Bramble Refuses Contract Extension - Ipswich Town News
Dropped Town youngster Titus Bramble has refused to sign a two-year extension to his current contract which ends in the summer of 2004. Bramble was omitted from the side which lost 1-0 to Newcastle on Sunday and has had an up and down season up to now.
Bramble's refusal to sign the extension is probably more down to Town's current precarious position and his personal ambitions within the game more than a reaction to being dropped at the weekend. The 20-year-old hopes to have a long England career ahead of him and could well feel he would have more chance at a bigger club.
David Sheepshanks admitted the inevitable last week when he said that players would definitely go should Town be relegated at the end of the season. With Bramble having just two years left on his contract in June, he could well be one of the favourites to make a move. The U21 international is highly-rated despite dropping a number of clangers this season.
Town manager George Burley admitted that a contract offer had been refused by the Ipswich-born defender, but says that negotiations will continue: "We did make Titus an offer. It is normal practice to do this with any young player. It is an on-going situation and we are still hopeful of reaching agreement."
Bramble is represented by Jonathan Barnett, a man familiar to Town supporters after his role in the transfers of Kieron Dyer and Richard Wright. Barnett also represents Blues' skipper Matt Holland. The Town boss says he has spoken to Barnett regarding Bramble on more than one occasion: "I have spoken to his agent a number of times and at the moment there is no agreement. We will just have to see where we go from here."
What to read next:
Town Women Maintain Unbeaten Start With Draw at SouthamptonIpswich Town Women maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a backs-to-the-wall performance away to Southampton at Eastleigh. Despite being under severe pressure for the majority of the match they kept the game scoreless, earning a second successive draw in WSL2.
Town Women at SouthamptonIpswich Town Women face Southampton at Eastleigh’s Silverlake Stadium in their first WSL2 away game of the season this afternoon (KO 2pm).
U18s Beaten By SaintsTown’s U18s suffered their second U18s Premier League South defeat of the season as they were beaten 4-1 at Playford Road by Southampton yesterday morning.
Sage: Frustrated For the PlayersCrystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage was frustrated for his players after his side fell to a late 3-2 defeat to the Blues at Selhurst Park having got back on terms despite being down to 10 men.
Crystal Palace 2-3 Ipswich Town - Match ReportZian Flemming’s first goal for the club in the last minute saw the Blues to a 3-2 victory over 10-man Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The home side took the lead on 14 through Anan Khalaili, before Emersonn levelled nine minutes later, then Axel Disasi was dismissed for a high boot on Jack Clarke. Leif Davis put Town ahead just before the break, but the Blues’ performance drifted in the second half and Jorgen Strand Larsen equalised on 75, however, Flemming followed up Davis’s header against the bar to win it in the final scheduled minute.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Ipswich Town - Half-TimeGoals from Emersonn and Leif Davis have given the Blues to a 2-1 half-time lead over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, the Eagles having been reduced to 10 men following Axel Disasi’s red card.