IPSWICH TOWN: Blues skipper Jon Walters today confirmed the players’ backing for manager Roy Keane.

Walters has Keane’s respect having sung the 26-year-old’s praises many times last season.

A poor 2009/10 and a lack of movement on the transfer front since has made Town outsiders for success in the Championship this term.

But Walters says that along with the rest of the playing staff he is happy to work to the manager’s tune.

“We are happy to get on with it,” said Walters.

“Ideally it would have been nice to have any newcomers in the building by now so that the gelling and bonding process could have started.

“But the majority of close season business is done late on, and this looks like being the case again.

“We are currently working on our base level fitness and will do what the manager wants.

“Thanks to our physios and fitness coaches we are injury-free, and this is a big plus at this vital time.”

Walters expects to see young striker Connor Wickham really come into his own next season after showing huge potential last term.

“Connor will do well, I’m sure of that,” added Walters.

“And players like Carlos Edwards, who came in last season and through injury or other reasons were unable to be consistently at their best, should blossom in their second year.

“The spirit in the camp is good. We all needed a break, but we have come back refreshed and wanted to get straight back into it.”

Keane has been told that he must balance the books to his budget and that players need to be offloaded before there can be any significant new signings.

“There is a need to create space in the player wage budget,” added Walters.

“The club has circulated a list of eight players that they are prepared to listen to offers for, but I expect some of them to stay and remain part of the first team squad.

“But here again is all out of our hands and up to the manager.

“Our squad is a strong enough one to do well at Championship level whether there is any player movement to come or not.

“And I think we will gain from having a far less hectic build-up to the season than we did last year.”