IPSWICH TOWN: Carlos Edwards today admitted manager Roy Keane did not receive enough help from his players this season.

The Blues finished in the lower half of the Championship and were involved in a battle to stay clear of relegation from virtually the first day of the campaign.

Keane has been told that he has the summer and early months of the 2010/11 season to prove himself, and Edwards is certain that he will.

“It is a fact that this season’s players will have to fight for their places next season,” said Trinidad international Edwards.

“The manager is going to bring in players of a standard that will mean those of us here now cannot expect to comfortably hold our places.

“We must put our heads down and do the things he wants and once that happens we’ll all be happy.

“It is a tough job being a manager, and it is up to the players to make that job easier.

“We haven’t done that for the manager this season.

“He was expected by many to enjoy the same success as he did in his first season at Sunderland, but he didn’t receive the same backing here.”

Like the rest of the Town squad, Edwards has been involved in bleep tests and the like this week to store data for when the players return for pre-season training on June 28.

Edwards is planning to watch the World Cup finals on TV having played in the 2006 finals in Germany for Trinidad.

He has a big date before then as he is getting married to partner Denille in his home Caribbean island on May 30. The happy couple are then off to Barbados for their honeymoon.

Peter Reid’s presence at Portman Road for Sunday’s game against Sheffield United has ignited speculation that the Stoke City assistant manager was looking at Town skipper Jon Walters.

Two years ago the Premier League side was linked with Walters, but no bid was made.

Walters, who is contracted to the Blues until 2012, became Town’s captain earlier in the season with manager Roy Keane extolling his virtues on a regular basis.

“Jon’s captaincy has been excellent,” said Keane.

“He’s been a joy to work with - his leadership skills in the dressing room when we were under the cosh have been outstanding.

“There will be plenty of clubs – there are already – who would be keen to take Jon.

“I’m not going to kid myself that I’ll just be bringing players in, I’m going to have hard work keeping some of our players.”