GONE: Ibrahima Sonko has been released by Ipswich Town

IBRAHIMA Sonko has backed his former team mates to push for a top-six finish next season.

The experienced defender was one of the big casualties of Paul Jewell’s drive towards youth after the 31-year-old was released by the club at the end of last month.

At one stage, Sonko – dubbed Superman at former club Reading – was seen as a lucky Town omen after signing to boost the Blues’ beleaguered defence at the end of August.

He tasted defeat just once in his first eight matches, but his form dipped as the season went on and some high-profile blunders cost him his place – forcing him to watch all but one of the last 17 games from the sidelines.

But whether in the side, on the bench or in the stands, the centre-back insists he is leaving a club destined for bigger things next year.

He said: “One thing is for sure – the players know they have the ability to do a lot better. The second half of the season showed they are a good side and that they should be aiming much higher in the league.

“They know what it takes to get up the league – it is just a matter of getting more consistency. “There is enough talent at the club to finish in the top-six and I would love it if they do.”

After being released by Portsmouth at the end of last season, free transfer Sonko was signed following successive heavy defeats by newly-promoted Southampton and Peterborough.

In all, he made 20 starts, and two more appearances from the bench, in a season that went from the sublime to the shocking – for both the player and his team.

With Jewell looking to bring in more youth throughout his whole side, it was little surprise that the former Senegalese international was not offered a new deal.

He added: “There are no hard feelings.

“Everyone has their job to do and if Paul Jewell thinks I am not the answer, I won’t blame him. He only said good things about me.”