FABIAN Wilnis today held his hands up and admitted it was a horrible tackle that got him sent off at Plymouth last month.But the 37-year-old Dutch defender insists he is not a dirty player.

FABIAN Wilnis today held his hands up and admitted it was a horrible tackle that got him sent off at Plymouth last month.

But the 37-year-old Dutch defender insists he is not a dirty player.

Wilnis has received more red cards - four - than any other Blues player, and three have been against Plymouth.

He is fed up to hear people keep talking about his sending off record.

“It is frustrating for me to see so many people treating it as a big thing,” said one of Town's best ever servants.

“I have played for Ipswich since 1999 and must have made hundreds of tackles.

“The huge majority have been fair ones, but there are occasions when your timing may be out.

“If this happens twice in a game you can be off.”

Wilnis has appeared in 312 Town first team matches, all of them in the back line, and he concurs with manager Jim Magilton's assessment he is not a dirty player.

“Take Roy Keane, a midfielder, and see how many cards he received,” said Wilnis. “He was always committed, I like to think that I am as well.

“There are worse things in life, and I don't see it as a problem. I want to move on and concentrate on getting back into the team.”

Wilnis has one more game to sit out - West Brom away on Saturday week - before his three-game suspension for his red card at Home Park comes to an end.

Looking back on his tackle on David Norris a few minutes after coming on to replace Alex Bruce in the 1-1 draw on August 18, Wilnis said: “It was a horrible tackle.

“It looked much worse on DVD than I recalled it live. I went for the ball and I was desperate to make an impression in my first taste of Coca-Cola Championship football this season.

“I can not blame the referee for sending me off, but I was annoyed he appeared to be influenced by the reaction of the home players and crowd.”

Wilnis will be working at the Ipswich training ground with fitness coach Simon Thadani keeping himself in shape for what he still plans to be a big season.

n READ a full interview with Fabian Wilnis in this Saturday's Green'Un with the popular defender saying that his versatility does not always help his cause - and that his hunger is as great as when he joined the Portman Road staff eight years ago.

n IPSWICH Town coach Steve Foley is on a busman's holiday to Spain - taking his wife Heather to Valencia for four days, which will include watching a couple of training sessions at the top Spanish club.

n SKIPPER Jason De Vos, David Wright, Alan Lee and Alex Bruce are four Town players who are due to play in a cricket game at Lavenham on Sunday September 23.

Goalkeeping coach Andy Rhodes and former players Simon Milton, John Wark and Kevin Beattie are also set to be present when the Bunbury All Stars play a Lavenham XI starting at 10.30am in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and English Schools Cricket Association.

Watford goalkeeping coach Alex Chamberlain is one star due to play for the Bunbury side - with sponsorship and advertising available by contacting Francesca Barnard on 0207 488 7778, or you can e-mail Francesca.Barnard@Marketform.com