Luke Chambers has admitted to being saddened by the club’s failure to speak to him about a new contract to replace his current deal, which as it stands expires in June.

While manager Mick McCarthy has offered a strong hint that Town will probably exercise their option of a 12-month extension, the lack of certainty about his Portman Road future is clearly playing on the mind of the ex-Nottingham Forest defender who has clocked up 219 appearances since being signed in July 2012 by then boss Paul Jewell.

Chambers said: “I’ve got six months left on my contract and the club have an option for another year. But nothing’s been said yet, so I don’t know what’s going to happen, to be honest.

“I’m very happy here and I think people have seen the way I play for the football club. I think I’ve given absolutely everything, both on and off the pitch. So that’s where we are. I’d like to stay but I just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Chambers, his wife and their young family are settled in Ipswich but a national newspaper recently linked him with a move to Wolves. When asked if there was any truth in the report, the player responded: “You’ll have to ask them. I don’t know anything more than what I’ve read.

“There have been a couple of conversations with the club but that’s about it. So it is what it is, it’s football.

“There’s been a lot of talk about loyalty in the game but I don’t think there is. We’ll just have to wait and see.

“I think the club should have done something before now but it’s not something I really want to get into. Do I feel let down? I don’t know really.

“It’s a very difficult situation and it’s difficult to talk about. Anything I say can be misconstrued. Am I frustrated? I’ll probably keep that to myself but I haven’t missed many games in my time here and to be down to the last six months of my contract is a little bit strange.”

But while his future remains unresolved, at least for the time being, Chambers is loath to criticise either owner Marcus Evans or manager Mick McCarthy at a time when Town are under pressure from fans, whose interest is on the wane after a depressing run of form.

The captain said: “I can never criticise the owner because he’s put in a hell of a lot of money and it’s not my position to criticise him. He brought me into the club, he’s looked after me with a good contract and I’ve been here a long time. We’ve had relative success.

“There may be things where you think ‘If we’d just done that’ but at the end of the day it’s his club, he’s spent a fortune on the training ground and he’s got his plan.

“All I can talk about is the first team squad and I do think we need some signings. But he’ll be trying to do deals.

“As players we would like two or three players to come through the door and make a difference. The club will be desperately trying to make signings who can make a difference for us.

They’re not just going to bring in anyone and they never have done that. I think most of the players who have been brought in have generally made an impact and we need that now.

“We’d love to have some new players in because we don’t want to stand still. We’re not just happy coming in to pick up our wages and going home. We want to win. It’s as hard for us and we feel it every bit as much as the fans.

“Do you think we want to go out there, lose and then get booed and abused? I don’t. I don’t need to do that.

“I’ve played about 600 games in my career and I don’t need to go out to play on a Saturday and be unhappy.

“I want to be happy, as the fans do. They want to be entertained and they want to be happy winning games, just as we do.”

Photo: TWTD

Carberry added 23:39 - Jan 13 This is all starting to self combust.
3

Warkys_Tash added 00:19 - Jan 14 Evans said recently they hadn't learnt from letting the likes of McCauley's contract run down & go on a fre. Doesn't seem that way!!
1

harlingblue added 03:54 - Jan 14 As Captain of the club and soon as he is on the field of play he becomes the manager on the pitch. He is probably feeling the same way as us supporters, totally let down by ME and the complacency of MM to fight for a proper budget for new players. The squad now contains too many players played out of position,including the captain, having to play a system that nobody understands. Buy a real centre forward, a real playmaker and rest would fall into place?

1

prebsa added 06:14 - Jan 14 Should be given a new contract but should be told he will only be a squad player. He is not good enough to be our main RB or even a main CB. People may disagree but that's my thoughts. New contract but bench player only.
0

midastouch added 08:56 - Jan 14 Playing Chambers right back (as has been said a million times before) is in insanity! He's a centre back. It would be akin to playing a centre forward down the wing expecting a hold up target man to be skipping down the wing and skinning full backs with pace and skill when really that should be a for a pacey winger whereas they should be in the box waiting to get on the end of the cross! Chambers should be in the centre waiting to get on the end of a cross but in heading it out instead of heading it in. He doesn't look fast enough to be a modern full back. Sometimes he has got up and contributed with goals and good crosses. Nobody can fault his effort for the cause. I think he should be given another chance at centre back should somebody get injured or should Webster be sold. But the full back experiment has lasted much too long. Credit to Chambers for doing his best in a role he wasn't best suited for. He could be essential cover for centre back and should that role become available, who knows, he might grab the opportunity with both hands and make it his own again. All you need is an injury like we've had to Smith this season and we'd be glad to have him still to play in the centre.

2

Les57 added 10:25 - Jan 14 Overall this blog has highlighted that the majority of supporters at least acknowledge the commitment and passion he has for our club even though a few morons seem to make the most noise. The club has a duty to at least advise him on his future sooner rather than later. If you look back over the last few years our handling of a couple of other defenders (Macauley &a Delaney) show we do not have the best record of handling contracts. If I remember rightly we failed to renew or offer either of them deals and they moved to others clubs, currently being in the premier league and regulars for their country as well. It would be nice to see the fans start to show some support for the captain (and team) from the stands rather than boos and jeers.

1

NSL added 10:50 - Jan 14 He agreed to the contract in the first place. Must have known the option would cause some uncertainty at the end. Football clubs are constantly bullied by players and agents so I can't actually see the club is doing much wrong here. Ultimately if Luke was 'rewarded' with a new contract at this point in time the fans would be boiling over!
0

alfromcol added 13:02 - Jan 14 Waiting to see if enough season tickets are sold before deciding his contract terms
0

Jonnosdreadlocks added 14:40 - Jan 14 Chambers can leave, overated, not good enough as a right back or captain. Emmanuel is the future at right back. Time to clear out the deadwood: skuse, chambers, douglas, knudesen, coke.
-1

Michael11 added 10:25 - Jan 16 Even though his performances haven't been great for a while, I still love Chambo. Best captain we've had in years. Very honest and genuinely cares about the club. It's not that he doesn't deserve a new deal, he just doesn't deserve to be undroppable.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls