Town midfielder Cole Skuse is facing an uncertain future with his Portman Road contract set to expire at the end of the season, although the club have an option to extend his stay for a further 12 months.
Skuse, 31, is hoping to reach agreement with club owner Marcus Evans and prevent a repeat of last season’s uncertainty over skipper Luke Chambers, who was in a similar position and had to wait until the final weeks of the campaign before accepting the offer of a new two-year deal.
Chambers was even close to rejoining former club Nottingham Forest in the January transfer market before Town pulled the plug on the move and said earlier this week that he hoped they would be quicker off the mark to deal with other players who find themselves in the same situation he was in just a few months ago.
Skuse said: "It’s my final year but the club have an option on next season. If they want to take that up it’s their choice but otherwise it’s the final year of my permanent contract.
"It’s out of my hands. They might not want to give me another year and could be waiting for it to wind down, then they tell me ‘Your time’s done, off you pop. Get yourself back down the motorway to somewhere else.’
"But if they’re looking to offer me a new deal I’d like to get it done sooner rather than later. I don’t want it dragging on.
"I thought Chambo was a credit to himself the way he handled his situation last season. But the club are right to do what they need to do, so whatever will be, will be.
"I love it here, we love Suffolk and I’m speaking on behalf of my wife and kids as well.
"We bought a house here, we’ve made it our home and we’re settled here. As soon as I signed we made plans to move here and make a proper go of it.
"I didn’t want my missus staying in Bristol and me travelling back and forth. We moved here to stay here.
"It’s a lovely spot and I love the club. It’s been a pleasure to play for the club and hopefully I can get a new deal sorted. If they want to get something sorted I’ll be happy to get it done.”
Town, who thumped struggling Sunderland 5-2 at Portman Road on Tuesday, are at home again on Saturday when in-form Bristol City make the long cross-country trip. The Robins, just one place below sixth-placed Town, are managed by Lee Johnson, friend and former team-mate of Bristol-born Skuse when they played together at Ashton Gate.
Johnson, speaking yesterday, tipped Skuse to carry on playing until his late 30s and even went as far as suggesting he would love to work with him again one day, leading to Skuse responding: "That’s a nice thing for him to say. I do feel I look after myself and can keep going for a while and you never say never about any job.
"Who knows what’s going to happen for me here and who knows where it’s going to happen for him? It could be that I play for him at Bath City or Forest Green Rovers in four or five years’ time.”
Skuse is delighted that ambitious City, for whom Johnson won promotion from League One, kept faith with him during a difficult time last season when they seemed in danger of returning to the third tier.
He added: "This season has been brilliant for them and they are unbeaten in 10. He — not just him but as a collective group — had a bit of a tough time last season.
"They had a great start last season but then went through a rough patch in the middle part of the season before they had to pick up a few points to survive.
"I’m glad he’s turned it around and got everyone back onside. He’s a great coach and you could always see he was going to be good at coaching.
"He’s a great guy and he’s got a great group of players. Saturday aside, I hope they do okay.
"I spoke to him throughout the season but Lee is a very strong character. He doesn’t get too down and he keeps plugging away. I spoke to him through the rough times but I was probably the last person he’d want to hear from because we had our own problems here.
"I’m just pleased they stuck by him. You see it happen and even in the Premier League, where managers get three or four games and then they’re out the door.
"That’s a sad state of affairs and I don’t get it. If you’re going to employ someone and try to go down the route of their philosophy you’ve got to give them more than three or four games. It’s outrageous but who am I to pass judgement on the hierarchy at certain clubs?
"It was great that they stuck by Lee — it’s paying off now — and they have said they are going to stick by him regardless. They have a plan in place and it’s not just a short-term one.
"I won’t see him or speak to him before the game but I’ll see him for a chat afterwards and see how he is. It’s not as if we go ages without speaking but I’ll have a catch-up after Saturday’s game and wish him all the best we play them next time.”