Central defender Ian Miller has confirmed that a number of other clubs were looking to prise him away from Portman Road this summer, including former loan side Darlington. However, the 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a new one-year deal with the Blues.

Miller told the club site: "There were other clubs sniffing around but, once I had a chat with the manager here, I knew Ipswich was the right place for me.

"I have enjoyed the last year here immensely and my preferred choice was always going to be Ipswich, but I didn't want to stay at the club just to make up the squad numbers.

"It's very important to me that I'm with a shout of playing league football every week. Like any player, I want to improve and play at the highest level possible and playing reserve team football all season is not going to help me progress.

"But the manager assured me that as long as I'm working hard in training and on my game, I'll be in contention to play. That's what I wanted to hear.

"I know I have a long way to go and plenty of room for improvement, but that comes from playing first team games.

"I'll have a full pre-season behind me and won't be playing catch-up with fitness like I was last year, so that will help. Then it will be up to me to show I'm worth that first team place."

Miller, who signed from Bury Town last October after a trial, made his first team debut for the Blues as a sub in the 3-0 victory over Plymouth late last season.

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