Former Ipswich Town player Flynn Downes has admitted to Wales Online that he and Paul Cook came to an agreement that he wanted to leave Portman Road before completing his move to Swansea City. 

The midfielder was one of several senior players at the Sky Bet League One side that was forced to train with the under-23 side after making his desire to leave known to the manager and has now completed his move to Swansea in the Championship.

Downes had previously spent his entire career at Ipswich and ended up making just shy of 100 appearances for the Tractor Boys before finally getting his move to a higher level which he had craved for quite some time.

Now the player has spoken out about the circumstances surrounding his slightly staggered departure from Portman Road, as he revealed the following recently:

"I spoke to the gaffer at Ipswich last year and we came to an agreement that I wanted to leave. I think that had a part to play in it. That's fair enough. It is what it is. I wish I'd had a better pre-season but there you are.

"I'm buzzing to be here. Being with the under-23s has made me appreciate this even more. I can't wait to get going."

Ipswich have been quick to strengthen in midfield following the loss of Downes, with the club yesterday confirming the signing of former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tom Carroll, who became their 16th new signing of what has been a busy summer at Portman Road.

The Tractor Boys will be looking to get their first league win of the season later on this evening as they travel away to newly promoted Cheltenham Town in what is a 7.45pm kick off.

The Verdict 

It would be fair to say that Ipswich had been prepared for the potential departure of Downes for quite some time, with the club having since brought in a direct replacement for the midfielder in the form of Carroll.

The squad that Cook has put together should be more than capable of getting promoted this season and they have put themselves under a slight bit of pressure after failing to win in the league so far.

It will however take time for so many new signings to develop some collective cohesion between themselves and therefore the fans need to have some patience with this new look squad.

Town have moved on without Downes and will be looking to show him that he was wrong to leave as time goes on, with promotion firmly in their sights.