IPSWICH Town considered a cheeky bid to bring Hermann Hreidarsson back on loan before the 5pm transfer deadline last night.Hreidarsson completed his £900,000 move to Charlton yesterday and immediately praised the 'awesome' Town supporters and added that his fervent wish was for the club to recover from its present financial turmoil.

IPSWICH Town considered a cheeky bid to bring Hermann Hreidarsson back on loan before the 5pm transfer deadline last night, writes Derek Davis.

Hreidarsson completed his £900,000 move to Charlton yesterday and immediately praised the 'awesome' Town supporters and added that his fervent wish was for the club to recover from its present financial turmoil.

Blues boss Joe Royle flirted with the idea of a loan move but decided against it as Hreidarsson will still be out with injury for a couple of weeks yet.

Royle admitted: "We did think about it, especially as he is not allowed to play for them this season, but decided it was not really practical."

Even when he recovers from a gashed thigh, Hreidarsson will not be able to play in the first team this season but will be able to line up for the reserves.

Darren Ambrose will be able to play for Newcastle this season as he was registered before midnight on Monday, the Premier League's cut off.

Hreidarsson last night bade his farewells and told me: "I had a fabulous time at Ipswich Town and go with a heavy heart but a lot of good memories.

"The fans there are different class and it was awesome the way they get behind the team, even in the difficult times.

"I really hope the club gets back on its feet, there are so many good people there it doesn't deserve to be in the mess it is."

Royle also warned that more Ipswich players could be sold before the end of the season, but admitted it was 'unlikely'. He is confident he will keep the rest of his depleted squad until the end of the season and that in turn will help reassure the players.

He said: "There may be a certain amount of relief that deadline day has passed and they have not had to tell their wives 'pack your cases, we're off'."

Although the deadline has passed, clubs could still nip in and steal an Ipswich player at a bargain price but would not now be allowed to play them, even though they are deemed 'a club in distress'. "That could still happen but it is unlikely."

Hreidarsson is now looking forward to playing a couple of internationals for Iceland this season and Premiership football next term.

He said: "I'm pleased to have signed with Charlton for three years – hopefully we can go on for another three after that. I have a slight injury so I was only going to be able to play a couple of games for Ipswich towards the end of the season. If someone likes you it's good – it's good to be wanted."

Addicks boss, Alan Curbishley added: "I know a lot about him – his football ability is the first thing that attracted me.

"I'm delighted to have done the deal – it's a little strange in the fact that it's outside of the transfer window and he won't be able to play this season, but that will give him time to come to the club and bed down and learn what we're all about before pre-season.

"I was always looking at Hermann. I was planning to do the business in the summer but we had to quicken it up because of the interest from Portsmouth.

"His experience, versatility, his ability and his hungriness to do well – ingredients that I like in a player and he's got them all.

"We were looking to strengthen the squad in the summer. Chris Powell is going to be out of contract. He and his agent have been having talks with the chairman over the last couple of weeks; they've declined the contract we've offered him.

"Another club was interested in Hermann and I could have ended up losing Chrissie in the summer and losing Hermann to Portsmouth and having to go out again and look. I don't think it puts any undue pressure on Powell or Konchesky; what it does for me is give me a strong situation at the back.

"It's only disappointing that he'll be injured for another week or two and won't be able to join in training with the rest of the lads until then."

The Icelander signed for Ipswich in a then club record £4.5m move from Wimbledon, surpassed only by Matteo Sereni's £4.8m switch from Sampdoria.

Hreidarsson has made 127 starts, one substitute appearance and netted three goals, although he famously dived into the North Stand when he thought he had scored against Bradford City when in fact Mark Burchill had got the vital last touch.