Town keeper Arran Lee-Barrett has agreed a new 18-month deal with the club. The 25-year-old’s short-term contract with the Blues was due to end today.

Boss Roy Keane said: "I think Arran should be signing today and he deserves a new contract. He has done well for us but the hard work starts now. He knows he has got a battle on with Brian Murphy for the number one jersey and who knows if there will be another keeper coming in."

Lee-Barrett added: "There were one or two whispers from other clubs but staying at Ipswich was always the thing I wanted.

"I'm really enjoying my time here and the club have been great to me. They have shown a lot of faith in me, so it was an easy decision to make."

Last week, Keane said he had been delighted with the Lee-Barrett since he joined the club on a short-term deal after Shane Supple’s retirement in August: "Arran’s done very, very well for us, but you have to remember that we’ve done well for Arran. Four or five months ago he was in no man’s land.”

Lee-Barrett was in the same year in the Town academy as Darren Bent and Darren Ambrose but was released at 16 when he moved on to Norwich’s youth set-up, where he worked with Blues keeper-coach James Hollman.

After spells with Cardiff, Weymouth and Coventry, he established himself as first-choice at Hartlepool, before being released last summer.

The 6ft 2in tall glovesman has made eight starts and one sub appearance for Town.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

Nunn_the_Wiser added 12:01 - Jan 21 Good News, he's done really well since being given his chance, keep him in Keane!
0

HampshireBlue added 12:01 - Jan 21 Much deserved, and almost fairy tale stuff for him. Well done Arran.
0

Lightningboy added 12:02 - Jan 21 Well done Arran..probably been our best find in recent seasons. As regards a striker - I see Clinton Morrison's contract is up in the summer - maybe he's the answer? - still only 30 and a proven goalscorer at this level..plus it would stop him continually scoring against us!
0

luke_itfc added 12:09 - Jan 21 Morrison are you having a laugh! Him and Keano would clash big time
0

Nunn_the_Wiser added 12:13 - Jan 21 I'm with you luke, hate morrison with a passion, rather have Best if we get anyone from Coventry.
0

JayITFC added 12:14 - Jan 21 No mention of Wrighty at all!? Obviously being let go in the summer. Crazy...
0

Mark added 12:19 - Jan 21 Good news about Lee-Barrett's signing, it's not usually left to the last day of someone's contract to agree a new one! He will provide competition for Murphy who seems to have had a brilliant season in Ireland (although that is Ireland!). As for Morrison, he'll be 31 in the summer. He's always been a decent striker at this level and I wouldn't mind him coming in, as my hopes of getting a really good, young, exciting striker are fading as the months pass without anyone like that joining us.

0

MVBlue added 12:20 - Jan 21 Alan is a great keeper. Solid, good distribution. Witnessed him at the Coventry game he can also pounce around the goal and be a shot stopper.
0

LowstBlue added 12:22 - Jan 21 No mention of Wrighty who will be out for what is likely to be the rest of season so why mention him! Clinton Morrison or another striker of his ilk (15+ goals a season) would be most welcome, why would he clash with Keane?
0

StanwayTractorboy added 12:22 - Jan 21 deserves it.
0

superblueflude added 12:22 - Jan 21 Jay - Wrights time is up, I am not one for blame but it really cant be a coincidence that our defence performance excelled once he was replaced. I know the team were dire but Wright kept coming out, and taking so long to distibute. Granted he was Man of season last season -but key word - LAST. Lets look forward and I see very healthy competition for places now
0

superblueflude added 12:24 - Jan 21 And also being honest lets just welcome anyone who comes in, and give them time, no more "oh no not him etc etc" But if we are to wish - would it be to much of a stab to try and get Pavluchenko?
0

dobbie73 added 12:29 - Jan 21 Excellent news!
0

ITFC_Forever added 12:29 - Jan 21 Flude, What about van Niselrooy, Torres, Gerrard, Ronaldo and Terry while we're at it?
0

tractorgirls added 12:30 - Jan 21 well done boy, fully deserved..
0

superblueflude added 12:32 - Jan 21 ITFC-Forever - difference to the names you wrote - they are all well known and all playing (apart from Van) where as Pav isn't and isnt as much of a name as the others? DOS Santos seemed a big punt last year but we managed it!.
0

pauliejaz added 12:41 - Jan 21 The fact that you even think Pavlyuchenko would come here just makes me laugh, think of someone a bit more realistic!!
0

rockstar1981 added 12:41 - Jan 21 great news!! was at the game on sat and he pulled off some great saves and loved it when he ran the length of the pitch at the end to join in the celebrations!! COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
0

superblueflude added 12:42 - Jan 21 I didnt say we will or i hope just said is it a stab in the dark maybe? anyway this is abuot Lee - good on ya
0

moomoosereni added 12:53 - Jan 21 Well done Arran, very well deserved. You've played well, taken your chance and your worthy of being in the starting line up. Regardless of whether we need strikers etc, it is a very promising sight to see how well our back line and GK are forming up. We are currently on the same form as a team in the top 6. Fingers crossed that striker we need comes our way in the next couple of weeks. As for Pavlyvchenko, think we are being a bit harsh on Flude, I can see where he's coming from. I mean christ if Stoke City can enter a bidding war for Van Nistelrooy, then someone lower down the order may not be a million miles away. Us much as it pains me we need to look at the top goalscorers in league one, which includes looking at Grant Holt. His stats speak for themself!

0

Surco72 added 12:54 - Jan 21 Superflude our defence has looked more solid when we dropped Bruce,Smith,Delaney at left back and brought back Mac and Wright whoever has been in goal so its not a coincedence at all , i thought Wright had as many good performances as bad and kept coming out because everyone in front of him were playing so poorly exception of Rosenoir . Good luck to Aaran has done well for us

0

AJblue added 12:55 - Jan 21 Really good news. Well deserved, has really stepped up to the plate when we needed him. If Keane thinks it will be a competition between him and Murphy, that can only be good news for ITFC, nothing quite like healthy competition.
0

ManuelThetisGod added 13:06 - Jan 21 I seriously think we should enquire about Jack Wilshere 1. We can gaurantee him games that he might not get at a fellow Prem club couldnt 2. We are literally an hour down the road from London, which means he will be closer to his family opposed to Bolton or Burnley, he is only 17 after all 3. As we are so close he could even still train with Arsenal a couple of days a week 4. Half a season at Championship level will toughen him for a season in the prem next term The only stumbling block might be Keano's relationship with Wenger!!!

0

WREXHAM_BLUE added 13:09 - Jan 21 Congratulations Arran; throughly deserved!! Great news.
0

emergencylime added 13:09 - Jan 21 Fully deserved. It was a tall order to carry on the great work instigated by Begovic, but ALB has proved his worth. I hope he doesn't get bumped straight to 2nd choice when Murphy gets fit, 1st choice is his to lose! As for the striker, Delfouneso?
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls