Boss Paul Jewell says the Blues will look at the possibility of signing loan midfielder Jimmy Bullard on a permanent basis nearer to the summer. The 32-year-old, with Town from Hull City for the rest of the season, says he’s keen on staying, if the clubs can do a deal.

Jewell said: “It’s something that we will speak about and look at nearer the date. For the time being he’s just on loan but you never, ever know what happens in this game.”

The Blues boss was delighted with the way his former Wigan player took control of the second half of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Cardiff: “He’s that type of player. He follows the ball, he loves the ball, Jimmy.

"Since he’s been here he’s been infectious, a bit like a bad virus really! He’s a really good character around the place, he loves his football, the lads love him, he loves it here, he’s having a great time and you can see that in the way he plays.”

Bullard himself seems to love life at Portman Road and seems keen for the two clubs to get on with getting a deal done so he can stay in Suffolk: “I’ve scored a couple of goals and I’m really enjoying my football, being at a club that really wants me, which Ipswich has shown. So why not?

“Hopefully the clubs can get going, but there’s a long way to go for me. There’s still 12 games to go. As soon as I walked in, I knew that this was a fantastic club.”

The one-time England call-up’s much publicised £45,000-a-week salary, 21% of Hull’s wage bill, part of a contract which has another two years to run is the major stumbling block in any deal, but the player says money is by no means the be-all and end-all for him: “Finance is not the only thing with me.

“I’m enjoying my time here, but at the same time I am in quite a difficult position because I’ve still got two years on my contract at Hull City, and I’ve got some good mates up there.

“I want to be playing, though, so it’s difficult for me. The closer I get towards the end of the season, the more I’m going to know hopefully.”

The midfielder’s two goals saw Town to Saturday’s victory and Jewell says another one of his former players, Derby keeper Stephen Bywater, who is on loan at Cardiff, will be fed of up seeing Bullard this season: “The first one was an outstanding strike. That’s three goals he’s got against Bywater this year and Stephen will probably be sick of the sight of Jimmy. The first one was a great strike and the second one just killed the game off.

“I thought we broke quite well in the second half. We defended really well, the goalie made some important saves and we had to get blocks in.

“In the second half I thought we looked as if we believed we would score whereas in the first half we didn’t seem to believe it.”

Jewell gave his side a tongue-lashing at half-time after a poor first 45 minutes, but Bullard wasn’t prepared to go into too much detail: “I can’t tell you what the manager said to us at half-time — I can’t go swearing! But there were a lot of Fs! And it was deserved. We understand what he wants and we want it as well.

“We were not at it in the first half, but we showed a lot more grit and a lot more determination in the second half."

Photo: Action Images

ForeverTractorBoy added 10:55 - Mar 7 SUPER JIMMY BULLARD !!!!!!!!!!
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suffolkpoker added 11:10 - Mar 7 There are not many creative midfileders about these days, especially english ones who know the game inside out. My main concern is he is now 32, i wish we got him when he was in the mid 20's. even if we offer him a 2 year contract that will take him to 34 or a 3 year contract would be 35.. which is a little worrying. JB is turning into a real town legend for us, it makes us paying the attendance fee so much easier when we have real play makers among our ranks. I would truely love us to sign him permantly just for the Jimmy Bullard factor.. thats if he is on sensible wages. in jewell we trust! COYB

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:12 - Mar 7 be great if we could get him here for next season at least.Sounds like he is a major cog in the happy wheel ,i can well imagine the dressing room is a lot chirpier now than before he arrived.Ive always rated him highly,love to see him play its a real shame he has had so many injury probs.Fingers crossed we can keep him on ,meantime i'll enjoy seeing him in the blue shirt.

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Martus added 11:19 - Mar 7 This is a tricky one, and i cant really see it happening unfortunatly. Hull paid £5 mill for him 2 years ago, plus like £5 - 6 mill on his wages up to the end of this season. Thats like £10 mill they have spent on him and at 32 i dont really want us to spend a large amount of money (over £1 mill) on him, i know he's good and completely changed our season but Hull wont let him go on the cheap, and how many years has he got left. Finacially its very difficult and very expensive, but he's such a good player and everyone wants him here, but how long will he last?

