Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that skipper David Norris and key defender Gareth McAuley are leaving the club with their contracts up at the end of June. The Blues offered the duo new terms before Christmas which were turned down, and despite talks continuing in recent weeks, the pair have decided to move on.

Jewell said: "It's unfortunate because we would have liked to have kept them. The club made them fair offers but the players are entitled to do what's best for them and their families.

"We offered Gareth the deal he wanted but in the meantime he had been contacted by other clubs and it looks like he may be joining a Premier League side.

"It was an offer that was too good for him to turn down and we wish him well. Chuck has other offers on the table as well and they are worth him taking.

"We are sorry to see them go but life goes on and we are already down the line in looking at players to replace them."

Captain Norris, this season’s top scorer on 11, joined the Blues from Plymouth after a protracted transfer saga in January 2008 for a fee of £2.2 million. The 30-year-old made 114 starts and four substitute appearances while at Portman Road, netting 16 times.

Portsmouth are believed to be the favourites for the Peterborough-born midfielder’s signature, although Wigan, Crystal Palace, Leeds and Nottingham Forest are all thought to be interested. Norris is understood to have been offered a three-year contract elsewhere, while only two seasons were on the table at Town.

McAuley, like Norris a Jim Magilton recruit after being chased for some months, signed for £1.1 million in the summer of 2008. The Northern Irish international, who was Town’s skipper for a spell, made 126 starts and one appearance from the bench, scoring eight goals.

The 31-year-old had previously been tipped for a switch to SPL giants Rangers.

Photo: Action Images

cwb91 added 15:37 - May 9 goodbye, but not good luck. G-Mac and Norris have said all along they would like to stay - we've given them the opportunity, and a contract which matches their value. So they decide to leave - good, I only want players who want to be at the football club. Neither will be moving to better club than Ipswich, so good riddance. Still waiting for that apology from both of them following their disgraceful performance against the budgies. Norris wasn't worth 3 years and G-Mac, if he goes to premier league, I suppose that's fair, but we move on.

0

Matteo_Sereni added 15:39 - May 9 I don't blame either of them...they will not be easy to replace and we've wasted good money on them both!
0

Garv added 15:41 - May 9 Could be a blessing in disguise. These two are probably two of the longest serving players in the team and have been regular fixtures in the side since they joined, have we gone anywhere? Obviously not all their doing but it suggests something. Though Norris has scored goals this season, he continually looks poor and too slow. Can't understand why he would go to palace even if they did offer 3 years. Those saying we should have offered 3 years, can you really see Norris being a first teamer and pushing for promotion or already in the premier league in 3 years time? He's slow now. Good servant though wish him well. McAuley, p

0

Garv added 15:43 - May 9 ...pretty solid but is prone to mistakes. If he's got a premier league offer fair enough, good luck to him. Again a good servant and always put his body on the line for the town. Heres to next season!
0

fourpee added 15:44 - May 9 Thank you for your efforts !! Good luck in the future !!
0

SamWhiteUK added 15:47 - May 9 Anyone thinking Norris had a good season needs to open their eyes. Top goalscorer, yes. Effort, yes. But overall, did he have a great year. Sorry but no. On another note, does anyone else think that Crystal Palace has become a dumping ground for previous Town players? Lewis Price (was on loan), Owen Garvan, Darren Ambrose, David Wright, Pablo Counago, and now Norris? Where are they going to get with those lot ? :P

0

SouperJim added 15:49 - May 9 Can understand McAuley going to Rangers to chase some silverware at the end of his career, but Norris to a champ club who finished below us? McAuley has been a good servant and well worth what we paid, I'm afraid I can't really say the same for Norris. Money talks, Norris walks.
0

Lamby95 added 15:59 - May 9 Shame to see them leave and want to wish them well. Should of been signed up.
0

