Academy right-back Callum Bennett has turned down Town’s offer of a one-year contract, Blues boss Paul Jewell has revealed. Bennett, 19, was one of only two current second-year scholars to be offered professional terms, left-back Joe Whight having agreed a two-year deal last summer.

Jewell said: “Callum’s turned his contract down, which is his right. His agent rang me yesterday. We’d like to keep Callum as we think he’s a good prospect. He’s refused the offer at the moment, but let’s see where that takes us.”

The Town manager wouldn’t go into too much further detail and talks are ongoing with the former Kesgrave High School pupil, who can also operate in midfield: “I don’t really want to discuss individual issues. I’m old-fashioned and I think the chance to be a professional footballer is a great opportunity, but I understand that his representative and his parents want the best for him, I agree 100% with that.

“There’s a bit of interest from a couple of League One clubs his agent tells me, so he’s well within his rights to say no.

“He’s been offered a one-year deal and his representatives want longer and a bit better terms, which I understand. Simon Clegg’s dealing with it.”

Photo: Action Images

Brandonbilly added 07:00 - Apr 13 Come on Town sort it out, don't want another good prospect leaving.
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bluearmy4life added 07:04 - Apr 13 If you want to keep Callum offering him a crap contract is not going to work. Where is the plan for the future? Sort it out.
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RetroBlue added 07:56 - Apr 13 There was a day not so long ago, when young players took yer hand off to join the Town Acadamy , and to get offered a deal ?.....well it was a no brainer. WTF has happend at this once proud club that young talent see their furture elsewhere????
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newboy added 08:24 - Apr 13 Not surprised another £200 a week deal and no offer of football 7 reserve games a year is not enough for anyone who wants a career. Sort it out Ipswich he has been here 10 years give him what he deserves
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blue1 added 08:27 - Apr 13 He has been chased by a couple of premier league clubs for a while but always wanted to wear his home shirt I know him from school but are you off to Villa now
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 08:29 - Apr 13 Retroblue, i'm not so sure it's our club. Sure, we're probably offering stingey contracts, but let's face it, he still isn't technically a professional footballer and this would have been going on potential. I also think sadly it's the attitude of most youngsters where they think that just because they're now a 'pro' footballer they deserve to be on ridiculous wages straight off....If he'd have come out and said that a few League One teams were interested and he thinks he'd play more football there, then fair enough but adding the wanting better terms part makes him look bad IMO.

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Karlosfandangal added 08:30 - Apr 13 How do we know its crap terms, Why should the club just bow down to agents. How many players go through the academy and then make it as a footballer not a high percentage. Its all about money and agents if they offered him 1k a week thats a hugh sum really, even if they offer £500 a week thats a 26k a year wage. How many 16 year old kids at school can get a job paying that, most end up working for about £4.50 an hour. In fact £500 a week is more than alot of people on here get. Agents have too much say

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Karlosfandangal added 08:37 - Apr 13 oops 19 not 16 speed error
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saffronblue added 08:45 - Apr 13 At 19 he should be looking at first team football and he is only going to get that in the lower leagues. Shame we can't take a punt, offer him something a bit longer and try and loan him out give him experience.
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Argyle_blue added 08:50 - Apr 13 "Simon Clegg's dealing with it." 'nuff said.
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jas0999 added 08:52 - Apr 13 Disappointing. Although this will no doubt annoy a number of posters, surely we have to ask, why would a youngster want to sign a contract for a club who's manager regularly drops the younger players and worse still relies on has beens? Hopefully the penny will finally drop.
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JimmyJazz added 08:55 - Apr 13 We don't know the wage offered, but as it's only a year's deal that tells it's own story. The idea of only offering one year deals to prospects is wrong in my opinion and it's little surprise that a few kids have left in recent years. Mind you, he's 19 and a right-back, which is a position we desperately need a new player for, yet saw us bring in Wabara. Maybe that's what made his mind up quite a while ago?

