Defender Damien Delaney says he’d love to stay with the Blues beyond the end of his contract in the summer, but as yet has not been offered a new deal. Manager Paul Jewell has told the Irishman that he doesn’t want him to leave and that it is up to the 29-year-old to impress him enough to win new terms during the remaining months of the season.

Delaney says that so far — unlike team-mates Gareth McAuley and David Norris - he has not received a contract offer: "The club haven't spoken to me, they haven't intimated they want me to stay, although they turned down a bid [from Crystal Palace] in January. I was told I definitely wasn’t for sale and then I was told pretty much that there wasn't another deal there.

"But I think Gareth and Chuck are in the same boat, they've not heard anything for two months with regards to their contracts.

"From the management point of view, I spoke to Paul Jewell and he told me about the bid, he told me he wanted me to stay from a football point of view and that's why I've stayed. But come the summer, I have to look at my situation and just try and find work."

The former QPR man says his agent had a short conversation with Simon Clegg around the time of the change of manager at Portman Road: “My agent had a brief discussion with the chief executive and it was quite hesitant. It wasn’t good feedback, it didn’t make me think they wanted me to stay long term.

“At my age, 29, you have to be thinking about security, but we’ll wait and see, I’m not really panicked about it.”

Delaney, who now won't be able to play enough league games this season to trigger an extra year option on his current deal, says he isn’t looking to move anywhere else: "I'd love to stay, I genuinely mean that. I think clubs like Ipswich Town don’t come around very often. It’s fabulous club, it’s a wonderful place to live and with the history the club has.

“It’s just a good club, there’s a good feel to the place. I know the fans are dying for a bit of success and the players are as well and I’d love to be part of that and help that to happen.

"But for whatever reason nothing's been explained to me or mentioned about a contract, so I suppose their silence speaks loud enough."

The twice-capped Irish international was pleased with the conversation he had with Paul Jewell last week: “I had a good chat with him, he told me he wanted me to stay and that [the number of players out of contract] was a problem that he’s inherited and was absolutely nothing to do with him.

“From that point of view I was more than happy to stay because he told me he wanted me to stay and I said to him that from a footballing point of view I’d be more than happy to stay.

“He said get your head down and work hard between now and the summer. I definitely know I’m required between now and May and after that we’ll see what the club say. Come May, who knows what’s going to be on the table.

“All I wanted to hear from Paul Jewell was that he wanted me to stay and as soon as I heard that I thought that would do for me. If he’d have hesitated and said he wasn’t sure, then obviously you don’t want to stay somewhere where you’re not wanted.”

The centre-half says he’s surprised that the situation has developed as it has: “It’s a bit strange how it’s ended up like this, I don’t know how it’s come about, it should never have got to this stage.

“The key thing is, and I was speaking to Gareth, I think the lads genuinely do want to stay, so it’s not a case of the club trying to sign us and we’re trying get away. We’re almost saying that we want to stay and we’d love to stay here and can you help us out, but we’re hearing nothing back and it’s frustrating.

“The lads have families as well and as much as we want to stay at Ipswich Town, you have a family to look after, so come the summer we maybe will have to look elsewhere.”

Delaney says skipper David Norris and his central defensive partner Gareth McAuley feel much the same as him: “They’ve had offers two months ago, but they’ve heard nothing since then. Obviously we speak to one another about it, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening?’. I think it’s the best part of two months since they’ve heard anything back as well.”

Ultimately, the Cork man feels the players’ position will only be strengthened the longer they remain in their current position: “When you’re on a free transfer you definitely hold a lot of the cards. People aren’t silly, they know we’re going to hold all the cards come the end of the season.

“The club are taking a massive gamble because even if the club makes you an offer there are going to be other offers on the table, so it’s going to be more difficult for them.”

But the ex-Leicester City and Hull man says that ideally he’d like the club to make him an offer before then: “I’d hope so. Paul Jewell says he wants me to stay, if that’s the case, if ever the club say something to me then we’ll talk about it.

“I’m not particularly worried,” he continued. “But come the summer, I’ll definitely have to have a look at it.

“As much as I’d love to stay at Ipswich Town, I have a family as well and I have myself and my family to look after, and if there’s not work here then I’ll obviously have to find somewhere else.”

Manager Jewell hints that the club’s closeness to the relegation zone may have had some bearing on the lack of contract offers to the likes of Delaney: “I had a conversation with him last week and he could have gone to another club with a three-year contract. I was straight with him and told him that I didn’t want him to go and it was up to him to impress me to stay here.

