Was Jonathan Parr For The Course?

Jonathan Parr is apparently tying up his return to Norway today and the vast majority of Town supporters believe he will be sadly missed.

It has been reported that the 27-year-old is in discussions with Norwegian side Tippeligaen Stromsgodset and that a deal could be finalized within the next 24 hours.

Since he came to Town he has struggled to cement his place in the team and there is no denying that injuries have played their part.

There is little doubt too that on his day he was a stand-out performer and when I look at messages posted on Town websites, it seems that a lot of supporters feel he was not given much of a look-in by the management team at Portman Road.

Mick McCarthy says that it was probably in the best interests of everyone if he returned to his homeland and that he was no longer very happy here.

Whether this had anything to do with him playing second fiddle to the likes of Jonas Knudsen is anybody’s guess but when you are playing in a winning team the feel good factor influences everything you do.

McCarthy told reporters, “His contract`s up at the end of the season and I think they`re offering him a long-term deal for him to go home.

He really wants to do that, he doesn`t want to be here. But he`s been a really good ambassador for the club.”

So it will be with mixes blessings that manager Mick McCarthy let’s him depart and today Wolves full back Kevin Foley played the full 90 minutes at Playford Road, as the blues under 21 team drew 2-2 with Charlton Athletic in a game Town should have won.

Mick McCarthy waxed lyrical about a player that he once managed at Wolves and the signs are that he played well today – which might convince our manager to give him a short term deal.

“He`s a gentleman, he`s a lovely fella, he`d fit in perfectly with the rest of the lads. I hope he proves that he`s worth it?”

He is now 31 years of age so no spring chicken but he could add further depth to the squad and in an area where the blues have struggled for most of this campaign.

There was also a place in the team today for Barwell midfielder Brady Hickey, who is seen by his manager as the new Frank Lampard and this is the second time around for him here.

He is a former England schoolboy international and he joined Barwell in the summer having previously been with St Andrew`s which is another Midlands non-league side.

Hickey is a 19 year old student at Loughborough University and has scored an impressive 10 goals with six assists in his 36 appearances so far this season.

As for Jonathan Parr I wish him well. He was a loyal servant of the club who always gave his best wherever he was asked to play.


Frank Weston – editor of Vital Ipswich