Boss Paul Jewell has revealed that out of contract central defender Tommy Smith will be offered a deal with the Blues and that he hopes to keep loanee Daryl Murphy at Portman Road next season. The Town manager says owner Marcus Evans has spoken to midfielder Grant Leadbitter as the Blues look to try to see off interest from the likes of Middlesbrough and Brighton.

Jewell says Evans, who is currently away on holiday, is talking to players’ representatives about new deals: “I know the owner’s spoken to Grant Leadbitter’s agent, I think he’s going to be speaking to Tommy Smith’s agent and he’s obviously had a chat with Jason Scotland, so things are moving on.”

Regarding Smith, Jewell says talks are under way but are at their early stages: "Tommy will be offered a deal. Marcus is away at the moment, but he’s speaking to his agent.”

The Blues boss says it’s no surprise that other clubs are sniffing around Leadbitter: “With someone like Grant Leadbitter, who has been excellent over the last few games since he came back into the side, there is going to be interest, and I understand that.

“But hopefully he’ll weigh things up and think that we’re going in the right direction. Again, that’s something that only Grant and his family can decide. This move for him is an important one, and hopefully he’ll stay here.”

Scotland signed a waiver regarding the clause in his current contract entitling him to a further season at his current wage last week and Jewell believes that shows the Trinidadian's intention to remain with the Blues: “He signed that waiver form and I know Marcus spoke to him a couple of weeks ago about next season and I think Jason has shown really good intentions by signing that waiver.

“I think he’s been terrific for us, his contribution on the pitch, as well as off it, has been really good. He’s a positive person, he’s a good player, he’s got that ability to come on and change the game for us.

“At times he’s been really good, not just when he’s started but when he’s come on as a substitute. He’s been a really good impact player for us.”

In addition to Leadbitter, Smith and Scotland, Jewell says he has also spoken to Daryl Murphy’s agent about the Irishman joining on a permanent basis in the summer.

But the Blues boss says that with the 29-year-old’s contract at Parkhead still having a year to run, that could depend on Celtic: “We couldn’t afford Daryl on the wages he’s on now. Celtic would have to help us. Whether they will do is their prerogative as he’s their player.

“I think Daryl wants to stay and I think he’d like a permanent deal here, and we’d like to keep him here, but wanting to do something and be able to do it financially are two different things.”

Jewell says he’s yet to speak to Ibrahima Sonko about new terms: “Sonks is out of contract. I haven’t spoken with Sonks.

“I will sit down with him and all the players whose contracts are up face to face in the next two or three weeks, maybe even before that, as it’s getting towards the end of the season. We have to make decisions and it’s a tough time.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Daleyitfc added 17:00 - Apr 5 You have to admire how far employees of the club are prepared to go with the pretence that Marcus Evans actually exists : "on holiday" .... on the moon perhaps?
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Sindre94 added 17:04 - Apr 5 NEXT SEASON... Smith for me is a squad player and good backup Murphy the same really, I think we need improvements on the flanks, a pacey winger/striker like Scannell or Sinclair is wanted at our club I think! (Although we wont get any of them, just an example) Leadbitter, if he can keep his recent form up he could fill one of the two central midfield roles.. but perhaps we need a bit more creativity and flair there aswell? Twitter- @94sindre

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ThatMuhrenCross added 17:11 - Apr 5 Sindre94 - I totally agree with the need for a pacey winger, and I really do hope that it will be Peterborough's Paul Taylor. You have no doubt heard the same whispers that I have, and it is well known that he is out of contract in the summer. So come on Town, show your intentions!
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Sindre94 added 17:15 - Apr 5 @ThatMuhrenCross Yeah, hes good. But is he interested in coming here...?
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CharlieITFC added 17:30 - Apr 5 What about george boyd? Rejected a contract at peterbro and told he will be transfer listed..could be good?
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mightytown added 18:02 - Apr 5 whoa (thats english for stop a horse). Before we start signing new players lets try and keep hold of what we've got. In terms of midfield and attack, im pretty much happy with what we've got. Have to say, think Murphy has been brilliant this season and it would be a shame if we cant sign him. You cant really afford to carry too many squad players in the championship (not decent ones anyway) and we have bowyer, bullard, stevenson and leadbitter battling it out with hyam and drury. if the club feels it can manage keeping all those together, then why spend on a midfield that seems to be gelling, unless of course someone becomes available at a great price. clearly its the defence that needs strengthening, a goalkeeper being the priority and a cb or 2 and cover at right and left back. i think if we keep murphy and leadbitter and the rest then we only really need 3 signings - a goalkeeper, a centre back and a versatile defender who can play either centrally or at full back. lets keep what we've got and refine it.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:05 - Apr 5 Im confused...............Daleyitfc tells me that Marcus Evans isnt real yet Jas told me he turned the season around with his pep talk before the West Ham game. I hate to say it but i think at least one of these happy souls is wrong.
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stringtheory added 18:09 - Apr 5 All Clegg knockers please note before Leadbitter departs - ME has spoken to him, not Clegg.
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ITFCSparklepants added 18:58 - Apr 5 Phil OUT!
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Blue041273 added 19:13 - Apr 5 It's clear that PJ has no more idea than anyone else on here what kind of squad we will have come next season. Sir Bobby must be spinning in his grave. This would not be his idea of how to run a football club.
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jas0999 added 20:04 - Apr 5 We will certainly have to offer better terms than we have so far. The people running this club are clearly on a different planet if they think players will accept a third of their current wages. Perhaps Clegg would be happy to slash his salary by 2/3 as well ... What worries me more is PJ clearly doesn't have a clue what's going on. He is just a 'yes' man - not the manager of this football team. Dozzells_Bobblehat - yep; according to Holland and Milton (on late KO), it was ME who went to the training ground before the West Ham game. I was only repeating what they said, as clearly I was not with ME!!!!!!

