Skipper David Norris and key defender Gareth McAuley both want to stay at Town, according to manager Paul Jewell. The duo, who are out of contract in June, held talks with Jewell last week having turned down new terms which were offered before Christmas.

Jewell said: “I spoke to David Norris and Gareth McAuley, as well as a couple of others, and they don’t want to leave.

“I said to them ‘let’s see what happens, give it everything you’ve got between now and the end of the season because we need points and if you do even better, the ball’s in your court’. They’ll be holding all the cards.

“We decided that’s what we’re going do. We’ll probably talk as we go along, but there’s no issue with the players. They all assured me that they all want to stay and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”

Town have confirmed that, as reported by TWTD last week, Carlos Edwards has triggered an extra year option on his contract, while similar situations may apply with some of the other 21 players whose initial deals are up in the summer.

Jewell says the Blues received two offers for players during the transfer window but denied that Norris and McAuley were those targeted. The Town manager also said that no bid had been received from Swansea for their former striker Jason Scotland.

Photo: Action Images

h32 added 19:26 - Jan 31 ........... let's look forward to when we are all smiling again - the rest will look after itself.
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Back_The_Boss added 21:06 - Jan 31 Two pivotal players, need to keep both of them. COYB!
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KenDubZ added 10:12 - Feb 1 Dont tell me people are not feeling this ?? Tell you what Jewell Im begining to like you :)
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loyalblue1994 added 19:10 - Feb 1 all we need now is clegg to pull his finger out and sign them up
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