Blues boss Paul Jewell says he might look to bring out of contract players from other clubs to Portman Road in the summer but won’t be talking about them in the same way Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill has spoken about his interest in Blues skipper David Norris.

Jewell was unimpressed with the way Cotterill talked about his captain, the subject of a Pompey bid in January: “I think some of the comments he made were just wrong. He never said anything to me.

“But at the end of the day I’m not going to tell Steve Cotterill how to do his job but he’s our player and I don’t particularly like our players going to their clubs when they are still Ipswich Town players.

“We might be able to nick someone from somebody else,” he added. “But it’s just the way you go about it.”

The Blues boss says that in the way of Portsmouth’s relegation, he wonders where they have got the money to afford the players they already have in their squad, let alone make additions: “Where they are getting the money to pay Kitson, Liam Lawrence, Mokoena and Kanu is anyone’s guess. They’ve got money but it must be from the fall out from the Premier League.”

Whether Norris remains at the Blues after the summer of moves on to one of several reported suitors is still very much up in the air.

Photo: Action Images

BaltachaFanClub added 18:08 - Apr 2 charity boxinng match Paul Jewell vs Steve cotterill ?
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Crazee added 22:05 - Apr 2 Well that inspires me with confidence! With what we will be saving on the wage bill come the summer, why can't we go with a leaner squad, but target the players we REALLY want and pay the going rate as necessary. If they are on frees, all well and good, but going out looking for frees could be a dangerous policy in my opinion.
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bluelady added 22:13 - Apr 2 Crazee there are some very decent players whose contracts are coming to end, I expect this is only a small target area but I also suspect reading between the lines feelers are well and truly out, just not public domain.
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goat_man added 22:14 - Apr 2 The man does raise an interesting point, where exactly are Portsmouth getting their money from for these players?
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Worcester added 23:05 - Apr 2 Worries me that if a player was allowed to have his contract expire is he any good? Does this mean no cash? I ME aware that we will need at least 14 players on the books to playa game and at least 22 half decent ones if we intend to stay up?
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devontractorboy added 23:33 - Apr 2 No money from ME for new players then????
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gypo added 06:02 - Apr 3 Sounds like it to me that Norris had a trip to fratton park !!
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DiamondGezzer added 07:48 - Apr 3 bluelady:- Spot on ! gypo :- If what you say is true, why would Norris keep insisting he wants to stay ? Unless he's hedging his bets in case he doesn't get the contract offer he wants!
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Back_The_Boss added 08:51 - Apr 3 If you are going to spend then spend wisely PJ!
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Crazee added 09:03 - Apr 3 Worrier and Devon, exactly the points I was trying to make. Sure, if a Jimmy Bullard type was to be found of a free, then great news. But how many clubs make such a cock up about allowing players get out of contract before moving them on. Usually if that happens it is because the club no longer needs them and they are not worth much on the market. So, are they good enough for us. As much as I like the lad, now may be the time to cash in on Connor Wickham, if any of the interested clubs are willing to pay silly money for him as keeps getting reported. £15 million say for I unproven youngster is worth 3 x £5m or 5 x £3m very useful signings for us. Surely that makes better sense? Just a thought. And here is another before the anti-sell at any price brigade start up - and I hope this would never happen, naturally - but Wickham, as is any player, is only 1 tackle away from a career ending injury, and if that were to happen I doubt any insurance payments would cover his reputed worth.

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jas0999 added 14:17 - Apr 3 Players like McAuley, Delaney and Norris are examples of good players potentially available to other clubs on free transfers. The questions is whether any other clubs are daft enough not to sign their better players up before now. I doubt Bullard will be available on a free as Hull may need a fee in order to pay up his contract. I also doubt whether PJ will get even 50% of the potential Wickham fee. ME will certainly look to recoup some of his losses to date.

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gypo added 14:30 - Apr 3 Dimondgezzer :- its all about the £'s free agent's get a better wage. And if he wants to stay that bad he would have signed the contract on offer .
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Barhamblue added 21:45 - Apr 3 Any player including Norris who decides to go to Pompey won't know where the next wage is coming from come the end of next season. It's evedent they are playing the business version of Russian roulette!
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