Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that defensive pair Gareth McAuley and Damien Delaney will be offered new contracts. The duo are amongst the 21 players who are out of contract at the end of the season.

Jewell said: “We are a lot further ahead. I spoke to the players just before they went away. I’ve spoken to them all, including Damien, which is another pat on the back for him, and also Gareth.

“I told them we will be putting an offer in writing and hopefully that will be accepted. And as soon it is accepted, it will get signed.”

McAuley, along with skipper David Norris, turned down an initial offer before Christmas, while Delaney had not previously been given new terms.

Meanwhile, former Blue Ian Westlake is training with Colchester United having been released by Wycombe Wanderers.

Photo: Action Images

ianpeace added 12:14 - Mar 29 I wonder who else has been offered contracts? If its just only those two
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ALF added 12:16 - Mar 29 No mention of Norris?
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Worcester added 12:18 - Mar 29 This is daft. If it was always our intention to keep these guys it should have been wrapped up before now. The players can ask for whatever they want now
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Smithy added 12:19 - Mar 29 Hyam, Brown, Carson & Murray should all be given new deals I would have thought
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hampstead_blue added 12:24 - Mar 29 The lack of a mention of Norris speaks volumes. I'm still not convinced about Delaney but fair play to the lad he's put in some good performances.
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bontcho added 12:33 - Mar 29 Good news. Hope they both sign. Worrier, it makes sense (given they were left to the final year of their contract) to wait until we knew we'd be in this league before we offered them a deal. We didn't want to be paying Championship wages in League One. Clearly it should never have got to this in the first place but that's nothing to do with Jewell.
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village_blue added 12:37 - Mar 29 McAuley and Delaney come as a pair. When either of them are missing the other is not very effective without his fellow centre half. It's not before time that they are to be offered new contracts. Not to worried about Norris being mentioned in contract talks because I think we have enough for centre midfield.
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Fatboy added 12:37 - Mar 29 Jewell's probably mentioned these two because, after talking to them, he felt they were the ones most likely to accept the offers they had received. There's no point him mentioning Norris if the two parties are still a long way apart, otherewise he'd just get asked about it all the time (that's if there is an offer on the table of course).
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bontcho added 12:39 - Mar 29 Village - kind of agree with Norris (especially if we're trying to get Bullard and need to save his wages). Also think he's better suited to 4-3-3/4-5-1 whereas if think PJ will try and play 4-4-2
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cornishnick added 12:56 - Mar 29 Ian Westlake. What went wrong with him? Used to be a cracking little player
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bluelady added 13:01 - Mar 29 good news, by the sounds of it they are pretty aware of what is going to offered its just about putting it in writing now, agreed i assume shame conversation with Norris and possibly a wider bridge to gap.
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Suffolk_n_Proud added 13:19 - Mar 29 Westlake was never any good, was voted worst player in the academy season before he broke into the first team, just runs like a headless chicken
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sudburyblue16 added 13:57 - Mar 29 Suffolk_n_Proud you talk utter $h1t. You actually suggesting there's a vote for the worse player in the academy?? And that one good season he had under Royle, he was superb as an attacking midfielder. Don't know what went wrong but something did obviously. He's still in his 20's so has time on his side to turn things around. Who can ever forget that game at PR v Sheff Utd? 2-0 down with 10 men after Pablo kicked one of their's. Westy was on fire and key in our come back to win 3-2. That season he set up countless chances for Bent n Kuqi.

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chripswich added 14:00 - Mar 29 Let the media spin commence... buy your season tickets..players are being offered contracts!
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bedsitfc added 14:03 - Mar 29 Bontcho - i think you have hit the nail on the head. Norris will be leaving us. We are looking at getting jimmy signed and we will be looking to play 4 in midfield next season, norris is a good player but not in a 442 in central mid over bullard and he aint no winger. We need to go 4 in midfield so we can play 2 up front
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reusersfreekicks added 14:21 - Mar 29 Sudbury blue - I don't think Westlake played in that match, it was Ambrose on the left!
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DJ_Kesgrave added 14:27 - Mar 29 delaney is a nutter, and norris is talentless. so don't sign up the deadwood for next season.
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youidiots added 14:32 - Mar 29 Sudburyblue, that match was awesome. North Stand rocked out that day!!! Thanks for bringing that memory back!
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blue_beats_yellow added 14:41 - Mar 29 i really dont think Delaney is worth keeping. He makes to many mistakes. So pleased that Mac has got his contract he's a class centre back in this division and is getting better with age and experience. I think we could find a much more talented defender than Delaney, someone with pace would be nice.
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shoopdelang added 15:11 - Mar 29 Positive news, getting these two as partners at the back for next season is a must I think. And no mention of Norris, maybe PJ is hopeful of keeping Dyer/Bullard? ( dare I say it, maybe even both? )
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tractordamage added 15:28 - Mar 29 @Chripswich So when would YOU have offered contracts if you were in charge (Jewell has acted when he said he would - when we're safe, plus there are no matches so there's time to do it). I'm fascinated: which day would have eased your paranoia and cynicism? at the end of the season? Clever guy. Ah well...It's probably about oil, right? @blue bets yellow: Weird last sentence. Since when has pace been an important skill for a centre back? I prefer tackling, height, heading, strength and positioning. Strangely, so does every decent manager on Planet Earth.

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osborne1nil added 15:30 - Mar 29 Would rather have Norris than Leadweight any day! His performances this year and the later stages of last were very poor. Hasn't scored a fraction of the goals that Norris has. Leadbitter is great at passing the ball backwards and creates limited opportunities for goals. His corners and free kicks were becoming a joke so glad when Bullard immediately took this role on. IMO Norris is worth another contract as his effort is never lacking in a game (like Jamie Peters who keeps our bench warm since Jewell arrived). Plenty of deadwood in the team to go but Norris isn't one of these.

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jas0999 added 15:46 - Mar 29 Interesting that Norris hasn't been mentioned. No smoke without fire, and I wouldn't be surprised if he has already signed for Pompey. Great news about McAuley and Delaney though. Assuming they a) haven't been offered deals elsewhere b) that they actually sign the contract. With McAuley now captain for NI, other clubs will surely show an interest? As for a previous comment about PJ hoping to possibly keep Dyer - I hope not! Injury prone and off the pace. Would be a poor signing.

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triggs21 added 15:50 - Mar 29 They have been offered contracts ... Who is to say they will accept, but if they do then it will be good for the club. I think PJ realizes he will not get better players in the summer than these two, those who would be a step up from them in class are more than likely not for sale or too expensive too buy, it would have been a big risk letting both go and replacing them with similar/weaker players.

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taylor15 added 15:51 - Mar 29 GREAT NEWS! better late than never! would love to see these two end their careers at town! .. not too fussed for norris, yeah, good player, but i think we can get better if we sell him, rather than let him go on a free!
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