Jewell: Bullard Deal Just Can\'t Be Done - Ipswich Town News
Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that the club has ended its pursuit of former loanee Jimmy Bullard. The 32-year-old Hull City midfielder spent a hugely successful spell at the club in the second half of the season and won the the Blues' Player of the Year award but the Town manager says the financial side of the deal is beyond the club at present.
Jewell said: "Jimmy was great for us and we were good for Jimmy but realistically it just isn’t going to happen.”
The Blues boss says he talked to Tigers director of football operations Adam Pearson last night but the deal just can’t be done: "We just can’t afford to pay what Hull want and what Jimmy wants.
"He’s not just on a Premier League contract, he’s on a top Premier League contract.”
Jewell had been keen to sign his former Wigan player on a permanent basis but always admitted that with Bullard having two years remaining on his £45,000-a-week contract at Hull it would be a very difficult deal for Town to do. Hull are unwilling to loan the former Peterborough and Fulham man unless a large proportion of his wages are paid by the loaning club.
Bullard has been reported to have been in talks with QPR in recent weeks, while Norwich, West Ham and Wigan have also been linked.
The one-time England call-up made 16 appearances for Town having signed on loan in January, scoring five goals.
What to read next:
No Dividends For PLC ShareholdersThe board of the Ipswich Town PLC has written to its shareholders confirming that its stake in the club has now reduced to less than one per cent and outlining that any dividends taken out of Town in future will go solely to majority owners Gamechanger 20 Ltd.
Rosenior: I Couldn't Be Prouder of My PlayersHull City manager Liam Rosenior said he couldn’t have been prouder of his players following last night’s 3-3 draw with Town which keeps the Tigers hopes of making the play-offs alive going into their final match and wished the Blues well for the remainder of the campaign.
Luongo: We're Enjoying the RideTown midfielder Massimo Luongo says the squad are enjoying the ride of playing in high pressure games as the Blues moved a point closer to the Premier League following a pulsating 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium.
Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Match ReportTown moved level on points with second-placed Leeds United following a pulsating 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium having been in front three times. Returning striker George Hirst put the Blues in front in the 19th minute but the Tigers levelled on 40 through Ozan Tufan before Omari Hutchinson put Town back ahead with the first of two brilliant goals. However, Hull equalised again through Liam Delap in the 56th minute, then Hutchinson’s second put the Blues ahead again, however, Tigers sub Noah Ohio grabbed a point for the East Yorkshire side with three minutes remaining and the Blues were unable to take late chances to win it.