“As far as I’m aware, I looked him in the eye, he doesn’t want to leave here and it’s up to the players to impress us. I think the players have been terrific with that.

“Hopefully, sooner rather than later we can get stuff sorted. The only concern I’ve got is making sure we’ve got enough points and then we’ll know where we’re going to be next year, I’m pretty confident that we’re going to be OK.

“But once we know for definite, then we can sit down and make decisions. That’s what I’ve said to the players. The ball’s in their court. If they go and play well between now and the end of the season and show the same commitment and desire that they have up to now, everyone wins.

“They’ll certainly win, we’ll obviously try and pay then more money to keep them, so will other clubs. It’s a win-win situation for them.”

Photo: Action Images

ClassyIpswichLass added 09:35 - Feb 4 So, if it gets sorted to our liking, it's thanks to Paul Jewell. And if it's not to our liking, it's thanks to Simon Clegg. Please tell me, how does that work?
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Doctor_Albran added 09:37 - Feb 4 Blueherts - whilst I wasn't his biggest fan you can't blame Keane for this one - right from day one the club made it clear that all contract negotiations where down to Clegg - now the fact that Delaney wasn't offered one at all probably was Keane's call - given the supposed falling out. The main concern here (and this is aimed at all the people saying play for a contract) Crystal Palace offered £800,000 for Norris and Delaney come the end of the season any team could offer them their existing terms plus £400,000 which would have been paid to us as a signing on fee. As such by leaving it to this point we will in effect have to re-sign these players, including a signing on fee, or alternatively increase their current wages to incorporate the improved payments they will be getting from other clubs - plus all 3 are getting on and will want relatively long deals to see them towards the end of their careers. In any case, its a shocking situation to find ourselves in - although the 21 players is a bit of a red-herring as all the youth players are included within that figure.

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stinkiusminkius added 09:41 - Feb 4 If Delaney goes then he goes. He's been ok (or v good against Arsenal) but I have confidence that PJ could find a better replacement if required. I wouldn't have had confidence had RK still been here.
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Worcester added 09:41 - Feb 4 Can we stop Clegg bashing now? It is fun I'll admit but it doesn't get us anywhere and to be honest we don't know what Delaney is asking for. It could be another out of wage structure demand. It may even be PJ letting Cleggy take the flak for it too. He hasn't come out guns blazing signing every body up. He may have other plans for the summer, and why not? After all if he signs someone better we would all be saying "Damien who?" in six months. Surely Clegg Cannot move without a say so from the manager?

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Worcester added 09:45 - Feb 4 Sorry Blue Herts just read your post....stepped on your point a bit.....
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rosseden added 09:48 - Feb 4 ''So, if it gets sorted to our liking, it's thanks to Paul Jewell. And if it's not to our liking, it's thanks to Simon Clegg. Please tell me, how does that work? '' PJ+success / RK-failure = SC+ME+ITFC / unhappy fans alternatively it coudl have been PJ-success / RK- success = ME-ITFC-SC / happy fans does that explain it ok? its the fans logic you see..... you need to start forgetting about the rest fo the business in the world.... theyre obviously wrong.....

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rosseden added 09:49 - Feb 4 ''So, if it gets sorted to our liking, it's thanks to Paul Jewell. And if it's not to our liking, it's thanks to Simon Clegg. Please tell me, how does that work? '' PJ+success / RK-failure = SC+ME+ITFC / unhappy fans alternatively it could have been PJ-success / RK- success = ME-ITFC-SC / happy fans does that explain it ok? its the fans logic you see..... you need to start forgetting about the rest of the businesses in the world.... theyre obviously wrong.....

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Doctor_Albran added 09:54 - Feb 4 Worcester - reading his comments Delaney hasn't been offered anything, as such I'm unsure how it can be an out of wage structure demand? Norris and GMac were made offers 2 months ago - not sure what powers PJ had then...! It would be interesting to know of the players out of contract who has actually had an offer and who hasn't - obviously we'll never know as to publish that would be like sticking a brand new table and chairs in a skip with a sign saying take me! The lack of offers right now is probably to give PJ the time to assess his players, however, if he wants to keep any of them it's going to cost us due to mal-administration (which is all down to Clegg - bash, Clegg - bash, Clegg - bash, you're right it is fun!)

