On-loan star Keith Andrews has expressed his surprise that Ipswich are not doing more to retain his services on a permanent basis.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder has netted nine goals in 19 appearances since arriving from Blackburn in January and is set to return there after the home clash with Nottingham Forest on January 2.

Andrews, 31, has become a target for several other clubs as a result of his performances for Ipswich but manager Paul Jewell, most recently as Saturday after the home win over Derby County, has regularly insisted the club would do everything within its power to keep him at Portman Road.

Premiership clubs Aston Villa, Everton, Bolton, Swansea and Wigan have all been linked with Andrews, who confirmed his agent met with Town owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg on Monday.

Andrews said: “I can’t really say too much but I haven’t been given the impression by the club that they want to do anything.

“Going back a few weeks I told my agent to phone the club out of courtesy because he was speaking to other clubs on my behalf, which he was fully entitled to do.

“With me being here and enjoying it I wanted him to touch base with Ipswich but from our point of view they haven’t given us the impression that they want to do anything, so that’s where we are at the moment.”

Asked if he had discussed the possibility of joining Town on a permanent basis, Andrews replied: “No, I haven’t spoken to Paul about it at all. Maybe that is the plan in the next few weeks — I’m not too sure — but nobody has spoken to me on a personal note.

“There have been very few discussions between the senior management at the club and my agent, so I’ve nothing to report.”

Andrews confirmed that several other clubs had shown an interest, adding: “It’s a little bit hazy at the moment. Blackburn are in a bit of disarray and we don’t know what way it is going to go there.

“Who knows if there is going to be a change of manager? As it stands I’ll be going back after the Forest game and I’ll just have to wait and see how January pans out.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

tractorboy2434 added 10:15 - Dec 22 This just highlights to everyone what I have been saying for ages, our club is a shambles, we should have been the first club he spoke to, what a shower of sh*te our club is , how very, very sad and is indicative of why we miss out on so many decent players, we are always at the back of the queue, it does'nt bode well for the Jan window, and is yet more proof that there is NO MONEY.

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rosseden added 13:09 - Dec 22 we so have so little money that our £5m or £6m defeceit each year is putting us into administration and we're not paying wages....... didnt i read that somewhere? oh no, that must have been one of Plymouth, Cardiff, Watford, Blackburn or one of the other clubs with loads of money, our 'no money' seems to cover the shortfalls....... i wish i had 'no money'
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Tonyitfc82 added 14:51 - Dec 22 I really dont get some of you ppl in here. KA its 31 years old he is not 40 and we need to sign this guy ASAP. He has scored lots of goals for us and I think he could get 20 for us this season if we sign him. He has at least another 2-3 good seasons in him so why you dont want him I dont know. Find me another middfielder out there who can get at least 15 goal per season. He has lots of premiere league experience so even if we do go up in the next 2 years we allready have him. You tell me who from our current team can play in the premiere league apart from KA? I think none.

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TimmyH added 20:08 - Dec 22 Look what happened to Jimmy once under contract...game went downhill, it could well be his wages which are the stumbling block. Once bitten twice shy!
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