Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that he’d like to keep Saturday’s two-goal hero Grant Leadbitter at Portman Road beyond the end of his contract which is up this summer. Leadbitter, who struck two second half goals to grab a 2-2 draw at Hull on Saturday, turned down the Blues’ initial offer of a new deal in October.

Jewell said: “We would do, but that’s something that can be out of our hands. The player’s out of contract like three or four others are and they’re quite free to see what the market is.

“I’d like to keep him but I’d like to keep all our good players, and we’ve got plenty of them.”

While former skipper Leadbitter has been on the end of a fair bit of criticism from fans, the Blues boss says the player himself has been critical of his lack of goals: “He’s had a bit of stick off himself because he should get more goals. He gets a good strike on the ball.

“He’s a good professional, he always tries his best every day in training. He’s been out of the team, like a few other people have, but he hasn’t moaned and groaned, he’s just got on with it. Unfortunately, he’s picked up a bit of a [groin] injury and we’ll have to see how that is.

“At the moment, whether players are in contract or out of contract, you can’t question their attitude, and I think that’s a credit to them.”

Meanwhile, former Blues striker Jordan Rhodes, who has scored 33 goals for Huddersfield so far this season, was named the League One Player of the Year at last night’s Football League Awards. Southampton’s Rickie Lambert picked up the Championship gong.

Photo: Action Images

trueblue1970 added 09:15 - Mar 12 Will be on high wages dont expect him to stay
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bluelady added 09:18 - Mar 12 trueblue, but with his lack of performance over last few years i am wondering if anyone will offer him a good wage outside the premiership with all the new rulings? he is hardly sort after. Definately a quality player and show what he can do last game or two but other than when he first came has been a disappointment. If he can remain at the top of his game and score goals like saturday i would like to see him stay.

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Sindre94 added 09:19 - Mar 12 Hardworking player, but im not sure hes good enough
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Wallingford_Boy added 09:19 - Mar 12 Phil - You didn't mention that Town linked Swindon star Ritchie got the Div Two award.
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cornishnick added 09:37 - Mar 12 He's still young (26), and not nearly as bad as some like to make out. There will be plenty of Championship sides interested in taking him on a free.
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bluelady added 09:40 - Mar 12 dont disagree Cornishnick but will they pay him his wage demands?
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Marcus added 09:41 - Mar 12 I think there's a bit of reading between the lines implied here. My translation attempt: he's a decent enough squad player and if he can accept that when he's out of form he'll be a reserve or bench warmer then a contract is available with terms to match that status. If not he's free to move on.
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Wacko added 09:49 - Mar 12 Unless he starts scoring more and changing the game more he will only ever be a squad player. Would rather have £50k worth players like Stevenson filling that role tbh
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Frase1987 added 09:53 - Mar 12 I don't think he offers us anything in terms of getting us promoted, scores a goal once every few months, doesn't do a lot else.
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buryblue77 added 09:58 - Mar 12 But Bluelady, he may well start with high wage demands, surely they'll drop after a few months when nobody offers him a contract because of his required salary and on realising that nobody can meet them he'll be forced to accept lower wages. I can't believe that there will be many clubs chasing him after his performances. His recent performances have been good, he's showing what he's capable of, but as his contract is up soon.....................

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dirtydingusmagee added 10:03 - Mar 12 he has a good game and scores two goals ...everyone wants him to stay .....he has a poor game [and he has had a few]......everyone wants him gone ! yerr ,but no, but yerr.
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walberswick added 10:22 - Mar 12 Like most of the Ipswich squad, nobody above us wants him.
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BillBlue added 10:35 - Mar 12 I cannot remember a kind thing being said about Grant on this board until the last couple matches, most people even refer to him as 'Leadboots'. With this in mind I am wondering if he is now sufficiently interested in playing to his true ability for us to put himself in the shop window to get a good pay ticket from another club and, if we gave him a new contract, would he revert, similarly to Bullard? Food for thought. COYB

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bluelady added 10:37 - Mar 12 buryblue i know thats what i was saying !!!!!! Basically i replied to any earlier post saying he has high wage demands so he will definately be off. My argument being i cant see anyone including us paying his high wage demands so therefore unless he gets a very good signing on fee he many not benefit from moving on and may chose to stay. Then again he may hate it here and cant wait to go, who knows. My point simply was i doubt he will leave us because a championship team will be prepared to pay him massive wages that we cant match.

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icetruckiller added 10:38 - Mar 12 1 good game every 10 isn't good enough. Jog on! Stephenson, plus younger players are the way forward
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mschultz76 added 10:44 - Mar 12 Get him signed up. Far better player than people give him credit for. Leadbitter do alot of good thing but 1 bad thing and people are on his back. Sitting in front of defence and he is the best we got. Hyam work hard but Leadbitter still better. Keep Leadbitter for 2 more seasons - If he will agree Town's terms and then Hyam will be ready to step up a whole season.
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Cheshire_Blue added 11:06 - Mar 12 Yes,get him signed up.But who could blame him for wanting away in view of all the unjustified criticsm he gets on this forum.
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bobble added 11:19 - Mar 12 33 GOALS ALREADY............gee that dark lord was a good judge of players wasn't he ?
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Mark added 11:26 - Mar 12 33 goals, yes, but to be fair to Roy he did say Rhodes was the most natural finisher at the club. ;-) As for Leadbitter, credit to him for his recent 'comeback' performances and the rare goal in open play. I agree he is a useful squad player, but not worth the wages that no doubt come with a £2.7M move from the Premier League. He'll have to take a big pay cut to stay, and I can't say I am too worried either way.

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Cakeman added 11:40 - Mar 12 One Swallow does not make a Summer. He possibly realises there will not be many if any lucrative alternatives so he now begins to play for a contract. Very frustrating as he clearly has talent but rarely uses it. I would rather see Hyam in the starting line up.
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Arthur added 12:24 - Mar 12 Why not swap Leadbitter for Norris ... he won't mind, I hear Pompey play good wages and we will be up on the deal.
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MickMillsTash added 12:25 - Mar 12 He is on his way - did not come over to applaud the town fans at the end of the game on saturday, if he wanted to stay would have made an Edwards type 'i want to stay' statement by now. I have always liked him and think it will be hard to replace his ability and experience- won loads of second ball on saturday, and most of the time gives a sensible pass. Can do a little bit on the ball as well. Not Matt Holland but if he was he would not be with ipswich.

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Lombokblue added 12:29 - Mar 12 Keeping the same team together from one season to the next would do us some good. It seems to take our managers until February to sort a team out and then we we have a bit of a run. Leadbitter in a settled midfield is a decent player
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Grimsbyblue added 12:44 - Mar 12 To me he has been shown wanting too often and now seems to be playing for his contract/transfer. Am concerned if we give him another contract he will revert to type. Everyone has lapses in form but I believe we should expect much more from somone on his wages.
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Karlosfandangal added 12:44 - Mar 12 Grant turned down the contract offer (for whatever reason) so Jewell moved for Stevenson. I would say that Grant is in a worse position now for trying to get a better contract. Is he any better than Stevenson, Bullard, Hyam, Carson and Bowyer I would say no. Would prefer we let him go and use his wages to help sign Murphy I dont agree with all the stick he get as feel this is unfair just think we have player who are just as good if not better

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