IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell has defended his decision to let goalkeeper Marton Fulop leave for West Brom on a free transfer, insisting he was simply too expensive to keep in reserve.

Roy Keane paid around �750,000 to Sunderland for the Hungarian international last summer, but Town – having now got Fulham loanee and England international David Stockdale between the sticks – have decided to cut their losses.

“His contract was running out and he was on a decent wage so we couldn’t have our cake and eat it,” explained Jewell. “He would have been an expensive number two for us so we thought it was something worth doing.

“Marton wanted the opportunity to go to a Premier League club and I understand that. He has been completely professional about it all and we wish him well.”

With Stockdale in Fabio Capello’s England squad for an international friendly against Holland at Wembley on Wednesday, Jewell has confirmed that Arran Lee-Barrett will start in goal for tomorrow night’s League Cup first round match against Northampton Town at Portman Road. American Cody Cropper, who is still only 18, will be on the bench.

“I will be looking for another goalkeeper,” said Jewell. “To be honest it was always in my thoughts that Marton might leave.

“Getting a goalkeeper is a difficult market, but it’s something we are trying to address.”

Town recently had former player Richard Wright training with them for a spell with Jewell having admitted he was impressed with the 33-year-old. The ex England international has been training with Cardiff recently though.