Town Player of the Year Jimmy Bullard has revealed he took a pay cut to join the Blues on loan from Hull City in January. The midfielder has also reiterated his desire to rejoin Town for next season, again saying he would sign a deal today if one was put in front of him.
Bullard, who has told Hull head of football operations Adam Pearson that he would like to be with the Blues next season, says he’d be willing to take a reduction on his £45,000-a-week Tigers wage to be back at Portman Road for 2011/12: "It was not previously known but I took a pay cut to join Ipswich in January and I would be happy to play for Ipswich next season on the same arrangements.
"In fact, if that deal was on the table now I would sign it. I gather from what I was told that Hull do not have me in their plans because of the financial situation.
"I told them that I wanted to stay with Ipswich as I have loved it at Portman Road, but I have a feeling that Hull will wait and see if they can get a better deal.
"As it is me that will be at the centre of this quandary, I want to have an input and I have made my feelings known. I don’t know of any other clubs being interested.”
Bullard has two years left on his contract at Hull and that could mean that a further loan may be more likely than a permanent deal with Town or another party. Premier League clubs are said to be interested with QPR having been regulars at Portman Road in recent months and West Ham and Wigan linked by one of this morning’s tabloids.
The 32-year-old, who says a shoulder injury was the main reason he missed a couple of matches towards the end of the season rather than his knee, was delighted with the way his Player of the Year award-grabbing spell with the Blues progressed: "It is nearly three years since I last played so many games together.”
Bullard became a favourite both with fans and team-mates while at Portman Road and is going away on a long weekend in Spain with other members of the squad. Later in the summer, he’s heading off to play some golf in the Algarve.
Manager Paul Jewell is also keen to get a deal done as soon as possible but admits that it will be difficult.