Midfielder Grant Leadbitter has confirmed that he has decided not to accept Town’s offer of a new deal. We understand that, as outlined by Blues boss Paul Jewell yesterday, the former Sunderland man, who has been strongly linked with a move to Middlesbrough, did not travel with the rest of the squad to Doncaster for Saturday’s final game of the season and has played his last match for the Blues.
Leadbitter told Sky Sports that he has opted against remaining with the Blues after his current deal is up at the end of June: "I have turned down the offer of a new deal at Ipswich and I will be leaving at the end of the season.
"It was a really tough decision, but I feel I am ready for a new challenge at this stage of my career.
"I never spoke to Ipswich about finances, I just feel the time is right for a new challenge and a new experience.
"I would like to thank the club for bringing me here in the first place and I have had a great three years here.
"The fans have been brilliant and I have a lot of time for Paul Jewell and always got on very well with him and you see how hard he works for the club."
He added: "I have not thought about my future yet I will be going on holidays soon and I will be keeping my options open before I decide where I want to go."
Manager Paul Jewell said: "We have given it our best shot. I have spoken to Grant at length. The owner has as well. It's a big decision for him though. I understand that.
"The longer it has gone on the more I have felt we were going down the lines of him going elsewhere. We wanted him to stay but it's not to be and we wish him well."
In addition to Boro, Brighton and Hove Albion have also been linked. Former captain Leadbitter joined his old Sunderland boss Roy Keane at Portman Road for a fee of £2.65 million in the summer of 2009 and went on to make 120 starts and six sub appearances for the Blues, scoring 14 goals.