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ClassyIpswichLass added 09:57 - Feb 4 rosseden I'd like a t-shirt with that explanation written on it. crystal clear
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cornishnick added 10:00 - Feb 4 It's incredible negligence from Clegg. Clearly doesn't understand how a football club should be run. If the player is half decent, you either sell or renew. Doing nothing just means they leave for nothing. Makes little sense. And it also shows a shocking lack of respect
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sonian_blue added 10:05 - Feb 4 Think we all agree that this whole situation is a mess and for my money we need to address the problem now, not in the summer. Let the management decide who should stay and get them signed up. Once contracts are up it comes down to who offers the most in terms of money and length of contract and as has been recently demonstrated , we are usually second best. Whether that is perceived as lack of ambition or the sensible approach is open to debate. Either way we need to act now.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 10:06 - Feb 4 don't panic! town were looking at St Ledger and we still have Smith and Eastman who will get better if they play games. i don't blame any bloke wanting to secure his wages in 6 months time, but there will be 100's of players available on free's in the summer, our wage bill is one of the highest in this league, the squad is too big, full of quantity not quality - so pulling all these strands together the club are going to see where we are and what we need in June - big risk - but i can see the businness sense in it

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ClassyIpswichLass added 10:11 - Feb 4 sonian_blue How can you begin with: "Think we all agree..." If you read all the opinions on this page you'll see we don't all agree at all. In fact, the only thing we agree on is that you're not very good at reading.
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ClassyIpswichLass added 10:13 - Feb 4 sonian_blue I overreacted a bit there. I'm guilty of not reading your post to the end.
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brogansnose added 10:18 - Feb 4 classylass; agree that something needs to be done about agents and players wages but this can only be done if all clubs make the same stand at the same time otherwise rival clubs pick up bargains and we then either spend a fortune in signing new players or get left with dross which ultimately will put us in a downward spiral. Its important not to get silly and pander to every players whims but a balance must be struck between a sustainable business model and one that has ambition and a chance of success. If you tread water in football eventually you will sink.

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JayITFC added 10:23 - Feb 4 Clearly a case of the club not prepared to commit to long term Championship level contracts when we could be in League 1 come May. Understandable when doing so bad with the current crop of players. This isn't Clegg or Evans at fault. It's because of Keane that we're in this mess.
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KenDubZ added 10:28 - Feb 4 Why the F**K aint we signing one of the best CB's in the league ???
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ClassyIpswichLass added 10:30 - Feb 4 brogansnose I agree that it's more effective if all clubs take the same stance simultaneously, but it can still reap rewards if we set an example. I mean, we may lose some of our best players. But our best players weren't that great when couldn't stop losing matches. The thing that all the players we'll lose will have in common is that they don't have the commitment to our club that we'd like them to have. I'd say that commitment was one of the most highly sought after qualities at the moment. The players that lost 6 games on the trot are by and large the same ones that have won the last three. Suddenly, we want to keep them - now they're showing some more commitment. I know, there's been a managerial change thrown in the middle there too, but it is the same players out there.

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BYRNE_16 added 10:37 - Feb 4 SIGN THEM ALL UP ON A NEW CONTRACT NOW! SIMON CLEGG OUT!!
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ClassyIpswichLass added 10:44 - Feb 4 I've been asked these question a few times, but now I'm going to turn them to BYRNE_16: Is your avatar picture, really you? Can I have a facebook page to confirm?
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muhrensleftfoot added 10:46 - Feb 4 Can't deny it's a real mess, Keane & Clueless Clegg between them have let it happen. Would be a big blow to see Norris & McAuley go. Delaney is important too, but at least we do have decent cover there with Smith, & possibly O'Dea who may well sign for us if PJ wants to keep him.
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JimmyBlue added 10:47 - Feb 4 Do we really need all this contract distraction when we are trying to secure our place in the Championship? Mr Clegg you need to resolve this. We need to get this decided one way or another. Either sign up the players or clearly tell the players that they will need to find a new contract in the summer. Although Delaney states that he is not really worried about it "...At my age, 29, you have to be thinking about security, but we'll wait and see, I'm not really panicked about it.” - he obviously is! Come on Ipswich - no other club has this level of problem.

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gibbo added 10:49 - Feb 4 Too be fair our best run at the beginning of the season did not have in the squad, we have Smith and Eastman, it depends on if we keep O'dear.
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hampstead_blue added 10:50 - Feb 4 He's had no offer because he's not good enough!!!!
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Lightningboy added 11:00 - Feb 4 Let him go,he's ok but nothing special...think PJ can probably find better during the summer plus we've got a few promising kids in Smith,Brown & Eastman in the wings.
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