Has the club changed it's plan for getting into the Premier League? Have we lowered our expectations in order to build a young team? And, is this causing tension between Keane and his employers?.

At the end of last season. Keane described what he wanted; 4 or 5 new players with a number of his first teamer's moved on. It appeared, again we were in for a busy summer with some more players coming in for big money. Keane targeting 'street-wise' players with Championship experience. Again highlighting the fact they would be on high money.

Adding Chopra to the mix and get a strong sense of what Keane was expecting. Things start to go wrong very early into May. Rumours of Boyd valuation not being met by Peterborough. Then it's downhill from there; us missing out on Derry due to our wage structure (massive blow to Keane) not paying a decent price for Chopra and not giving Perch a decent wage.

It seems clear that ME and SC had discussions with Keane about the need to be more prudent. Hence Keane's comment's about signing some freebies. But, not the miserly manner we have become during the summer; this for me is Keane's real bone of contention. How is he expected to bring in the quality he needs for us to be a competitive outfit when we are not prepared to pay the necessary wages?

How are we going to be promoted without a big enough squad? Keane stuck to his end of the bargain with 16 players being moved on. ME and SC haven't done theirs. I think in some ways Keane feels conned now having a squad he doesn't believe are good enough but, has to the outside be quiet about his true feelings.

Going against what he is as a man. After the two previous summers when we have lavished money on players and wages to largely journeyman, that has only increased our expenditure and lowered our team. I can understand now why ME and SC have decided we need to be far more prudent in the transfer market. The signing of Fulop and Scotland are prime examples of this. What appears to have happened is the club have decided to change their philosophy to go back to a far better way of improving the football club if a little too miserly in their outlook.

This has cost us big time with some key signings opting to stay at their clubs or preferring to join other clubs. The club now has in the region of 13 academy players in our squad not to mention the 4 youngsters signed from other clubs giving us a very youthful, exuberant team. I think against Keane's wishes ME and SC are prepared to give these players time to develop in the first team saving the club millions in wages, having players with more loyalty and higher sell on value.

In doing so they appear to have lowered their expectations instead going for the club to 'do well' rather than promotion which, was first mooted. This stance is something i have been advocating for a few years back to the Ipswich way of doing things; building a team slowly and developing our youngsters, although i think the wage structure issue should be loosened. But, this is against what the club have been doing over the last few years.

This is in direct confrontation with Keane. He wants this club to be promoted, this season. Not in a few years time. Like he was expected to do when he first signed. Hence his two year contract; promotion in 2 years. Keane has been very clever with the press this summer, he seems to be very willing to let the fans know of what is going on at our football club and his frustrations. This has highlighted a possible rift between him and the club. It seems he has been reprimanded by Simon Clegg and has later be far more conservative with his comments in regards to the clubs transfer policy.

The club have shown great loyalty to Keane during last years terrible campaign, now though things have changed and i don't think Keane is too happy with the clubs new outlook. With the rumoured two year contract they have put on the table for Keane, it has told me alot about what the club are hoping to do in the future. It seems very premature to do it now. So, there has to be other reasons for it.

Less expectations more on the development of the players and telling Keane he is very important to the club whilst lightly reminding him who the boss is? That's my theory...could i be right?

Please note that all views expressed in this article are that of the writer and not necessarily that of Blues-Online.co.uk as a whole.