IPSWICH striker Dean Bowditch last night completed a three-month loan move to Wycombe Wanderers.Academy graduate Bowditch, 19, is set to make his debut for the League Two leaders, who are managed by ex-Town coach John Gorman, at home to Stockport tomorrow.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH striker Dean Bowditch last night completed a three-month loan move to Wycombe Wanderers.

Academy graduate Bowditch, 19, is set to make his debut for the League Two leaders, who are managed by ex-Town coach John Gorman, at home to Stockport tomorrow.

When he clocks in at Adams Park today Bowditch will be reunited with ex-Ipswich midfielder Matt Bloomfield and defender Aidan Collins, who has already scored once in two appearances since joining the Chairboys on loan.

Wycombe had to beat off competition from Blackpool, Gillingham and Walsall to secure a three-month deal for the player.

His request to move elsewhere on loan was granted by Joe Royle last week, but the Town boss is adamant this does not signal the beginning of the end for Bowditch as an Ipswich player.

Royle said: “Wycombe made it clear they wanted Dean for longer than a month and the only way I would agree to that was if we could recall him after 28 days, which is what we have done.

“We don't want to leave ourselves short, although both Nicky Forster and Sam Parkin are moving towards full fitness and Adam Proudlock would have played in the reserve game on Monday had it not been postponed.

“Dean will be going into a good environment at Wycombe. John Gorman's teams pass the ball and given their league position at the moment they must be a confident side.

“That, plus the fact that Matt and Aidan are there, helped to make Dean's mind up for him. It should all help him to settle in quickly and get into his stride.”

It was Royle who gave Bowditch his debut in the white-hot atmosphere of an East Anglian derby clash at Norwich in March 2003.

Just 16 at the time, he was sent on in the 71st minute with the game goal-less and within seconds he set up Fabian Wilnis to break the deadlock.

He also played a leading part in Ipswich's last-gasp second goal, scored by Darren Bent, and featured prominently in the next day's national newspapers.

But despite netting a hat-trick in Town's 4-1 home win over Watford a year later, he has been unable to hold down a regular first-team place.

Bowditch has not scored for Ipswich since October 2004, in the 2-1 win at Coventry, and his only goal since then was for Burnley towards the end of last season during a 10-game loan spell at Turf Moor.

He has been in and out of the Town side during the current campaign, making 13 starts plus a further six appearances as a substitute.

Royle added: “The only reason loan moves go ahead is to benefit people and on this occasion we hope it will be all three parties.

“Dean needs to get back to the player he was a couple of seasons ago. He is looking to kick-start his career at Wycombe and we naturally wish him well there.”

OLDHAM have failed in a bid to sign Ipswich Town midfielder Kevin Horlock.

The 33-year-old has been made available to go on loan, with Blues manager Joe Royle indicating that the former Northern Ireland international will not be offered a new contract in the summer.

A move to take Horlock to Boundary Park has proved out of the financial reach of the Latics with disappointed manager Ronnie Moore saying: “We looked into signing Horlock, but he was just out of our price range. He is the sort of player we are looking to bring in.”

IPSWICH Town central defender Gerard Nash has been selected for the Republic of Ireland squad for an Under-21 tournament in Madeira.

Ireland play a Madeira side on February 14, then Finland a day later and Portugal on February 17. Nash, who has one Town first-team appearance as substitute against Burnley in 2003, has already won caps at youth level.

The 19-year-old Dubliner is currently on a month's loan at Hartlepool. Mark Yeates, on loan at Colchester from Tottenham, is also in the squad.