By Ian Hayes
August 26 2003

A month long loan has been rejected by Ipswich boss Joe Royal for Alun Armstrong. Royal asking for a more permanent deal for the 28 year-old striker Derby County have failed in a move to bring in 28 year-old Striker Alun Armstrong to Pride Park on a months loan.

Armstrong has been bought by Rams manager George Burley once before when manager of Ipswich. Armstrong came to Portman Road from Middlesboro in December 2000 for £500,000.
Armstrong has scored a total of 12 goals in 45 league games for the tractor boys, which is a fair strike rate.

Ipswich manager Joe Royal thinks that Armstrong deserves a more permanent move and dismissed the loan spell stating that Alun needs some stability in his career at the moment.

Rams fans are now asking why Burley is going for so many month loans. Is there a change of ownership in the offing and is George Burley is playing a canny game, waiting his moment to be able to move in the transfer market? Only time will tell but the rumours are starting to surface again.