Key defender Gareth McAuley has revealed that he has rejected the new contract offered by the Blues and says his future should have been sorted last summer. The Northern Irishman, who is amongst 21 players out of contract at the end of the season, also confirmed that the Blues turned down offers for him in the close season.

McAuley said: “It’s a funny one. And it should have been sorted out last summer. Ipswich turned down a couple of offers for me and if they were keen to keep me they should have offered me a new deal then instead of letting it drag on for months.”

SPL giants Rangers were believed to have made offers for the former Leicester and Lincoln man during the summer and may well renew their interest with the 31-year-old able to talk to other clubs now he has fewer than six months remaining on his current contract. Premier League Bolton were also linked.

The former skipper confirmed TWTD’s earlier reports that he, along with current captain David Norris, had been offered a two-year deal by the Blues but says it doesn't match his expectations: “I was eventually offered a two-year contract four weeks ago, but it was not right for me and I told the club with the ball now back in their court.

“There have been further discussions, but we don’t seem any further forward. I’m happy here, but I have got to look after number one at this stage of my career.

“There is no way I look at the grass being greener on the other side of the fence and I’m not after silly money. The contract offer is not right at the moment.”

Prior to his sacking, former manager Roy Keane had targeted signing veteran Irish international centre-half Andy O’Brien - who has subsequently moved from Bolton to Leeds - which may have indicated that he expected McAuley to leave Portman Road at some point in the months to come.

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corshamblue added 19:08 - Jan 30 You know, everyone talks of improved offers over current deals. No one has said the previous offers exceeded current deals, indeed I've a good idea they fell well short of existing pay packets !! Clegg is a halfwit, out of his depth and doesn't understand footballers, never has, never will and we'll continue to struggle in the market so long as he has the final say. RK took a lot of crap, when indeed it was Cleggy 'last of the suffolk wine' performances that failed to cut the ice with potential targets. Considering ME has built his fortune on hospitality, isn't it ironic that visiting potential signees find the reception 'not as expected' - I think gone are the days of meeting players at the train station! gone are the days of players getting trains. . . Sign Macca up, he's not asking the earth but your happy to spend 2.4m to replace him, pay a signing on fee and agents fee as also pay his replacement wages in excess of what Macca asked for, Cleggy your a Clown in my opinion, mind you I don't have a clue what I'm talking about, do I ?

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