Defender Damien Delaney says he’d love to stay with the Blues beyond the end of his contract in the summer, but as yet has not been offered a new deal. Manager Paul Jewell has told the Irishman that he doesn’t want him to leave and that it is up to the 29-year-old to impress him enough to win new terms during the remaining months of the season.

Delaney says that so far — unlike team-mates Gareth McAuley and David Norris - he has not received a contract offer: "The club haven't spoken to me, they haven't intimated they want me to stay, although they turned down a bid [from Crystal Palace] in January. I was told I definitely wasn’t for sale and then I was told pretty much that there wasn't another deal there.

"But I think Gareth and Chuck are in the same boat, they've not heard anything for two months with regards to their contracts.

"From the management point of view, I spoke to Paul Jewell and he told me about the bid, he told me he wanted me to stay from a football point of view and that's why I've stayed. But come the summer, I have to look at my situation and just try and find work."

The former QPR man says his agent had a short conversation with Simon Clegg around the time of the change of manager at Portman Road: “My agent had a brief discussion with the chief executive and it was quite hesitant. It wasn’t good feedback, it didn’t make me think they wanted me to stay long term.

“At my age, 29, you have to be thinking about security, but we’ll wait and see, I’m not really panicked about it.”

Delaney, who now won't be able to play enough league games this season to trigger an extra year option on his current deal, says he isn’t looking to move anywhere else: "I'd love to stay, I genuinely mean that. I think clubs like Ipswich Town don’t come around very often. It’s fabulous club, it’s a wonderful place to live and with the history the club has.

“It’s just a good club, there’s a good feel to the place. I know the fans are dying for a bit of success and the players are as well and I’d love to be part of that and help that to happen.

"But for whatever reason nothing's been explained to me or mentioned about a contract, so I suppose their silence speaks loud enough."

The twice-capped Irish international was pleased with the conversation he had with Paul Jewell last week: “I had a good chat with him, he told me he wanted me to stay and that [the number of players out of contract] was a problem that he’s inherited and was absolutely nothing to do with him.

“From that point of view I was more than happy to stay because he told me he wanted me to stay and I said to him that from a footballing point of view I’d be more than happy to stay.

“He said get your head down and work hard between now and the summer. I definitely know I’m required between now and May and after that we’ll see what the club say. Come May, who knows what’s going to be on the table.

“All I wanted to hear from Paul Jewell was that he wanted me to stay and as soon as I heard that I thought that would do for me. If he’d have hesitated and said he wasn’t sure, then obviously you don’t want to stay somewhere where you’re not wanted.”

The centre-half says he’s surprised that the situation has developed as it has: “It’s a bit strange how it’s ended up like this, I don’t know how it’s come about, it should never have got to this stage.

“The key thing is, and I was speaking to Gareth, I think the lads genuinely do want to stay, so it’s not a case of the club trying to sign us and we’re trying get away. We’re almost saying that we want to stay and we’d love to stay here and can you help us out, but we’re hearing nothing back and it’s frustrating.

“The lads have families as well and as much as we want to stay at Ipswich Town, you have a family to look after, so come the summer we maybe will have to look elsewhere.”

Delaney says skipper David Norris and his central defensive partner Gareth McAuley feel much the same as him: “They’ve had offers two months ago, but they’ve heard nothing since then. Obviously we speak to one another about it, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening?’. I think it’s the best part of two months since they’ve heard anything back as well.”

Ultimately, the Cork man feels the players’ position will only be strengthened the longer they remain in their current position: “When you’re on a free transfer you definitely hold a lot of the cards. People aren’t silly, they know we’re going to hold all the cards come the end of the season.

“The club are taking a massive gamble because even if the club makes you an offer there are going to be other offers on the table, so it’s going to be more difficult for them.”

But the ex-Leicester City and Hull man says that ideally he’d like the club to make him an offer before then: “I’d hope so. Paul Jewell says he wants me to stay, if that’s the case, if ever the club say something to me then we’ll talk about it.

“I’m not particularly worried,” he continued. “But come the summer, I’ll definitely have to have a look at it.

