MARK Venus has been told his contract will not be renewed at Ipswich Town, writes Derek Davis.The 36-year-old, who ironically has just returned to fitness from a knee injury, is free to join another club and he has long been linked with Division Two Colchester United where he is a regular spectator.

MARK Venus has been told his contract will not be renewed at Ipswich Town, writes Derek Davis.

The 36-year-old, who ironically has just returned to fitness from a knee injury, is free to join another club and he has long been linked with Division Two Colchester United where he is a regular spectator.

Blues boss Joe Royle paid tribute to the defender's outstanding contribution to Ipswich since his move, as part of the Steve Sedgeley transfer to Wolves, in the summer of 1997.

He said: "He has been a great servant to this club but we have to look forward. He will go down as one of this club's best-ever bargain buys and in an ideal world I would have liked to have kept him.

"He still has football left in him and he still wants to play but with finances as they are we had to say goodbye to a great servant.

"I would recommend him as a player, a coach or even player manager if he wants to go in at that level.

"He certainly has ideas and opinions on the game which would benefit clubs.

"Good luck to Veno and thanks for all you have done for this club."

Alun Armstrong, Nabil Abidallah, Martijn Reuser and Finidi George are all on the transfer list but still have a season or more left on their contracts.

With the CVA accepted at a creditors meeting yesterday Royle is already planning to make changes to his squad. Asked when his first new signing would be he said: "24 hours after we come out of administration."

He may have to wait a few days more than that as Football League clearance needs to be given but a good take up on season ticket sales will go a long way to convince them that the club is getting back onto a sound financial footing.

Royle added: "Hopefully now our fans can start talking about football again and not administration and what it entails. We want to go forward now and we do need more competition in the squad and too bring in a couple of new players as soon as we can to perk the whole place up.