TractorMan added 16:03 - May 9 As Jewell says we matched what McAuley asked for, but he happened to get an offer from a perm club. It's very different if Norris moves to Palace who have very little money and only just avoided delegation with a rookie manager. Then it is just about greed not ambition.
0

Tmilsted added 16:07 - May 9 Both Norris and Gareth have been our best players for the last few seasons, however i do feel like we need change with some new fresh players who want to play for the club and put in 100% week in week out. COYB!!!
0

4dy added 16:08 - May 9 a sum up of norris and macauley....,norris was good when he played in the position that magilton brought him for,which was to sit in front of the defence...hang on isnt that what pj's scouring the market for!!!.norris better as sitting midfield.also if he was six inches taller he would of had at least 15 goals this season all those bloody crosses flying over his head.on macauley i think he quietly knows he was the player of the season.our team under keene had a thing about putting pressure on our defence . all through that he was nearly always our best player,and would have took it by a yard had a certain j bullard not turned up.sorry to see them both go done a good solid stint for us through a tough period....ps now they've gone i think we can afford bullrads wages!

0

BoredWithThisNow added 16:08 - May 9 Pair of (overated) mercenary cants. See ya.
0

Marshalls_Mullet added 16:12 - May 9 GLAD ITS BEEN CONFIRMED, NOW CAN WE ALL MOVE ON?
0

itfcdan94 added 16:20 - May 9 good luck to you both...... it was always going to happen just glad that it was at the begining of transfer window and not the end at least we have chance to get replacments in..... keane and clegg should never of let their contract run that low.
0

blueherts added 16:25 - May 9 Good ..next
0

Ipswich24 added 16:25 - May 9 I am sad to see Mcaulay leave was a great player for us, Norris not so sure as yes he tried and worked hard but sometimes need more quality especially in that position
0

paul73 added 16:28 - May 9 Not really bothered by losing these two,as jewel has stated" these group of players not good enough to take us forward. Norris,a good steady champ player,but not top end and mcauley,decent defender,but so slow,gets caught out at this level. Only downside is,there will be no transfer fee. I look forward to some new blood coming in and hopefula big improvement on the last couple of seasons.

0

itfc1981 added 16:28 - May 9 Mc will be missed glad Chuck was chucked
0

Blooman_Group added 16:32 - May 9 Norris tried hard but in the end he was average and if he signs for Palace ,who are loaded they got a couple of multimillionaires owners, then its a step backward for him McA on the other hand was a solid defender but like Norris both can be easily replaced.
0

Lightningboy added 16:38 - May 9 ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££. No loyalty these days. Norris - will be missed. Mcauley - there's better out there.
0

fifeblue added 16:38 - May 9 No point in trying to hold on to players who don't want to play for you. On paper now we don't really have team that looks capable of staying in this league, let alone going up. But hey, out of the ashes and all that. Now is the time for young heroes and a completely fresh start with a new team.
0

poggie added 16:43 - May 9 Ok, well, I'm disappointed! Really hoped both would end up staying. Ah well, let's just hope good replacements can be found. Good luck to them both anyway.
0

4dy added 16:44 - May 9 i notice that not to many people are not to bothered about these departures.i think delaney stayed because he will be the main man in defense.i think from reading the above comments that most fans believe they can be replaced from within our sqaud.i hope pj gets some pace in our defence and up front so we can do other things than play long balls
0

roytheboy added 16:56 - May 9 Presumably both of them could be totally fed up with playing for a club that, despite the promises and expectations, has been going nowhere for quite some time, they both will have ambitions and although I am a little sad to see them go, I really can't blame them, good luck to them, naturally I hope that we do very well next Season and that they will both regret leaving.

0

MarkITFC added 17:07 - May 9 Oh well , both are avrage players which have took us no where , norris have scored goals but doesnt really give us anything . McAurly is a loss but can be replaced , nothing special , hence why we havent gone anywhere with him in the team . they have gone , now move on and sign better . never are a massive loss imo
0

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls