ALUN Armstrong last night reluctantly accepted his future is most definitely away from Portman Road, writes Derek Davis.Despite scoring both goals in the reserves' win over Southampton on Wednesday, Armstrong will not be in consideration for Town against Coventry City tomorrow.

ALUN Armstrong last night reluctantly accepted his future is most definitely away from Portman Road, writes Derek Davis.

Despite scoring both goals in the reserves' win over Southampton on Wednesday, Armstrong will not be in consideration for Town against Coventry City tomorrow.

He has resigned himself to looking elsewhere, either for a loan or permanent move.

He said: "There is no point in talking about it. You just have to go out there and do something about it and I've have done the best I can.

"The manager was watching but I'm not expecting anything. You should never say never in football but it is clear my future lies away from here but in the meantime I'm just going to keep trying my best and to get back playing."

Rotherham United scouts were at Playford Road on Wednesday but the Millers have been put off by the striker's wages. Armstrong is currently earning around twice the highest-paid players at Millmoor and that has thwarted Ronnie Moore's attempts to land him.

Like Andy Marshall, Armstrong has a year left on his contract but has been frozen out after being told he can leave on a free transfer. The problem is, just as Ipswich is an attractive club for players to join due to its facilities so East Anglia is a popular place to live and raise children, and players don't want to leave and uproot their families. They are also on high wages compared to many rival clubs.

Armstrong said: "I don't want to move and I would to carry on playing here but the Gaffer has told me I'm not part of his plans so I have to look elsewhere."

After a history of back problems Armstrong has been cured of that and spent the summer training hard to get back to full fitness, even giving up his holidays, and has been rewarded.

Looking trim and clearly down to his ideal playing weight, Armstrong finished with a top-class header and a well-taken left-foot shot against the Saints.

He said: "This is sharpest and the fittest I have been since I came here. I had a slight niggle but that was only for four days. All I can do is play as often as I can and see about getting in the team.

"It should have been more than two, I had one cleared off the line and I thought it was going to be one of those days and then a free-kick just wide which might have been the hat-trick.

"The lads played very well in the first half and we totally outplayed Southampton. It was our first league game and everyone was eager to play and did really well. Everyone is pushing for places, though I'm not so sure about mine."

Derby County enquired about taking Armstrong on loan but that fell through because of his injury. Stoke City also expressed an interest while Coventry City were tenuously linked last May.