Town stalwart leaves coaching role

Bryan Klug has acted as caretaker boss three times, most recently in 2018

Long-serving Ipswich coach Bryan Klug has decided to leave the club.

Klug's association with Town goes back nearly 50 years, in both a playing and coaching capacity, having come through the youth system at Portman Road and being on the books under Sir Bobby Robson in the late 1970s and early 80s.

He played for Wimbledon, Chesterfield, Peterborough and a number of non-league clubs during his playing career before returning to Ipswich as a youth coach in 1987 and becoming head of the club's academy when it launched in 1998.

As well as helping the development of stars including Kieron Dyer, Richard Wright, Titus Bramble and Darren Bent, he saw the under-18s win the FA Youth Cup in 2005, became Jim Magilton's assistant manager the following year and served as caretaker boss on three occasions before becoming head of coaching and player development in 2016.

"Everyone at Ipswich Town thanks Bryan for his contribution over such a prolonged period and wishes him well for the future," a club statement said, adding he was leaving "in order to pursue other interests".