Town defender Tommy Smith is happy to keep talks about a new long-term contract on hold until the close season.

Smith’s current deal expires in June but the club have already indicated they will take up their option of a further year, while also trying to negotiate a long-term agreement to keep the 26-year-old at Portman Road for the foreseeable future.

Smith confirmed: “The club have taken up their one-year option on me and they’ve said talks over a new deal will continue in the summer. I’ve always said I would like to stay at Ipswich. I’ve settled here and my fiancée is from the area so there’s no reason to want to move on.

“I’m happy enough to leave it until the summer. We’ve still got four games to go so I’ve just got to concentrate on them, let the football be the main thing in the forefront of my mind.”

After the disappointment of taking just one point from their last three Portman Road fixtures against Rotherham, Charlton and Brentford, Smith and his colleagues are anxious to end the season on a high as far as their home form is concerned, starting with tonight’s visit from a Fulham side thumped 5-0 at Brighton last Friday.

Town’s lack of home success this season — 31 points banked from a possible 63 so far — has proved costly as their play-off chances have all but evaporated and the lack of entertainment on offer has seen a growing number of fans voice their disapproval.

Smith added: “It’s not like we haven’t been trying in any of our games but teams come and make it difficult for us to play.

“The onus is on the home team to have a go and we’ve been working hard in training on how to break teams down. Earlier in the season our best form was counter-attacking teams but our opponents started sitting in against us and it’s about trying to find ways of breaking teams down.

“Last season we had a really good season at home and it was exciting for the fans. We haven’t quite done that this season so we need to put the smiles back on the faces of the fans.

“The successful teams are doing it at home — that’s where they pick up most of their points thanks to home advantage and the backing of their own fans — and we need to be looking to improve on that next season.”

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Andre Dozzell’s progress to first team level could be followed by a number of other promising youngsters waiting patiently in the wings for their big chance, according to Smith, who will take his tally of appearances to 250 tonight.

He said: “Look at the bench at Hillsborough on Saturday. I know we had a few players missing but among the substitutes we had Adam McDonnell and Myles Kenlock, who have played a little bit throughout the season in cup games, and they are talented boys as well.

“I’m sure they are raring to go and they want their chance. It’s up to them to make sure they take it when it comes.

“We have old versus young games in training I’m still in the young team. We gave the old ’uns a 2-0 beating today [Monday] and it shows the quality coming through.

“In seasons gone by the old team would usually win comfortably and this season the games have been a lot more even.

“Andre nutmegged Prings [Ben Pringle] today and left him on his backside — that was quite a funny moment. But it’s the same with all the young kids — they have to make sure their attitudes are right and that they continue to improve.”

Photo: Action Images

hodgie1989 added 11:59 - Apr 19 The news of the club taking up the option for another season has made my day. He is crucial to us and been our most consistent player for the past 18 months I would say
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theipswichman added 12:29 - Apr 19 Agreed, Smith is fantastic. Not only is he a good and consistent performer but he seems to always speak and act with class. Would love to see him as our next captain.
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BrettenhamBlue added 12:48 - Apr 19 Hope he's here next season. He's only getting better and if we end up giving him away for free that will be a huge error.
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iaintaylorx added 13:34 - Apr 19 Very underrated centre back and would be even better with a solid back 4.
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ParisBlue added 14:11 - Apr 19 Don't really like the way this is panning out. Would like to see Tommy on a long term deal. Hopefully sorted out in the summer and we don't have 12 months of questions over his future. Interesting that over the last 2 years contract extensions have just happened (Berra, Didz, Chambers, Murphy etc) whereas Hyam and Smith seem to be taking longer.
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sidtheswan added 16:27 - Apr 19 Like him but due to imbalance in back four him and Berra should be competing for same position with a right footed centre half in Smiths current position .
2

HarryS_H added 17:28 - Apr 19 Tommy Smith is a just a complete class act on and off the pitch, I hope he's with us his whole career if we can keep him!
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blueboy1981 added 17:43 - Apr 19 Unfortunately, as good as he is - he's not a McCarthy favourite. Rock on Tommy. Great Player.
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Monkey_Blue added 08:35 - Apr 20 He's not a MM favourite??? . He's played what percentage of games Since McCarthy came in? If an ex centre back manger didn't like him Chambers wouldn't be playing at right back
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