Central defender Tommy Smith is close to agreeing his new contract with the club, according to manager Paul Jewell. The New Zealand international’s current terms are up this summer and, having broken back into the team during the second half of the campaign, was recently offered a new deal.

Jewell says the 22-year-old is close to putting pen to paper: “I think that’s almost done, I’m not 100% sure. I’m not dealing with that.”

He added: "I know Marcus has been speaking to Tommy's agent through the week and I think things are pretty close to being agreed.

"I spoke to Tommy this morning and I know he has a busy summer ahead, with the Olympics but he told me he wants to be coming back here with the best opportunity of getting in the team at the start of next year. The way Tommy is talking, he will be at the club next season."

Photo: Action Images

saffronblue added 15:56 - Apr 26 Good news, has improved through the season. Hopefully more than a one year deal.
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fourth added 15:58 - Apr 26 Good. Great player in an organised team.
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theblueginger added 15:59 - Apr 26 Thats one half of next seasons' tightest central defensive partnership sorted then...now sign Luke Chambers.
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Sindre94 added 16:16 - Apr 26 Nice.
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Blue041273 added 16:18 - Apr 26 If PJ has such a close working relationship with ME how come he doesn't get the updates on contract negotiations first hand? I would have thought that the Manager would be spending a lot of time on these situations as it must impact on his preparations for the new season.
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casanovacrow added 16:37 - Apr 26 Best CB we have. great potential. Would have tied him down 3 years personally
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bluekeen added 17:09 - Apr 26 YEEEESSSSSSSSS YEEEEE HAAAAAA COME ON YOU BLLLLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEESSSSSS !!!!!!!!! this is a fantastic thing to happen we should be looking to build our club around this soon to be colossus in defence ...... Let the good times Roll...................
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Tractamatt added 17:10 - Apr 26 After a very shaky start one of our best players this season so this can only be good news.
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Len_Brennan added 17:27 - Apr 26 @bluekeen: This is indeed good news, but are you perhaps getting a little over excited by it? I can only imagine how you reacted to getting that new bike when you were 11.
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reuser added 17:36 - Apr 26 how longs the contract?
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Ipswich24 added 17:53 - Apr 26 be either 6 months or 1 year
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Urchin added 17:54 - Apr 26 Blue041273 - oh do shut up you giserable mit. Just let it happen without having to try and make some silly point
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jas0999 added 18:53 - Apr 26 Good news. Has recovered after a poor start, and is ample back up. Would expect PJ to sign two new CB's in the Summer though. I do agree with Blue041273 - I would have thought the MANAGER needs to know what is happening with contract negotiations so he can PLAN for next season?
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itfc1981 added 19:16 - Apr 26 I wish we had a manger who knew what was going on at his club!
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alfromcol added 19:56 - Apr 26 itfc1981 added 19:16 - Apr 26 I wish we had a manger who knew what was going on at his club! Or even a Manager!
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Karlosfandangal added 19:58 - Apr 26 I agree with itfc1981 Jewell is looking at targets for next season yet not sure of who is staying or who is going
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TimmyH added 20:03 - Apr 26 'Close to signing a new deal' - I thought this was done, what's going on? are they trying to get him to sign a new contract outside and the wind keeps blowing the paper away? C'mon people get this done, he's played better this second half of the season.
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paulnstar added 20:27 - Apr 26 casanovacrow :best defender we have ,god help us ,hed be better off giving rides at blackpool beach
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carsey added 20:28 - Apr 26 Pleased to hear Tommy is signing, he is much improved, young, local and obviously cares (he is one of the few who bother to clap the supporters after every match). On the subject of PJ I am begining to wonder what it is he actually does. Can you imagine Sir Bobby Robson not knowing which players were going to sign, for how long or what there wages would be. There in lays the problem with the current set up.

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alex12345 added 20:39 - Apr 26 "itfc1981" and "blue041273" - Get a grip on reality you two. You both make the point about the manager not knowing what's going on. You dont honestly think in this journalistic dominated world that Paul Jewell comes out and says exactly what's going on, when, how, who and so on. PJ knows alot more than he lets on as do other football managers, politicians, celebrities etc.. They say what the general public want to hear, not the complete truth all of the time.If PJ came out and said "Tommy Smith will definitely sign his contract in the next week" poltroons like yourselves would be up in arms if Tommy hadn't signed by next week and the journos would then write stories relating to the matter, hence why PJ and everyone else are cagey in press conferences often.

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runaround added 20:42 - Apr 26 Good news if he signs
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RaymondovicBlue added 21:18 - Apr 26 Sorry - who is Luke Chambers? Is he right footed and ready to move here? I am less and less confident that we will get Pearce and Ward - but still think that Pearce/Smith would be an absolutely excellent pairing. Ward and Cresswell at FB and if ALB (or any other keeper we might land now we have only him) can grow in confidence and authority behind them ... we will not concede anywhere near what we did this year - if the midfield and strikers do the SAME job as this year we will finish miles higher! "Simples" - and how DO you spell that sound he uses after saying that ?!?!?!

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RaymondovicBlue added 21:29 - Apr 26 Show ambition AND confidence in the guy - a 4 year deal ... the length of contract will enable slightly lower wages (he can always be rewarded on appearances etc) and when (note - not IF, but WHEN) he comes really good the price tag will shoot up with us all calling for a new, longer deal!!!
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Blue041273 added 22:50 - Apr 26 Alex, who's being unreal here. Notwithstanding the distortions which inevitably emanate from press conferences you don't seriously suggest that the manager sets out to deliberately mislead the supporters do you? If so how can you possibly believe a word he says. I may be naive but I don't hold PJ in such low esteem. In this situation PJ could and possibly should have said nothing at all until the deal was put to bed.

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blueoff added 23:00 - Apr 26 If smithy wasnt so slow, lets his player get away from him & poor distance on his headers he would be ok.
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