Jewell sorry but Healy time was up

IPSWICH TOWN boss Paul Jewell has denied claims that a bust-up with Colin Healy led to the Ballincollig man’s departure from Portman Road earlier this week.

Healy’s contract with the club was cancelled by mutual consent and he is now searching for a new club, with Cork City’s Tommy Dunne expressing his interest in bringing the midfielder back to Turner’s Cross.

Healy left City for Ipswich in July 2009 and went on to make 28 appearances for the Championship club.

The 31-year-old wassubstituted after 25 minutes of the recent defeat to Doncaster and Jewell revealed that the ex-Irish international was angered by the decision.

“We had a disagreement over his substitution and I fully understood where he was coming from,” said Jewell. “Things were said in the heat of the moment that I think he regretted. We shook hands on it and we decided it was time for him to move on. I, and everybody at the club, wishes him well because he’s a really good guy and a decent player but it just hasn’t happened for him here.

“It didn’t happen under Roy [Keane] and it hasn’t happened under me. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on.”

The Ipswich boss added: “Colin was unfortunate really. He played against Doncaster and I brought him off after about 25 minutes, which was pretty embarrassing for Colin, and for me really. Nobody likes to see that, especially to someone who is such a good character as Colin.

“We had a chat on the Monday, he wasn’t very happy and we sat down and thrashed out a deal. We’re big boys and things happen in life that we don’t like. We have disagreements and arguments but there’s no point in holding grudges. I have no problem with Colin.”

Healy isn’t the only Corkman to have left Ipswich Town this week, as Shane O’Connor has joined League Two Port Vale on loan.