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SITTING on the bench is frustrating for all footballers, but most of all for the substitiute goalkeeper.

He knows he will only be brought on if the number one keeper is injured.

So it is somewhat surprising that Nick Colgan is so happy at Ipswich Town - 200 miles away from his family in Barnsley.

Colgan was brought to Portman Road in the January transfer window at the same time as current incumbant between the sticks Stephen Bywater.

Both have joined on loan deals until the end of the season, but it is Bywater who has won the battle to be number one, leaving Colgan sidelined.

However, apart from not being Magilton's first choice, Colgan told the Gazette he couldn't be happier.

He said: "I said when I came here that I did not come to sit on the bench but it has panned out that way.

"I am happier sitting on the bench here than I was at Barnsley even though I am 200 miles from my family.

"I felt like an alien up there but here I feel part of it even though I'm on the bench.

"There is every opportunity to be involved on the Saturday which I didn't have at Barnsley - when you are a footballer and you are not playing you want to feel as though you have a chance of playing."

Colgan, a Republic of Ireland international with eight caps, has been stuck playing reserve team football to keep himself sharp, although the standard of the reserve league has been a problem for Town all season.

Many of Town's fringe players have complained, saying the quality of opposition is not sufficient for them to press their case for a first-team birth.

Colgan said: "The reserve league is not the most competitive and the things I have to do are few and far between.

"To make an impression in these games has been tough, but I have enjoyed the training and being at the club."

With Town's goalkeeping situation for next season unknown, the 34-year-old is hoping he is asked to stay on at Portman Road.

Bywater's loan deal is believed to be with a view to a permanent deal being struck with owners Derby in the summer, although he may not have done enough to be in Jim Magilton's plans.

Shane Supple will be back from his loan spell at Falkirk so it will be interesting to see what Magilton decides to do with the club's pool of keepers, especially with former star Richard Wright set to leave West Ham - the club he joined ahead of the Blues last summer.

"I'm pretty sure I will be sitting down soon to find out what the future holds for me," said Colgan.

"At the moment it is not important what happens to Nick Colgan or with Jason De Vos or Owen Garvan's contracts, it is about getting the points we need.

"This is a proper professional club, from the ground to the people in the ground to the people in the club like the kit man.

"The tempo of training and ability of the lads and passion of the manager have been a breath of fresh air to me.

"I would like to get out there and show my capabilities. I still have a hell of a lot to offer as a goalkeeper. It is a sad indictment to want to be a number two.

"Managers want players who want to be in the team and I want to be in the team."

Whether Colgan will ever make his Town debut remains to be seen, but if he gets his way, it will be the number one shirt adorning his back when Town kick off the new season.

7:56am Friday 2nd May 2008

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