Danish defender Jonas Knudsen is refusing to allow his own personal contract situation to interfere with the overall task of keeping Town in the Championship.
Knudsen, 26, is in the final year of his current deal, meaning he is free to talk to other clubs during the January transfer window, and if he remains on the books through to the end of the season he could leave for nothing.
New boss Paul Lambert admitted he had seen enough in Knudsen’s displays during his first two games in charge to decide he should be awarded a fresh deal and the player revealed things have progressed over the past week or so.
Knudsen said: "I spoke to the gaffer before he spoke to you guys and he wants to speak to [owner] Marcus [Evans]. I have had a small conversation with Marcus — it was alright, just a little chat — and when he said he would speak to my agent I said ‘Perfect’.
"We had a good conversation to be fair and he made me feel wanted, but I am leaving it to my agent now so that I can concentrate on playing football and helping the club to climb away from the bottom of the league.
"That is what is more important right now. My agent will talk with Marcus and we’ll see what happens from there — that’s how it is.”
Asked if he was disappointed not to have had a contract offer earlier, Knudsen added: "I think we just have to take it from here. The gaffer came in and I have to say he got straight on to it. I’m into the last year of my contract now and I have to look after myself.
"But it is good that the gaffer came in and said he wants to offer me a new deal and there is no point in looking back.
"I have spoken to both the gaffer and the owner but now I am leaving it to my agent and we’ll see what comes out of that.
"I have said all along that I would like to stay here. I’ve had an absolutely brilliant time over the three and a half years I have been here.
"If we can get a good solution I’d like to stay here but we have to wait and see what comes through.
"My main focus has to be on helping us to get out of the situation we are in, which I am not happy to be in.
"We all know how things can change in football, and often very quickly, so let’s wait and see what happens after my agent has spoken with Marcus.”
Some supporters have made Knudsen a target for their frustration and not even the fact that he has strengthened his position with Denmark after representing them in the World Cup in Russia has convinced them of his value to Town.
He continued: "I will always do my best and give 100 per cent in every game, for the team, the club and the supporters.
"I’m an honest guy and I will always do as much as I can for this club. That’s why I don’t want to be focused on anything else at the moment.
"The most important thing is the club and getting ourselves out of this situation, and I’ll do that.
"I have been here since the summer of 2015 and I don’t like being where I am now, bottom of the league.
"First and foremost, before I think of anything else, I want to get Ipswich over the line and safe.
"You can be sure I will be doing everything I can to achieve that. Every time I go out on the pitch I want to win and it’s the same with everything I do, even if I’m playing a board game. I’m an Ipswich Town player and I want to everything I can for this club.”
Knudsen recently admitted there had been firm interest in him from Middlesbrough during the summer but he stayed put, although both he and goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who was on duty with Poland at the World Cup, were dropped by former manager Paul Hurst during his time in charge at the start of the season.
Asked how close he had come to departing Portman Road, he replied: "There will always be some rumours — that’s how it is in football — but nothing is done until a deal is done. Whether it was close or not I’m here now and fully focused on what we have to do to get out of trouble and make sure we stay in the Championship.”
Could the club’s position in January have a bearing on his Ipswich future? "I’m just focused on what we are doing now and we have a very important time coming up,” he said. "It is going to be a big few weeks between now and the New Year for everyone.
"We have to make sure we get some points on the board and that we are in a better position than we are in now.
"We have to be ruthless about what we do in the next month or so because it is so important for the club and that’s what matters most.”