Midfielder Grant Leadbitter has confirmed that he has decided not to accept Town’s offer of a new deal. We understand that, as outlined by Blues boss Paul Jewell yesterday, the former Sunderland man, who has been strongly linked with a move to Middlesbrough, did not travel with the rest of the squad to Doncaster for Saturday’s final game of the season and has played his last match for the Blues.

Leadbitter told Sky Sports that he has opted against remaining with the Blues after his current deal is up at the end of June: “I have turned down the offer of a new deal at Ipswich and I will be leaving at the end of the season.

"It was a really tough decision, but I feel I am ready for a new challenge at this stage of my career.

"I never spoke to Ipswich about finances, I just feel the time is right for a new challenge and a new experience.

"I would like to thank the club for bringing me here in the first place and I have had a great three years here.

"The fans have been brilliant and I have a lot of time for Paul Jewell and always got on very well with him and you see how hard he works for the club."

He added: "I have not thought about my future yet I will be going on holidays soon and I will be keeping my options open before I decide where I want to go."

Manager Paul Jewell said: "We have given it our best shot. I have spoken to Grant at length. The owner has as well. It's a big decision for him though. I understand that.

"The longer it has gone on the more I have felt we were going down the lines of him going elsewhere. We wanted him to stay but it's not to be and we wish him well."

In addition to Boro, Brighton and Hove Albion have also been linked. Former captain Leadbitter joined his old Sunderland boss Roy Keane at Portman Road for a fee of £2.65 million in the summer of 2009 and went on to make 120 starts and six sub appearances for the Blues, scoring 14 goals.

Photo: Action Images

Keaneish added 22:52 - Apr 27 But that would make only 3 centre-backs Washbrook unless you're including Ainsley as a centre-back for next season? If we used more of Ainsley as either a right-back or a centre back then yeah, we could for go 2 less out of that 9 i guess but given his inexperience it wouldn't fill me with confidence. Seems certain we'll land a GK, CB, CM, ST and a LM and with Joel Ward in the offing that's 6 minimum! Now Cressie is injured that leaves us with Whight, who doesn't appear to be ready and Delaney who's terrible as a full back so i'd definitely want cover there BuryBlue77. A Micky Stockwell would be a great find. Why did that muppet Keane ever let David Wright go!!?

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 23:03 - Apr 27 Not that worried that he has gone. I see it as
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buryblue77 added 23:14 - Apr 27 Washbrook, I can see your point and yes it's a question I asked though, where does this goalscorer come from? The trouble is I can see we're just going to head down the loan route again, but yes maybe we do need to get real, but it's not the sort of ambition I would hope for. Keanish, another mystery from the era of our Dark Lord, only a muppet would release the only recognised RB and not replace him, the problem is, in a bit over a year PJ hasn't either. I am slightly worried as I've mentioned in my previous posts that we're now in need of too many players, are we going to see this 'time to gel' situation all over again and have to make do with a miserable first part to the season? Either way and whatever happens, we have to get behind the team. COYB!!

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hairbear added 00:55 - Apr 28 yes he performed very well when he came back into a successful side but the team performance started to dip.... oh do you know what i cant be arsed! f**k off grunt you weren't worth the bother
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Royal_Blue added 01:39 - Apr 28 So happy he has gone. Good(ish) journeyman midfielder. No spark, average talent. Give yoof a run - Carson, Hyams et al ITFC have almost always won via the yoofs (Mr Ramsey excepted) Play the youngsters
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bringbackthedutch added 02:15 - Apr 28 We seem to have specialised in this type of very ordinary midfielder for too long. Would never cut it in the premiership. If we've got ambition we need someone better. Best off without.
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ozzydog added 05:25 - Apr 28 No great loss. But a pity that once again the ineptness of the ITFC management has conspired to rob the club of a transfer fee. Still it`s alright our switched on leader has loads of dough to throw at his toy. I just wish he had read the instructions first
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PLEASELEAVEKEANE added 08:48 - Apr 28 Goodbye Grant in your 3 year spell you managed about 8 months of playing well you should be greatful we even offered you a new deal at all. To negative anyway maybe you should try rugby??
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TimmyH added 11:29 - Apr 28 @bury - exactly! we'll be back at square 1 of a year or so ago, too many transfers in and Jewell won't know whether he is coming or going (
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TimmyH added 11:31 - Apr 28 just hope he doesn't get to many new faces in, above all new permanent goalkeeper a right back and centre back are needed over anything else.
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:46 - Apr 28 Town need, real ,passionate, die for the cause players ,before we are to achieve anything,players like Beattie , Burley, Whymark, Mariner,Wark,Butcher,ect we have been lacking in that kind of player for a long time.We have a few players that can put in a good performance on their day,we have a few with real tallent, but we dont have many/any with the blue blood in their veins or the fire in their belly to get us where we want to be .Leadbitter, has his moments but is NOT in the Ipswich legend class.Too many mercinaries nowadays,over paid and over rated .

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alfromcol added 15:41 - Apr 28 At least his new team, MIddlesborough, won't be playing in the Premiership, so I can't see how he has improved his lot.
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tomisamos added 18:00 - Apr 28 Decent player, I think Leadbitter got a lot of unmerited stick at times during his career here. He did the basics well and will need a very decent replacement! But if he doesn't want to stay I suppose we can't force him. In hindsight probably should have sold him in the summer... Him, McAuley and Norris could have made us a reasonable 5 million at least!
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tractorboy2434 added 21:04 - Apr 28 Never justified his fee, an expensive mistake, George Boyd from Posh is twice the player and is also only 26, be interesting to see if the club has any ambition, sadly I doubt it and all we will get is some freebies who are out of contract
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h32 added 12:18 - Apr 29 dirtydingusmagee - agree with you - in more recent times you could add names like Holland and Mowbray to that list.
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h32 added 12:28 - Apr 29 Keaneish - 'why did that muppet Keane ever let David Wright go'? - only Keane knows the answer to that - BUT Jewell, almost instantly, had the chance to get him back - and he desperately wanted to come back here. So why didn't Jewell take the opportunity to do so ? - composed and very capable RB was David Wright.
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