Town boss Paul Jewell says he now expects the Blues’ contract saga to drag on until after the end of the 2010/11 campaign. Central defender Damien Delaney is still the only senior player whose current terms are up at the end of the season to have signed a new deal.

Jewell said: “I think that it’s got so late now that it’s going to go on until after to the end of the season.

“We’ve made the offer, the players are mulling it over, I guess, but at the end of the day I can’t fault their efforts, the lads who are out of contract as well as those who are in contract.

“We have spoken to [David Norris and Gareth McAuley],” he added. “They know the situation, we’ve made them offers.

“The main concern now is that a week isn’t going to make a lot of difference to anybody. We do have contingency plans, we have to have contingency plans, and we’ve told the players that.

“You’ve got to always have other irons in the fire. I’m not sitting here biting my nails, waiting for the news. I’ve got one plan if they sign, which is great, another if they don’t.

“That’s life. If any player leaves here this club will continue and the most important thing is the club. If we lose good players, we have to replace them.”

Last week Jewell said that terms had been agreed with McAuley but the Northern Irishman — who has recently been linked with SPL giants Rangers - is still to put pen to paper: “I think the club have agreed to what Gareth’s agent wants but it’s a big decision for Gareth and I think everything will probably be resolved very quickly after the end of the season. Hopefully Gareth will stay, but if not I wish him well.

“What his people have asked for, we’ve agreed to and we’re just waiting on an answer now. Maybe he has something else, that’s his prerogative, I don’t know.

“It’s a little bit different with David Norris, there’s a bit of toing and froing with Chuck but it’s not my place to discuss it and I don’t really want to discuss it.”

Town had set deadlines for the agents representing Colin Healy and Brian Murphy to get back to them regarding their deals but Jewell admits these timescales have now moved: “A little bit, yes. We’ve offered what we think they want but it’s certainly not going to be resolved before the Leicester game.”

More than anything, the Blues boss is determined to avoid the same thing happening again: “We don’t want to be in a situation next season or in future seasons where we let our better players run out of contract.

“It’s been tough here with so many players out of contract at one given time. I’ve had more questions to deal with about contracts than games.

“Protracted negotiations have been going on for a while now and I’m really fed up of talking about it, although I know you guys [the media] have to ask about it.”

Jewell says those negotiations continue, as do conversations with his summer targets: “There are always talks [with current players], but my main concern now is to talk to players that I’m trying to bring in."

Photo: Action Images

HealysBackPocket added 16:29 - Apr 28 Can we not just tell them to f off yet?
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bluelady added 16:32 - Apr 28 so a co-incidence Gareth is 'injured' then or is he saving himself?
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arc added 16:32 - Apr 28 As soon as Delaney signed his contract, his form went down the toilet. There's a lesson there too.
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pinablue added 16:35 - Apr 28 Clearly it would seem that they do not really wish to be here... and in that case farewell me lads! We will be able to improve the squad without having to worry about their wages !!!
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Lightningboy added 16:37 - Apr 28 If they don't want to sign then let them go..it'll be their loss to be leaving a great club. At best most of them are average..I'm sure Jewell can find better during the summer.
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dan_itfc55 added 16:37 - Apr 28 wipe the slate clean - clear them out get about 6-7 new guys in
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bedsitfc added 16:39 - Apr 28 I would put a time limit on all of them and if they have not signed they should be dropped for the last game of the season.
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TractorBeezer added 16:41 - Apr 28 So much for the deadlines. Hope that we keep Macca though.
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bluelady added 16:42 - Apr 28 tractorBeezer, agree whats the point in having a deadline then moving it, means the players effectively hold all the cards...... What a mess to get into though
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bedsitfc added 16:43 - Apr 28 Any of them can be easily replaced. For the long term It may be a good thing if they all go
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devontractorboy added 16:46 - Apr 28 No one player makes the team at the moment, if they want out let them go Paul, lets have players with pride in the shirt.............
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ChiefXL added 16:46 - Apr 28 We lose 9-2 on aggregate over the Easter weekend and Jewell can't fault their efforts. Is he taking the pi$$?
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makaloon added 16:46 - Apr 28 Is it just me that thinks McAuley is rubbish and that we shouldn't have any worries about him not signing? Player of the season? Remember that in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.
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uppersirbob added 16:48 - Apr 28 To be fair its a yes or no whats the hold up ? after the last two games i couldnt give a toss if they signed not good enough this year
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Smithy added 16:49 - Apr 28 Oh just tell them do one ffs, its getting ridiculous they seem to think they are bigger than the club and making us sweat, when in reality none of us could care less if they stayed or not. Give them a deadline of next week and if nothing then goodbye, if they really wanted to stay they'd show this with not only signing sharply but also by showing it on the pitch.
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ITFC_Budapest added 16:49 - Apr 28 Not much commitment it seems. Get shot of them then and bring in players who want to play for this club!
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Mark added 16:50 - Apr 28 Yes, so much for the deadlines! To make sure it doesn't happen again next season means signing or selling Fulop and Leadbitter this summer.
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blueherts added 16:50 - Apr 28 We dont want them - heart not in it - Get cash for em and go get players who will show more desire to be here !!! They have had long enough
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TractorBeezer added 16:53 - Apr 28 blueherts Not clear how we'll get cash for out of contract players
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cats_whiskers added 16:57 - Apr 28 Basically this a worn out story. I agree it's their prerogative to take reasonable time over it but I think that it has been more than long enough if you take on board Jewells statement the club has met McAuley's terms which was offered him approx 2 weeks ago. Regardless of how rated they are, they are still partly responsible for playing a part in this poor season when expectation was originally high. So book the removal firm now and start packing things

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IITFC1948 added 16:58 - Apr 28 Now you know why there no passion.its not about the club or shirt they want to play for ,its all about money,same with any new players we try to bring in,if they want time to think it over before they sign.forget about them
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itfc1981 added 16:59 - Apr 28 its not that I'am really botherd about the players going but if they do, it means they have to be replaced which takes away from our transfer kitty for next season. In the end we may just end up repalcing those lost players and have little left to improve the squad in other areas.
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tractorblue99 added 17:02 - Apr 28 just get rid of him and bring in st ledger or mark hudson. This is why football agents are the devil incarnate they just in it for themselves.
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Bluetone added 17:03 - Apr 28 Ultimatum stop fu**ing about sign up or ship out. You are NOT bigger than the Club.
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PeekFreans added 17:04 - Apr 28 Either sign or pi$$ off
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