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Bleuro added 11:39 - Mar 7 @BlueLady. I agree with you completely. Let's hope we can get back to normal tomorrow and slate one of the players for a Championship standard performance. By the way, I love Jimmy too.
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Blue11 added 11:44 - Mar 7 At least we are considering the possibility, whether it will happen is another thing, but would love for him to come here. Fellow Jimmy lover!
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roytheboy added 11:44 - Mar 7 If only we can sign him, what a boost to us all !
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costadelblue added 11:55 - Mar 7 bullard would be a great signing just what we need someone to run the game also i have heard that we maybe getting simon cox on loan till the end of the season with a 1.5m deal in the summer. is he any good ?
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Tractorog added 12:01 - Mar 7 Jimmy gives us something special and you can argue about the lack fo tracking back all you like, but we need a few special players. Above all we need confidence in the team. I suspect at 33 Jimmys days of 90 minute game are numbered on the pitch so the financial package will have to be a longer contract. It is do-able and if in a couple of years we are paying £20k for an impact player to come off the bench so be it... we've had worse investments.

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WeWereZombies added 12:52 - Mar 7 I'm not sure that Bullard's age comes into it yet, he looks to be developing into a Sherringham / Barmby mode where he can go on close to 40, and he seemed the player with the most energy on the pitch the closer it got to the ninety minutes at Cardiff - he knows how to pace himself better than most. The thing we can offer is a likely place in the starting line-up and he might not get that in the Prem, but would that count for more than a few thousand pounds a week, probably not even one.

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Jimmyonthewing added 13:10 - Mar 7 Depends on Hull's financial situation - unless they offload him soon the age v value equation will cost them even more
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We_hate_Norwich added 13:31 - Mar 7 He's the best thing to happen to ITFC for many a year and it would be a real coup to get him here on a permanent deal. However, I too feel that his wages will be a stumbling block. We'll get to the point of agreeing a price with Hull but I just can't see how we can afford to pay his wages. God I hope I'm wrong!!!!!!
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Paulc added 14:08 - Mar 7 Wages a stumbling block? Really shouldn't be the case - Hull are exposed to a c.£4.7m wage bill (2 years @ £45k a week). Solution: Hull pay £2m to end his contract - Town get him on free and pay JB a sign on fee of £1.5m Town sign him to a 2 year contract @ £15k a week (total £1.6m) This way Hull cut their wages by half, JB actually comes out with an extra £400k and gets to play for Town over Hull (that part is a no brainer). Town get their man for 2 years without smashing their wage structure. Clegg - if you're reading this and it happens I want 10%!

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nickforeveritfc added 14:13 - Mar 7 Nice one P.J!!!!
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DiamondGezzer added 14:23 - Mar 7 Paulc:- Totally agree ! Also, [at the risk of being hung drawn and quartered ] what about offering him the captainsey ? And no, I don't have any axe to grind with Norris. It could swing the deal if he knows he's going to play each game [ that's what he said he wanted - to play ]. Also, Norris could then concentrate on his own performance.
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matthewg1982 added 14:33 - Mar 7 Hope we can pull this bullard signing off,would be a massive boost also maybe somebody like billy sharp to play along side wickham next season.Watch this space......COYB.
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Bleuro added 14:38 - Mar 7 @Paulc - I like your reasoning - will you settle for 5%?
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Paulc added 14:40 - Mar 7 @Bluero - 7.5% and i spit on my hand!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 14:50 - Mar 7 So hope something can be sorted out, a quality player WANTING to play for us!!!
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bluearmy89 added 15:27 - Mar 7 @Paulc - how bout you take 5% then we sign you as chief exec??
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Bergholtblue added 16:23 - Mar 7 At the risk of being condemned as being pessimistic, I am refusing to get excited until he signs. I have had too many ups and downs on possibilites and maybes in the past.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:31 - Mar 7 Ohh ,go on Bergholt ,get excited.
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Blue11 added 17:51 - Mar 7 @Bergholt but isn't it refreshimg about getting excited about wanting to sign a decent footballer again? It's been too long!
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JayITFC added 19:02 - Mar 7 Bullard left Fulham for Hull over a contract dispute (Roy Hodgson said at the time Jimmy wanted more money and a longer contract than Fulham were offering) so I can't see him being persuaded to take a cut.
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Martus added 19:03 - Mar 7 Well if Bullards desicion isnt based on money as he says then why doesnt he just get his contract cancelled and call it quits?
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