Loan midfielder Jimmy Bullard says he’s loving life at Town and hasn’t ruled out returning permanently next season when he expects Portman Road to be “a good place to be”. The 32-year-old, who has two years remaining on his £45,000-a-week Hull City contract, netted his fourth goal for the Blues in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe.

Bullard said: “I’ve enjoyed my time since I’ve been here. Every time I step on that pitch I’m loving it, especially having been out for a long time over the last three years.

“They’re a good bunch of boys here and ever since I’ve come to the dressing room the boys have been fantastic to me and I’m just enjoying my footie.”

The former Fulham man says there have been no developments regarding where his future might lie: “There’s not a lot of movement. I haven’t heard anything from anyone, I’ve just got my head down and played my football. As I keep saying, [developments are more likely] towards the end of the season.

“It’s a little bit out of my hands, it’s up to the two clubs, not one but two and they’re both clubs for me.

“I keep saying, I’m in a no-lose situation, I love Hull City and I love Ipswich, times have been good here. Wherever I’ll be, hopefully one of the two clubs, I’ll be happy with that.”

Bullard says whether he’d take the significant pay cut which would almost certainly be the case if he joined the Blues is a big question to consider: “I’ll obviously have to go away and think about that, but I’ve enjoyed my time so much and I want to play footie, so why not? Money isn’t everything to me, although at the same time I’m 32. But I’ve really enjoyed my time here.

“That’s the first time I’ve been asked that question. To be honest, I’ve not really thought about it. I believe there are eight games to go, I don’t think any club is going to make a decision yet — whether Hull want to keep me or Ipswich want to keep me. Whatever I say, it’s not really worth anything at the minute.”

The midfielder looks all but certain to leave Hull in the summer with his wages making up 21% of the Tigers’ wage bill. However, the £5 million January 2009 signing is taking nothing for granted regarding his expected KC Stadium exit: “I’ve got two years of my contract left at Hull and I’ve got to respect Hull City because they’ve given me the contract and I’ve got a great bunch of friends up there. We’ll see how it goes and closer to the end of the season I’ll be able to answer that.

“I’ve got to take my contract into consideration, which every footballer has to. But because I’ve missed so much football there’s a lot more football things than wages for me.”

The West Ham academy trainee says other sides could also come into play in the summer with a return to the Premier League not yet out of his thoughts: “It might not even be those clubs involved, there are a lot of other clubs out there.

“I’m just happy to play my football and I want to play as high as I possibly can as well, that’s another thing at the back of my mind. I’m sure towards the end of the season, it’ll become clearer.”

One factor which will count in Town’s favour is Paul Jewell’s presence at Portman Road with the Blues boss a manager he rates very highly: “Paul’s been brilliant, he’s come in here, he wants to play good, attacking football and he hates losing. You wouldn’t have wanted to be in the changing room the other night against Watford.

“Even after the Scunthorpe win he wanted more, that’s the way he is and the boys know that. He’s got some good coaching staff with him in Hutch and Sean. It’s going to be a good place to be next year I feel, so all the best to him.

“I’ve had a lot of success under him. I had four years at Wigan and we went up two leagues, got in the Premier League, got to a cup final and stayed in the Premier League.

“For me, he’s probably the best manager I’ve ever worked under, along with Barry Fry, who gave me a chance of my career back when I was 22.”

Bullard is in no doubt about the potential at Portman Road and hints that he’d like to play his part in taking the Blues back to where they belong: “It’s a big club and a club that’s been places before, in Europe, it’s a very big club and I knew that before I came here.

“It’s a tough league, the Championship, there are a lot of games and you’ve got to have a big squad, a fit squad and a team of winners.

