Skipper David Norris and key defender Gareth McAuley both want to stay at Town, according to manager Paul Jewell. The duo, who are out of contract in June, held talks with Jewell last week having turned down new terms which were offered before Christmas.

Jewell said: “I spoke to David Norris and Gareth McAuley, as well as a couple of others, and they don’t want to leave.

“I said to them ‘let’s see what happens, give it everything you’ve got between now and the end of the season because we need points and if you do even better, the ball’s in your court’. They’ll be holding all the cards.

“We decided that’s what we’re going do. We’ll probably talk as we go along, but there’s no issue with the players. They all assured me that they all want to stay and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”

Town have confirmed that, as reported by TWTD last week, Carlos Edwards has triggered an extra year option on his contract, while similar situations may apply with some of the other 21 players whose initial deals are up in the summer.

Jewell says the Blues received two offers for players during the transfer window but denied that Norris and McAuley were those targeted. The Town manager also said that no bid had been received from Swansea for their former striker Jason Scotland.

Photo: Action Images

itfcserbia added 14:28 - Jan 31 so, now it's all up to clegg and evans again I guess...
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AndyGray2011 added 14:28 - Jan 31 Superbly handled. I would have slated them in private and lost my job. Good work Paul Jewell.
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AndyGray2011 added 14:28 - Jan 31 Superbly handled. I would have slated them in private and lost my job. Good work Paul Jewell.
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dobbie73 added 14:28 - Jan 31 THEY want to stay, THE GAFFER wants them to stay, WE want them to stay .... so where's the problem? Sign 'em up!!
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casanovacrow added 14:34 - Jan 31 would be nice to have a statement from Evans on this matter ...no doubt through puppet/muppet Clegg. It's got to be unsettling for everyone involved
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JewellinDenial added 14:36 - Jan 31 Sounds to me like the issue has been concerns over relegation. Jewell doesn't want them to leave and is satisfied they don't want to either. You can't blame them for wanting to know which division we are in before signing new deals. Let's hope they are honourable enough to stay assuming we have made them a good offer and stay up. I'm sure if we climb up the table and away from danger very soon contracts should be sorted earlier than the end of the season if that was the issue.

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RIPbobby added 14:38 - Jan 31 Well Jewell has said that they are effectively holding a gun to the clubs head. Mind you this could be a managerial master-stroke because he may get an extra 10% out of them if they are playing for contracts. Mind you that does leave them very vulnerable if they break a leg or something. This in my eyes is a gamble by both the club and the players themselves.
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TractorBeezer added 14:40 - Jan 31 Comforting news....well done Paul. Let's climb the table and fill the stands and these issues will fade away.
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Brogansconk added 14:42 - Jan 31 PJ is doing his best to smooth the situation over, but it is ludicrous to allow the contracts to expire for these two, or indeed for any of the players we want to keep. Come June, most of our squad are all free agents. FFS Clegg, get your finger out of your ar$e and do something.
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Bergholtblue added 14:46 - Jan 31 TheVoice... I think you are spot on. Any contracts offered must be made with one eye on the fact that we could still get relegated. One, they may not want to play at a lower level and two, we may not be able to afford them if playing at a lower level. Fantastic management by Jewell. Let's see where we are at the end of the season and take it from there. The only risk is they could walk for free, but it doesn't look like there have been any substantial offers for them in this window, so we won't be losing out much.

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bedsitfc added 14:46 - Jan 31 Cant say i blame the players, yes they are on very good money, but as we all do they want the best deal they can get and with footballers its not just money, its about looking back at the end of a short career with no regrets.
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dazz added 14:48 - Jan 31 excellent to hear! apparently chris iwelumo is close to signing expected to be done in next few hours
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CleverTrevor added 14:55 - Jan 31 dazz. V much doubt it. The manager and players are on their way to Derby as we speak...
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hucks216 added 15:09 - Jan 31 What might be interesting is that Liverpool suddenly have a shed full of money to spend after selling Torres, so if they move for Charlie Adams (as well as Andy Carroll for £35m!!!!), Holloway might go for his old player from Argyle, Norris.
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Karlosfandangal added 15:13 - Jan 31 Well done Paul Jewell. is down to Evans to say yes or no, and as seeing he has put £60 million in to the club have to agree. Clegg will have a budget to stick to, and i for one am glad the club will not be held to ransom over wages etc. Austin tried to play that card and failed. At the end of the day with or without McAuley and Norris the club will carry on and to be far there are players out there who are just as good as Norris and McAuley so will not be the end of the world. As Jewell said not many club knocking on the door for them so they might just see its not that easy to get another club who will pay what they ask for. Dont get me wrong think the two have and still could do a great job for us but at the end of the day this is the second year on the trot we are struggling at the bottom of the league

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JayITFC added 15:25 - Jan 31 Phil any truth in the Iwelumo rumours?
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pitseablue added 15:42 - Jan 31 I've said it before and I'll say it again, Paul Jewell is proving himself with every day that passes!!!! Three points tomorrow!!!
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casanovacrow added 15:47 - Jan 31 Iwelumo will not be coming to Ipswich, he's on crazy wages
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BlueBoots added 15:53 - Jan 31 Best for all concerned...both players are already in the position to walk on a free at the end of the season. At least this way they get a few months to see if they're happy playing for Jewell, and Jewell gets a few months to see whether he thinks they deserve to be drawing a big wage from the club...
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brogansnose added 15:56 - Jan 31 Hope Big Mac signs. Is it me or does Delaney play better when they are together ? When those two are on song there isnt a better CB pairing in this league, as endorsed by Wenger.
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Rambert added 16:01 - Jan 31 why some idiot pretending to be andy gray? Brilliant news, although it looks like Jewell has been preparing if they do leave with Bullard and Drury, but hay ho! good news
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ITFC_Wickham_09 added 16:21 - Jan 31 NOW THAT'S BETTER NEWS THAN ANY SIGNING. NOW PULL YOUR FUUKKING FINGER OUT CLEGG/EVANS (whoever it may be) AND GET THEM SIGNED UP. THEY ARE THE CORE OF OUR TEAM.
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corshamblue added 17:11 - Jan 31 Good work PJ.
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itfc1981 added 17:15 - Jan 31 This is the public line to avoid unwanted tension, I expect them to leave now.
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h32 added 19:17 - Jan 31 ..... results in the fullness of time will speak for themselves in terms of success or failure - but the one thing that REALLY impresses me about Paul Jewell is his theory and views on 'smiling faces' throughout the Team/Club. I have managed people for over 30 years and know that a 'smiling face' means a productive person, who is prepared and pleased to accept ownership. This applies throughout society, whether a shop assistant, warehouse worker, office clerk or whatever. If Paul Jewell grows this culture, and he has support from above - he has the catalyst to make this Club great again. Full marks for this Paul Jewell - I KNOW the formula works for sure.

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