“As much as I’d love to stay at Ipswich Town, I have a family as well and I have myself and my family to look after, and if there’s not work here then I’ll obviously have to find somewhere else.”

Manager Jewell hints that the club’s closeness to the relegation zone may have had some bearing on the lack of contract offers to the likes of Delaney: “I had a conversation with him last week and he could have gone to another club with a three-year contract. I was straight with him and told him that I didn’t want him to go and it was up to him to impress me to stay here.

“As far as I’m aware, I looked him in the eye, he doesn’t want to leave here and it’s up to the players to impress us. I think the players have been terrific with that.

“Hopefully, sooner rather than later we can get stuff sorted. The only concern I’ve got is making sure we’ve got enough points and then we’ll know where we’re going to be next year, I’m pretty confident that we’re going to be OK.

“But once we know for definite, then we can sit down and make decisions. That’s what I’ve said to the players. The ball’s in their court. If they go and play well between now and the end of the season and show the same commitment and desire that they have up to now, everyone wins.

“They’ll certainly win, we’ll obviously try and pay then more money to keep them, so will other clubs. It’s a win-win situation for them.”

Photo: Action Images

itfc1981 added 08:48 - Feb 4 Clegg, grrrrrrrrrr
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Mr_Evans added 08:53 - Feb 4 Meh, to be honest I think there are better defenders out there. We can't push for promotion next season (be it league 1 or the championship) with two 30 something central defenders.
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muhrensleftfoot added 08:54 - Feb 4 What hopeless managament from the club. Keane is probably responsible initially, but Clueless Clegg who knows nothing about football should have seen this terrible position developing
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itfc1981 added 08:54 - Feb 4 ^ why not?
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dobbie73 added 08:55 - Feb 4 Come on Father Jack, let's get these lads settles and sorted for the final run in to the season!
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dobbie73 added 08:56 - Feb 4 *settled
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itfc1981 added 08:56 - Feb 4 FOC
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KirbyStriker added 08:58 - Feb 4 This has been a joke, does'nt Clegg know that the nearer to the contract running out the more option these players will have " we hold all the cards" it will cost us more in the summer than now. I understand the players point of view. If the club were worried about having Championship wages in div 1, why not put in a clause? Clegg this is a mess!!!!!!!!
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Garibaldi added 08:59 - Feb 4 Mr_Evans, yes you can. All you have to do is look at the Arsenal game at their place to realise how much we rely on Macauley and Delaney. I'd hate to be going into next season without either of them
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beerhelps added 09:00 - Feb 4 mr evens- what, like Mowbrey and Venus? Delaney and Maculey have given us some strength at the back, my heart is no longer filled with dread everytime we have to defend a corner or freekick into our box.
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IscaBlue added 09:05 - Feb 4 Perhaps we don't actually want to keep them,perhaps PJ's just said what he's said to the players to motivate them up to the end of the season. Then let them go elsewhere, freeing up wages to bring in his own choice of player. Personally, Norris gives us a good goalscoring threat from midfield so I'd like him to stay but I'm sure there are better (and cheaper and more long term and more consistent) defenders out there than McAuley and Delaney, and PJ probably knows that. Will be interesting to see what happens.

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legoman added 09:07 - Feb 4 Let me spell it out for you Damien. Show the new manager what you are worth, then in the summer you can decide as well!
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dirtyboy added 09:07 - Feb 4 I'm never too sure how these contracts are sorted, you'd think it'd be pretty easy to put in a contract whereby players can either get out or take pay cuts based on relegation, just as they would expect a pay rise should they get to the premier league. It's a results based business, the managers pay for it with their jobs on a regular basis, what makes players immune? Personally I think Delaney is decent enough, he's not the greatest with the ball at his feet (confidence/Roy Keane effect - out of danger), but with a bit more work, increased confidence, I think he'll improve, even at his age he's got plenty of time. Just need a confident pairing at the back.

