Former Blues defender Damien Delaney has denied that he told Town boss Paul Jewell that he plans to move to the US in January. The Irishman, who joined Crystal Palace after leaving the Blues in August, says that although he discussed the possibility of a move abroad, he had no firm plans.
The 31-year-old, who is yet to taste defeat in seven games for the Eagles and scored his first goal in the 4-3 victory over Burley last week, has helped the Eagles climb to fourth in the Championship since joining them on a five-month deal after his Blues deal was torn up close to the end of the transfer window in August.
The Cork-born centre-half was out of the first XI at Town during the early part of the season and we understand was offered to Blues legend Paul Mariner, the head coach at MLS side Toronto FC, but another ex-Town defender, one-time loanee Darren O’Dea, was already on his way to the Canadian club.
Delaney told the South London Press that his interest in a move overseas was overstated by the Blues manager: "I know exactly where that has come from, Ipswich's manager Paul Jewell did an interview when I left saying that was where I was going.
"That's not what I said. I had a discussion with Paul Jewell in his office - which I thought was a private conversation - and he has obviously gone and said that.
"When I was at Ipswich I discussed a lot of things with Paul Jewell. One of them was the possibility of going to America. My wife's Australian - so maybe going to Australia. But I never said I was definitely going to America in January.”
He says the short-term contract with the Eagles was ideal at the time: "When I came down here and met [Palace manager] Dougie [Freedman] I think it suited them as much as me to do a five-month deal.
"I could figure out what was going on at Crystal Palace and they get to have a look at me - because in three months they might say 'thanks but no thanks' and see me off down the road.
"There was no point in me signing a long-term contract. I'm more than open to staying. If things keep going as well as they are going - without getting ahead of yourself because we're only seven games in - then hopefully I can do that.
"It's a bit annoying. I don't want the fans to think I'm only here for three months and then I'm going off to America."