“But next year I believe that the gaffer’s going to add a couple, hopefully keep a lot of the players that are here and, who knows, I believe it’s going to be a really good place to be next year, so hopefully I’ll be here!”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMoolay added 13:09 - Mar 21 I don't think it's gonna happen Jimmy.....I love u to bits but can't see it somehow. Lets just worship him while we can..!!
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dobbie73 added 13:19 - Mar 21 Sign him up! If nothng else than for the more adventurous chants we get. Better than the usual 'there's only one ....' or 'super, super ...' cobblers.
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denhamblue added 13:24 - Mar 21 Not a chance we will get him,keep dreaming.Mind you more of this type of talk will be pouring out of pr over the next month.Nothing to do with season tickets for next season ,by any chance?
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StowTractorBoy added 13:25 - Mar 21 Would love to sign him but every game he plays there is the fear of a career ending crunching tackle and this has to be in the minds of those at Hull pulling the purse strings. Similarly ITFC will not break the bank for a player so injury prone so he will only come here if both parties can be sensible on the transfer fee which as suggested could include part of his contract that he would have got, if he stayed at Hull. All very complex but I think we have a chance of getting him. may come here.

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bluelady added 13:27 - Mar 21 agree Rickster which should take notice of some pub in Hull and idol gossip about his behaviour off the pitch and take no notice of the passion he shows for the game on the pitch for us and the number of points has ulitmately been responsible for.....
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thechangingman added 13:31 - Mar 21 I would be one very happy and content man if I could read this kind of stuff and think, "yeah, he means every word of that and he'll probably take a pay cut so that he can help us to get out of the championship next year..." Sigh... I just LOVE the fact that these footballers can keep all of their options open, keep the fans of any club they've ever been connected with happy and, like the poor, gullible dupes we are we can respond with unreserved love and admiration. "Yeah, his (ahem) 'honesty' (sic) is such a breath of fresh air..." Yeah, Dyer really loves us too and will DEFINITELY sign for us, even if another Prem club comes in for him. Likewise, Wickham is all about Town and will be with us FOREVER come hell or high water... Yay for the dream-land of footie fandom - long may it reign (by the way, Rooney is a Toffee all the way, he kissed his badge, got a tattoo done and then... oh, hang on a minute...) Rant over... :)

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Blue11 added 13:40 - Mar 21 @thechangingman happy sole aren't you?! lol I think it's refereshing that we have something to talk/speculate about again, its been too long. And yes it is unlikely that he will be here next season (although I would love him to stay) lets just enjoy the rest of the season...
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Upbeat~ added 14:04 - Mar 21 I'm just going to put it out there: I want him to stay. No, I really want him to stay. Him staying would be massive for this club. The biggest legend of this era in football signed up on a permanent deal at this club... stuff of dreams. Jimmy's got to listen to his heart. Happiness comes first and foremost before everything else. Whether he be happiest at Hull (setting up his pension fund for later life) or Ipswich (a club I hope he's taken to his heart), well, only he can answer that. Either way Jimmy, it's been great having you here and you're forever a blue in my eyes. COYB

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blue_beats_yellow added 14:46 - Mar 21 his long range goals and fine set-pieces are a fine asset to any championship side. If he'd been here all season and fit I rekon he'd be into double figures by now. I'd love to see him stay next season, we've been missing a player like this for a while, he's a bit like magilton, good technique, a laugh and a character and scores plenty from midfield. If Norris is our Holland then Bullard would deffo be our magic. but saying this there's no way we can offer more than 1.5mil for him, he's getting on and more injuries will be on the horizon with age.

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Walk_the_Wark added 15:09 - Mar 21 Er.. sorry dreamers!! Yes, Bullard has made an impact at Town, no doubt. But good games and bad- eg was completely ineffectual at Leeds where we were out muscled and he shyed away from every tackle. No, we can't afford him. As for idol gossip, I live in Hull, and have seen first hand Mr Bullard at work. Not such a lovely 'cheeky chappy' when he's ar******d and being banned from pubs. Don't believe a word, and certainly don't waste your money PJ. There are much cheaper, consistent and younger playmakers out there.

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DiamondGezzer added 15:48 - Mar 21 Reading between the lines, I think Jimmy is keeping the door open everywhere, and so he should at his age and not knowing what offers are on the table at the end of the season. I've said it before [ and at the risk of boring everyone ] I just wonder if offering him the captaincy, a descent wage +, and the chance to end his career at a club where he is wanted by the fans and staff alike, would sway his decision ?

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jas0999 added 17:04 - Mar 21 Regardless of what he may say, I really can't see him taking a £30K pay-cut! Would be goodif he stayed - but not at expense of breaking the bank!
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Argyle_blue added 19:15 - Mar 21 At least until the club sells some season tickets and / or he gets offered a better contract elsewhere..
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