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debenhamsteve added 09:08 - Feb 4 I think Clegg needs to make an honest statement about why the situation has got to this. I can understand that part of it has been down to the build up to and then change of manager. Also he may feel Jewell needs to have time to properly assess the squad BUT he needs to tell us this. Eating humble pie might help - "I'm inexperienced in football and I'm on a steep learning curve but I won't let this situation happen again etc." Unfortunately Mr Clegg is becoming a bit of a joke in the eyes of most fans and Jewell can't believe what he's inherited with 20+ players waiting to hear about new deals. The key players that should be signed up asap including Delaney are good professionals who are almost begging Clegg to sort something out. Get to it Mr Clegg and tell us all you're sorry about this state of affairs.

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blueherts added 09:08 - Feb 4 Hmmm , Lets look at this - You cannot blame Clegg - if he wasnt offered any contract - Clegg doesnt decide who does and doesnt deserve new deals or identify players that is down to the MANAGER , in this case The Clown Keane . Delaney was very much in and out - mostly out - and Keane would make the decision whether to offer new terms - Unfort we are all now so used to 'Footballs' way of doing things , unlike most other businesses - I like to see players being asked to deliver and perform before they sign another two/three year deal on £6k a week - nice job if you can get it . From ME , SG and now PJ point of view he is now seeing players for the first time and if he feels Delaney or others warrant a new deal then so be it . Delaney is an ok defender but Jewell may well have his targets - which is great and lets wait and see . You could say , why should the club reward players who have totally underperformed over last 18 months ( i WOULDNT SAY THAT - IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD THE WORST MANAGER EVER IN CHARGE ) BLAME KEANE FOR THIS ONE NOT SG

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Matteo_Sereni added 09:10 - Feb 4 Clegg is useless...he had no experience with running a football club until he turned up at ipswich. This situation is laughable. It must be so frustrating for the manager and the players who don't know if they'll be around next season!! Does anybody know when Cleggs contract is up???
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LollITFC added 09:10 - Feb 4 Mr Evans ... think back to who was in those positions in recent times, you will then realise you are talking balls !
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borge added 09:15 - Feb 4 I would hope that the club intends to offer a Delaney a contract if only because it would be pretty damn low to turn down what was a decent offer for him (and one that would have given him a three year contract by the sounds of it) and then release him at the end of the season. Paul Jewell's comments on the situation speak volumes. Just shows how dangerous it was having an inexperienced Chairman employing an inexperienced CEX and an inexperienced Manager....

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:17 - Feb 4 too much monkey business and not enough nitty gritty ,wassss going on ?
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BwoodBlue added 09:17 - Feb 4 This situation is just ridiculous. That said, I would probably only offer Delaney a 1 year deal and not sure if he would go for that...
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ClassyIpswichLass added 09:18 - Feb 4 I don't know about you but as a fan I love the idea that these players are either playing to stay at Ipswich or in the shop window. that means they are playing their best. If they do really want to stay, and if the management do too - then they'll reach an agreement. If they're sold off for peanuts in the summer, my guess is our management team who know nothing about football, know a lot more about long term finance and asset evaluation than most of us give them credit for. To me this looks like the management hitting back at the greedy agents. isn't that what we all want?

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itfc1981 added 09:21 - Feb 4 legoman: let me spell it out for you: You are being unrealistic!
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itfc1981 added 09:23 - Feb 4 ClassyIpswichLass I would prefer another club to make the moral stand, and we keep our best players.
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ClassyIpswichLass added 09:29 - Feb 4 itfc1981 The players say they want to say. We always say we want players who want to play for us. If they want to stay, and we want to keep them, then perfect - they'll reach an agreement. Unless of course their agents are too greedy. And if that's the case, they can go elsewhere if they want more money. When they say they want to stay, we should read "I want to stay, but under improved financial terms" Is that realistic in the depths of a recession. Well done ITFC for bringing sense to football. ITFC are saving the game we love. ITFC you have my support because you are showing you care about the game and not the whims of players and the greed of agents.

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bedsitfc added 09:30 - Feb 4 This is not an ideal situation but i believe paul jewell will sort it out and whatever happens with the out of contract players we will be in a much better position this time next year.
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