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Ipswichbusiness added 20:22 - Apr 5 I would like to keep Smith, Murphy and Scotland. They are good players who are committed to the cause. Leadbitter is another matter. Apparently, he turned down a new contract in the early part of the season. No clubs came in for him in the winter transfer window. I suspect that this talk of other clubs is just an agent trying to talk up his client's worth. I would thank Mr Leadbitter for his contribution and wish him luck elsewhere.

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TimmyH added 20:26 - Apr 5 Yep keep Smith (still young) and Murphy but all the best else where to Leadboots. We know the areas that need improving, so lets get it done in the summer or watch another season go down the drain!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 20:48 - Apr 5 Jas replied to me !!!!..............Jas i didnt ever doubt he had a chat. I do however dispute (as you claimed) that this chat was the turning point in our form.
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cunning_stunt added 21:05 - Apr 5 Delighted that the club are finally talking to Smith, I just hope it's not too late. Would also be happy to secure Murphy on a permanent deal. Leadbitter would, I believe, be too expensive and I suspect that the lure of a return to the north east in the form of Boro would be hard for him to resist.
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alfromcol added 21:24 - Apr 5 jas0999 Where is your evidence that players wages are being cut by 2/3rds?????
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TractorMan added 21:34 - Apr 5 Daleyitfc - Evans is at almost every home game and I met him before the Peterborough game, so he definitely exists!
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carsey added 22:15 - Apr 5 Whatever happens and whoever we sign or keep the thing that bothers me most is Jewell the manager and person who selects the team and plans the tactics isn't doing the deals with the players. From what I can gather he is only now thinking about talking to them. Surely this should be an ongoing conversation. Clegg is a chinless CEO and in my view should stay away from the players. Sorry forgot this is the modern way now. What a bloody mess we are in.

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TractorTrog added 22:33 - Apr 5 Personally I would like to see an investment ie time on the pitch in the young talented Carson and co. Next season I believe is a HUGE turning point for the club and the fans one way or another its s88t or bust so it would make sense to reveal the master plan early on ie young talent getting into the first team and the experinced pros getting a rest game now and then also we do need to add to the squad we do have some lads that are in there 30s so injury/ fittness could cause issues no disrespect to them as I think they have worked very hard to keep fit and work hard I really hope we can extend some contracts and in addition bring in some talent from abroad or European comparative or lower leauges. I also think Marcus will want to see some return for his buck this season I think he has drawn a line in the sand over finnacnes but I bet he would be willing to spend a shilling or two on some lower leauge stars...point is we have to kick off on a really positive foot next season no stutters just get the job done kind of attitude and I hope it will be a much more positive and exciting time with lots of entertainment for us fans to. to quote Frankie boyle " kick it in the goal kick it in the goal not our goal there goal kick it in the goal" ok team talk over with COYB!!!

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i_like_that_bolder added 23:32 - Apr 5 Smith isn't very good, I don't see what some others do. Fair enough, it's a game of opinions, but I can 't help but see him out of position and beaten by the striker too many times. Don't get me wrong, Delaney isn't too hot as a defensive partner either, so that doesn't help, but I'm not seeing him as a lynch pin or even close to one. We are crying out for central defensive quality, surely our goals conceded record is reasonable evidence, regardless of the fact we've lacked a good permanent no.1 for too long.

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taylor15 added 00:52 - Apr 8 would like to keep them all. looking at smith's ratings over the past games, he's averaging 7/10's. yeah, i'm not basing his quality on that, but i really do rate him. he's 21 years old, and i can see him developing into a really good, solid defender. he's a confidence player. plus, if we get in a decent keeper, kieran westwood, a good, strong, experienced centre back, and decent right back, he'll only leaner from those! sign up daryl, and if lead bitter keeps playing like he has these last few games, sign him up too! COYB!<3

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Joetown95 added 15:20 - Apr 9 we need someone better than smith
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