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 08:57 - Apr 13 I agree with Karlos, agents have way too much power. None of us know the details, yet several people once again just to conclusions. It would be disappointing if he moves on but we have to have a wage structure and if it is the case that he wants more than that then it should be thanks very much but see ya. I would pay the club to play but unfortunately an increasing number of players seem to be only interested in cash.

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JustSpivvyChops added 08:57 - Apr 13 He is no kid, 19 is old enough to be breaking into any first team, but if you can't break into the first team squad at ITFC, with the worst right back in the league (who in fairness, by his own admission, isn't a right back) in front of you, then you can't be that fantastic. He should be biting the gaffer's arm off for a guaranteed further year of peace of mind and the genuine prospect of first team football in the near future. This is a very short sighted move, which leads me to believe that it is generated in the large part, by the agent, who is purely interested in his own pocket.

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Guthrum added 09:02 - Apr 13 jas0999 - it will annoy a number of posters because it's simply not true. When was Cresswell dropped for Kennedy, Smith (since his improved form) for Sonko, JET/Martin for Bullard? Or does only the Hyam/Bowyer situation count?
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Vic added 09:34 - Apr 13 Aghhh - darn't agents! Ruining young players with their greedy advice.
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safeashouses added 09:50 - Apr 13 Callum is in fact on just 18!!!!!! ......for young players its all about opportunity to play and its proven it aint happeniung here. As Ipswich fans we should ask why young players want to leave especially like this one who has been here years from under 9 and he is local..Probably an Internal issue not external.!!!!
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StowTractorBoy added 10:06 - Apr 13 I wonder how many of you have seen the lad play ? Callum Bennett is an OK player but certainly not outstanding and the deal we have offered reflects what the Club think of him. If Mr Bennett wishes to ply his trade elsewhere of course that it his choice but look what happened to Lavery. Sadly these agents are bad news for Football Clubs.
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BlueBailey24 added 10:22 - Apr 13 If there is other interest in him I can understand but I would have thought he would be jumping at the chance of a proffesional contract? It's not about money when you are that young, its about getting the opportunity to get some experience to break through as a pro. absolute greed.
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Surco72 added 10:30 - Apr 13 So how many fans would have dropped Edwards and then even Ainsley to give Bennett a game at right back ? If the players are good enough they will play as Lawrence will before the end of the season as Wickham ,Carson,Smith have all done . If he and his agent want to chase higher than he is offered and the club values him let him go ,how well did it work for Lavery,OConnor,Eastman and Brown ? The latter two would probably have played a number of games this season at centre back had they stayed

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stinkiusminkius added 10:33 - Apr 13 Jas0999 in another factually incorrect post just to dig at PJ. What a surprise. What a numpty.
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Daleyitfc added 10:33 - Apr 13 I doubt it's as low as £200 a week : over 10 years ago they were paying first year pros £500 a week. Unfortunately, Bennett's generation want the earth for giving very little, and agents and pushy parents don't help that. I think as a club we should refuse to talk to agents at all : with all these freebies coming available in the summer we should just say "Talk to us direct if you want a deal ; or begger off"

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shoopdelang added 11:27 - Apr 13 Callum Bennet is not very good anyway. Plenty of players of his age just as good of him at Ryman and Ridgeons league level
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Blue041273 added 11:55 - Apr 13 Surely the Academy Coaches have some kind of idea how good he is in comparison with other players of his age. Having come through the entire coaching structure at the club and deemed good enough to sign on as a full time professional it flies in the face of reason to not provide the academy graduate with the security of at least a two year contract at at least basic terms in order for him to develop at the higher level without the added pressure of worrying about the future. The overall cost would be negligible. Developing academy talent on the cheap will not work and the fact that we stand to lose the outstanding talent of his year group to a League 1 club on grounds of cost would be comical, tragic and criminal in equal measure.

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simonsays added 13:10 - Apr 13 Disgusting. We bring him through the academy and he stabs us in the back!
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