EXPERIENCED defender Ian Hughes will travel to Cardiff knowing it's his last game with Town.
The 29-year-old centre-back, who is unlikely to be in Peter Jackson's final 16 for the play-off showdown against Mansfield, has been released after one season at the McAlpine.
He leaves, however, with nothing but praise from manager Peter Jackson.
As ticket sales for the Millennium topped 17,500 ahead of today's general release, Jackson said:
"Hughesy has a tremendous attitude and is really well liked by everyone at the club, because you couldn't wish to meet a nicer bloke.
"After six years each with Bury and Blackpool in which he's hardly had an injury, he has been really unlucky here, but his determination has been excellent and his commitment fantastic.
"It's really disappointing that we can't offer him a new contract, but it shows what type of guy he is when he shook my hand, said how much he'd enjoyed it here and said how proud he was to have been part of it all.
"He will be with us in Cardiff and, obviously, we wish Ian all the best for his future career, because he's been a big part of what we've achieved here."
Hughes made 16 senior appearances for the club, scoring his only goal in the 2-2 early-season draw against Boston United at York Street.
Although he was on the bench three times in the run-in against Scunthorpe, Northampton and Hull, he hasn't featured in senior action since the opening home victory of 2004 against Doncaster in January.
Meanwhile, Jackson put the players through a tough physical session at Storthes Hall yesterday following their weekend break at a golf resort in Lancashire.
"The lads will have tomorrow off before our final preparations start on Thursday, and then we'll be in training every day through to the final on Monday," he said.
"We are going to the stadium for the First Division final and then we'll all watch Sunday's Second Division play-off between Brighton and Bristol City on the television.
"Our build-up is going very well and hopefully it will pay off."
TOWN's Euro 2004 draw will be made by the Examiner's Mel Booth on Friday.
Anyone with tickets has until 10.00am on that day to return them to the McAlpine, or they will not be included.
