IVAR Ingimarsson is expected to walk away from football after his disappointing six-month spell with the Blues.

The Icelandic international was seen as a steady free signing by Paul Jewell, offering valuable experience including a Championship winner’s medal on his CV.

But after a solid debut in the 3-0 defeat of Bristol City, the 34-year-old soon soon struggled with injury problems and he made just five more starts.

Jewell decided to call time on the defender’s brief career in Suffolk after a dismal performance in the 3-1 home defeat by struggling Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

And now his good friend and one-time Reading team mate, Ibrahima Sonko, has revealed Ingimarsson is set to retire from the game.

Sonko said: “I had dinner with him before he left. When he told me he was probably going to retire, I was a bit sad because you don’t want to see your team mate and friend leaving the game, especially the way he has been.

“The last game he wanted to do so well for the team but things didn’t work out. I did ask him if he was going to play a bit longer, but I think he has had enough.

“He wants to focus on his family which I respect.”

Upon signing for Town in the summer, Ingimarsson, who has made more than 500 career appearances and won 30 caps for Iceland, conceded that it might be his last year in football.

And this seems to be the case with Sonko unsure whether his good friend will ever return to the game.

Sonko revealed: “For now, I think he just wants to focus on his kids. For the last 14 years, he has only had football and he told me he is bored of travelling and being away from his family for so long.

“He might play for fun back in Iceland and whatever he does, I wish him good luck.”

* Meanwhile, Paul Jewell has all but conceded defeat in his bid to sign Leicester’s Sean St Ledger as a replacement for the departed Ingimarsson.

The Town boss said: “He played on Tuesday for Leicester against Forest in the FA Cup so it looks like he might be back in their plans.

“We came close to getting something done last week, but it hasn’t happened for whatever reason and I think that’s probably gone now.”