BANISHED Ipswich Town goalkeeping coach Andy Rhodes today gave his full backing to his son Jordan continuing his blossoming playing career at Portman Road.

Elvin King

BANISHED Ipswich Town goalkeeping coach Andy Rhodes today gave his full backing to his son Jordan continuing his blossoming playing career at Portman Road.

Rhodes senior departed the Blues suddenly at the end of last season and has been left looking for a new job.

He will wave off his 18-year-old son tomorrow morning when the Town players report back for pre-season training.

While Rhodes will be sitting at his Kesgrave home with little to occupy himself his son will be going through his paces at the start of what could be a big season.

The natural goalscorer made a breakthrough into the Town first team in 2007/08 scoring one goal in eight substitute appearances.

“I wish Jordan well,” said Rhodes senior, who had a successful playing career with a number of clubs before joining the Ipswich coaching staff four years ago during Joe Royle's time in charge of the Blues.

“I will give Jordan massive support and I want him to stay with Ipswich.

“I love the club and nothing would please me more than Jordan proving a big success up front at Portman Road. He will get my full backing.”

Town boss Jim Magilton is still searching for a goalkeeping coach to replace Rhodes senior with Malcolm Webster, James Hollman and Nick Colgan three names in the ring.

Magilton will be hoping to bring in his new man by next week, and he has also confirmed that he wants to add a goalkeeper, defender and striker by the start of the season.

Proven goalscorers cost money and some of owner Marcus Evans' money could be used to tempt a good one to Portman Road, while a goalkeeper is a must with Richard Wright in the frame.

Town have shown a definite interest in Cardiff defender Roger Johnson and made a bid according to the Welsh club's chairman Peter Ridsdale.

But Cardiff are reluctant to sell and Johnson is close to agreeing a new three-year deal that will tie him to the Ninian Park-based side until the summer of 2011.

Owen Garvan and Alex Bruce have been given an extra fortnight off after being involved in the Republic of Ireland squad and Jaime Peters has been playing for Canada.

Otherwise, all of Town's squad are expected to report tomorrow although Richard Naylor and David Norris will not be taking part in the full schedule. But they are both on course to be ready by the start of the season after injury.

While Magilton is still actively seeking new recruits the next transfer activity at Portman Road could well involve a departure with a deal believed to be imminent.

Fabian Wilnis, who has left Ipswich Town after ten seasons' service, is set to have Dutch club Feyenoord as the opponents in his testimonial at Portman Road leading up to the start of the 2009/10 campaign.