John Paul Kelly to return soon?

[Maldini]

http://ipswichtown.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=911&p=2&stid=8367904

 

Reports in Ireland claim Town are amongst a number of clubs interested in signing former Liverpool Academy midfielder John Paul Kelly. The Blues, Aston Villa, Celtic and former club Liverpool are all said to be keen to tempt Kelly into a return to the UK.

 

Kelly, a Republic of Ireland U19 team-mate of Town's Billy Clarke, left Anfield early in the season after becoming homesick. But the 17-year-old is thought ready to return to the UK with the Blues amongst the interested parties, although Liverpool look favourites to re-sign the player, who previously joined them in the summer of 2003.

 

The Blues already have a number of Irish youngsters at the Academy. Central defender Gerard Nash is on the way back from injury, while striker Billy Clarke, midfielders Owen Garvan and Cathal Lordan, goalkeeper Shane Supple and full-back Michael Synnott all played in last night's FA Youth Cup victory over Portsmouth.

 

Central defender Chris Casement, also in action against Pompey, is from north of the Irish border.

 

You heard anything Dave?

[Maldini]

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bumped up cos it went unnoticed after last night

[dave u]

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bumped up cos it went unnoticed after last night

 

 

Last I heard was 'don't be surprised if he's back at the Academy after xmas'. That was about 2 weeks ago. Hopefully he's realised what he would be throwing away.

 

If he comes back, there's every chance he'd be playing in the Carling Cup next year the way Rafa is giving the lads a chance.

[cochcaer]

Hope he has a good sit down and think. Better to try and fail than miss out on an opporunity you may later regret in life.

[Maldini]

Good stuff, he's obviously a talented lad. You'd have to think this whole episode will make him a stronger person too which can only be a good thing for his game.

 

If he comes back just after christmas he'll be back for the Youth Cup games won't he?

[Nunavut Patrick]

I think Rafa offered to top him up with ps2 games.

[terry mac]

according to Joxers agent Eamon Macloughlin his scholarship cancelled with Liverpool last week and is now training with Ipswich with Villa and Celtic interested

[cochcaer]

That was a quick return to England. Who wouldn't swap the boredom of Liverpool for the brightlights of Ipswich......

[Stu Monty]

Bright tractor lights that it!!

 

See what i did there....with the lights....and the farming........ :no

[liver bird]

seems a bit weird to me, leaves us cos he's homesick and then ends up training with ipswich???

[Uncle Travelling Matt]

seems a bit weird to me, leaves us cos he's homesick and then ends up training with ipswich???

 

Who can we blame for this then? Houllier? Heskey? How about Kewell? No, no, definitely Gerrards fault......or maybe Josemi's? Fcukin hell Rafa sort it out eh lad......

[Gav]

seems a bit weird to me, leaves us cos he's homesick and then ends up training with ipswich???

 

ermmm there's 8 Irish lads at ipswich,maybe that has something to do with it !! likewise Celtic and villa ..all have strong Irish youth connections.Thats gonna be a big help to a young lad sufferin from homesickness

[Stu Monty]

Yes, a move fom liverpool (where you can be in dublin/cork wherever in about 2 hours) to the middle of fucking nowhere in east anglia?

 

I get what you're saying about having irish lads around him but it's just mental, it's not like there's a language barrier or something he'll be making new friends still??

 

Don't really care though, if he doesn't want to stick it out here I don't want him here.

[liver bird]

ermmm there's 8 Irish lads at ipswich,maybe that has something to do with it !! likewise Celtic and villa ..all have strong Irish youth connections.Thats gonna be a big help to a young lad sufferin from homesickness

 

aye thats true ,I just don't know the exact number of irish contingents at all the acadamies ,my mistake.

just usually when your homesick ,you go home .

[Gav]

Yes, a move fom liverpool (where you can be in dublin/cork wherever in about 2 hours) to the middle of fucking nowhere in east anglia?

 

I get what you're saying about having irish lads around him but it's just mental, it's not like there's a language barrier or something he'll be making new friends still??

 

Don't really care though, if he doesn't want to stick it out here I don't want him here.

 

I agree , less than two hours away is not a huge deal but I Think its more than that tho -I've experienced it meself when I was living in Belgium .Just havin someone in the same digs as you , or being able to go to the pictures with someone , small things ,even goin for a pint , thats what you miss most of all and if theres 4 lads at ipswich that played in the same youth setups , come from same areas and have same accent , does alot for a persons self esteem .Same happened with me , I had 2 very good friends in my gaff, and they got me through the worse bits whe I was feelin down.

 

Personally I Think home sickness isn't the real reason he left , theres something about this sorry episode that doesn't meet the eye

[Maldini]

It sounds like we've been screwed on this one.

 

Former Academy player John Paul Kelly is attracting interest from Ipswich, Aston Villa and Celtic.

 

Kelly was highly rated by the Academy staff but left the club a few months ago because he was feeling homesick. Liverpool held onto his registration in the hope he would return but finally cancelled his scholarship last week.

 

Kelly is now training with Ipswich and will be visiting Villa and Celtic in the new year.

 

His agent, Eamon McLoughlin said: "John Paul had his scholarship with Liverpool cancelled last week and he is looking for a move to a new club,"

 

"At the moment he is at Ipswich having a look round the club and they have always had a long-term interest in John Paul as they tried to get him before he went to Liverpool.

 

"He has a few options and he is set to go to Aston Villa and Celtic in the New Year to have a look at both clubs and have talks.

 

"John Paul is no rush for a move and is keeping his options open as he wants to find the right club where he can get a chance to make the breakthrough."