Ipswich Town icon Kieron Dyer has left his role as a coach with the club’s under 18 side in a bid to further his career in management at the top level of the game.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kieron Dyer is an Ipswich Town icon. Picture: ARCHANTKieron Dyer is an Ipswich Town icon. Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

Dyer, a product of the Town academy who played more than 100 times for the Blues before a big money move to Newcastle United and a lengthy career in the Premier League, returned to the club in 2014 to coach promising youngsters.

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He told the club website: "I've enjoyed my time working as a coach with the academy. Everyone knows what the club means to me.

"I think it's the right time for me to move on now though and see what other opportunities are out there. I want to progress my career and that means working every day with senior pros."

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Town's general manager of football operations, Lee O'Neill, added: "We are obviously sorry to see Kieron go. He's keen to work at first-team level and we understand that and wish him every success in the future."

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The move comes after Darren Smith, the academy's head of goalkeeping, also left his role to become keepers coach down the A12 at Colchester United.