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Six Youngsters Offered Deals
Six Youngsters Offered Deals
Friday, 15th Apr 2011 11:05

Town boss Paul Jewell has offered contracts to six of the Blues' first and second-year pros. Half have received one-year deals, the rest six-month extensions to their time at Portman Road.

Jewell said: “I’ve spoken to the most of the younger players. I’ve offered Luke Hyam, Troy Brown and Ronan Murray a year’s contract. The likes of Jack Ainsley, Tom Eastman, Conor Hourihane we’ve offered six-month contracts.”

The Blues boss says he wants the latter trio to prove themselves during their additional six months: “The reason we’ve done that is because I’m not quite sure. I don’t want to let them go straight away. I want them to come back in pre-season, maybe get them out on loan and have a look at them then.

“They’re entirely entitled to walk away from that because that’s a less offer than they’ve already got. But I want to keep their hunger here and I’m not 100% sure about them, so I’ve given them the option of six months.

“Hopefully they’ll take it and they’ll come back and start the season well and get longer contracts. I just thought that sometimes it’s easy to give out contracts willy-nilly and I want to keep their hunger and desire here.

“I’ve not seen them in first team action at all, that’s the difficulty. They’re all good lads and I think they could be decent players but I’ve only seen them playing against the likes of Oxford reserves and Watford reserves and I’d like to see them at a higher level.”

Jewell didn’t mention the situation with Bermudian winger Reggie Lambe, who is on loan at Bristol Rovers, but says he's still to speak to midfielders Jamie Griffiths and David Cawley, who have been sidelined with injury: “Jamie Griffiths has been injured since I’ve been here, I’ve never seen him play and David’s out for another six weeks. I will speak to them first and it’s always difficult with players who have been injured.”

Bury St Edmunds-born Griffiths has a back problem, while Irishman Cawley has a knee injury.


Photo: Action Images



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SurreyITFC added 11:12 - Apr 15
Good Move by PJ - Shorter contracts to make sure the hunger is there and players not just sitting on a nice 2 / 3 year deal. Like to Hyam given a run out before the end of theseason as he was very good at the beginning of the season under RK.

COYB
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Smithy added 11:15 - Apr 15
lets see their desire, if they really want to stay and prove themselves, wether given 6 months or a year they will sign their contract pretty quickly, stall and I feel it shows they're not that keen to stay anyhow. Pleased Brown's been given a year, was very impressed with him at centre half at a time when the team was struggling.
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GreenwichBlue added 11:35 - Apr 15
Thought Hyam was about to break through after the good early start. Hope this spurs him on.

Would imagine Eastman's the most suprised/disappointed not to have longer perhaps.
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dan_itfc55 added 11:46 - Apr 15
GreenwichBlue- Totally agree in regards to Eastman being the most disappointed! I think we should also sign up Reggie Lambe. Paul Jewell seems very calm and reasonable about situations like this, I think he has dealt with it very well to be honest, considering the mess he has taken on (including all the senior contracts as well).
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sonian_blue added 12:05 - Apr 15
'They're all good lads and I think they could be decent players but I've only seen them playing against the likes of Oxford reserves and Watford reserves and I'd like to see them at a higher level.”

Well give them a runout then.
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BartsGreatBeard added 12:09 - Apr 15
Give em a runout against swansea so that its a win win scenraio you get to look at em at a higher level and IF we lose that doesnt help them sister loving canaries
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TractorMan added 12:11 - Apr 15
I guess from reports of Eastman earlier in the season, Jewell would only offer 6 months. Ok, he was played out of position, but still looked too lightweight for a defender.

People like Brown and Eastman should be loaned out for 6 months to a year to a L1 club to get a real education, prove themselves to Jewell and push on for the first team.
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pablo098 added 13:29 - Apr 15
Let them have a chance before the end of season and drop those who are unable to put pen to paper.
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Pendejo added 13:36 - Apr 15
Personally thought Eastman looked a competant player, but then he clearly has not have been doing enough to inspire PJ.

Also PJ has presumably watched DVDs of games played under RK. Eastman played a really good pass to Scotland for a goal V Cardiff.. but then I only get to see a handful of games
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DiamondGezzer added 13:41 - Apr 15
I must say the Eastman contract suprises, but there, I don't see them in training every day. Wish them all well though.
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Lamby95 added 14:17 - Apr 15
IMO brown is better than Eastman and if jewell wants the ball on the floor I feel Brown will be better suited as he is more of a ball playing defender than Eastman.
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arc added 15:20 - Apr 15
I'm surprised about Ainsley. He doesn't seem to have pushed on at all.
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bluearmy77 added 16:41 - Apr 15
Probably because he has been playing at right back where he's scored goals for england up front? We are short of a striker at the moment!
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bluelady added 17:23 - Apr 15
Agree with brown over eastman. Was concerned higham on way out but clearly pj has time for him, looks like reggie on way out....
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broomfield123 added 21:38 - Apr 15
I think we have some half decent kids amongst this lot who with the correct guidance would come on and be the future of this club. Forget the likes of mac , dd , chuck and co and build the team around the likes of wickham, carson , hyam , brown etc. No need to mess around with blokes who haven't bothered to sign and clearly looking around
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jas0999 added 21:44 - Apr 15
Looks like good management from PJ. Players given opportunities to prove themselves.
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budgieplucker added 07:29 - Apr 16
Intelligent piece of management with the six month contracts. Rather than just let the players go it does give them a further opportunity, the Club will look to loan them out and if they do well then may have the option to pursue their career with the loan club or return to Ipswich with an improved contract. Its entirely in their hands and in all honesty the club will be paying their wages for six months with possibly very little return - more than a fair situation to the players in terms of trying to help them with their careers.
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Ipswich24 added 07:38 - Apr 16
Keep Hyam, Brown and Murray dont need others
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village_blue added 13:04 - Apr 16
The biggest surprise to me is that Eastman even got offered 6 months.Always looks clumbersome to me.Would like Ainsley's to be for a year though.
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