, won two international caps for England.

He joined Arsenal for £6m in 2001 before having a five-year spell at Everton, from 2002 to 2007.

Boss Roy Keane said that Richard and David Wright had been key players for the club but that he wants to take Ipswich in a different direction.

"I think David and Richard are two very good players who have been good servants to the club," he told BBC Suffolk.

"They've played reasonably well this season and people might think it's a strange decision but I've made the decision and I'm going to stick with it.

"I've got to try and take the club in a different direction, sometimes being a football manager is sometimes about making tough decisions and only time will tell if I've made the right ones."

Ex-Liverpool youngster O'Connor, 20, has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-17 and Under-19 levels and has made 12 appearances this season.

Academy graduate Trotter, 21, has impressed Keane since going on loan to League One side Millwall in January.

O'Connor has been offered a two-year contract while Trotter could stay on for another year.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version