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

SmellyGreenVeggie added 20:00 - May 9 Good riddance, start again next season. Chuck sounds like he is only motivated by money, G.Mac will be a bench warmer unless he moves to the joke of a league which is the spl.
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WoodfordTim added 20:13 - May 9 It's all the "we love it here and want to stay" bit that gets to me
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Dowson added 20:23 - May 9 on your bike then
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Blue_Fred added 20:28 - May 9 this is such old news, it has been obvious that neither wanted to stay for weeks now if not months. really not bothered about outgoing or ex players tbh, just interested to see how the revolution takes shape over the summer
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Guthrum added 20:36 - May 9 So, this whole "we're not attractive to players coming in" thing. Why not? If Palace, a team which hsn't exactly sparkled in recent years (spent even less time in the Premiership than us in the last 10 seasons) and finished this season in 20th place, just 6 points clear of relegation, can entice our club captain - an experienced midfielder - away, then why should a well-financed mid-to-upper table team (the last time we finished below 15th position in the second tier of English football was 1959!!) with a successful Manager recently installed be so unattractive?

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confoosed_dot_com added 20:52 - May 9 Money grabbing losers.
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RegencyBlue added 21:00 - May 9 Both average - move on!
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pepperot123 added 21:05 - May 9 If Evans millions have significantly increased as recently reported it is time to invest BIG in the squad, its the only way he will make his investment pay off. Trust in Jewell to spend it wisely. I am sick of being also rans in this league and living in Norwich over the last three weeks has been HELL. Give me some hope Mr Evans, I will still be there every week supporting the team.

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TimmyH added 21:12 - May 9 Yep - some big rebuilding to be done! After a dodgy start McAuley has been our most consistent defender and he WILL be missed but not so much Norris who can be compared to a little terrier running around in midfield against german shepherds, he's not big enough in stature gives it his best and his goals have been no doubt handy but I think we should get someone in better to replace him - if they want to come to this club that is!

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bluearmy4life added 21:40 - May 9 Shame really. Wish them well. If the rumours are true with 3 million to spend in the summer then you may as well put town up for sale. That would'nt be surprised if that figure is true. Shocking we need at least 6 million to put a decent team together.
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nearly50yearsblue added 21:40 - May 9 The reason Evans has made even more millions is that Marcus Evans Investments bought ITFC for a pittance,he is now charging us fans interest on his investment. Win,Win all round when its dividend time.
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theblueginger added 21:46 - May 9 HI! Anyway, about the state of our club. Im more disappointed with Norris going. Hes been our most consistent player and showed some real passion. He was never the most technical player, but his effort and work rate was excellent, and he was a good captain, and his goal return this year has been good. Suprising he may be going to palace though. Mac will not be much as much of a miss. His height was helpful but hes getting slower every time every time i see him. He will get found out if hes in any prem team with his lack of pace. Was is stupid is why wee didnt sell Norris in Jan to at least make something. We need Sean st ledger to replace Mac and someone like Don Cowie at Watford to replace Norris' determination and Goal return, on top of the other 4-5 players we need. Good job ME made some profits recently....

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nearly50yearsblue added 21:53 - May 9 Why is this man invloved with the club as well. Michael Spencer, associate director of Ipswich Town Football Club, also made the 2011 Rich list and was placed at 145, having increased his fortune by £370m to £520m in the past year.
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WarkyWonderLand added 21:54 - May 9 Time for the rebuild to commence and in my opinion, one that is needed. Looking at the ages of McAuley and Norris we have had their best years and during that time where has the team progressed? Modern football is about pace and where is ours?not at the back and certainly not in midfield. We have players who are far too similar across the park. Given that PJ took us from 3 points from bottom to finish 20 points from bottom with Bullard as the only addition shows what he can do with an average set of our players. His predecessors spent alot of money on what? Average players with no pace. Look at the money which Holloway spent at Blackpool and Lambert spent at those up the road to get promoted, not alot. No real stars, just a solid team with pace, passion and togetherness. Warnock got bargain of the season in Jamie Mackie from Plymouth. Although he got injured was on fire for them and scoring goals. He would have been my choice to replace Walters. That is what we need on the pitch as well as off it at PR, where has the atmosphere gone? We need a pre-season to get some songs going to build PR again into a place with a great atmosphere. PJ will wheel and deal and I would prefer perhaps to have some players we don't know much about. Who had heard of Fox, Crofts, Martin and Holt up the road. Great of we get Jimmy, if we don't we move on. One man does not make a team and that is what we need, a team. I trust PJ and so what if he brings in a couple of players he has worked with before, Warnock did. Not everyone will agree with him or who he signs but one thing is for sure. We need UNITY on the pitch and off it as supporters. Appears that most just want to moan about moaning!! COYB.

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PeekFreans added 22:02 - May 9 Overall, both played well and worked hard, of that there is no doubt. So good luck to them. But as has already been said many times, we move on with some very good young players and what clearly is a more stable ship in terms of team management. If the financial commitment is there in the closed season, then we really have something to look forward to come August.
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nearly50yearsblue added 22:05 - May 9 I fully trust our fans,I fully trust Paul Jewell,now its about time we can trust our board to help us achieve what we all want. We want a team playing exciting flowing football and turning our home ground into one opponents fear. Lets stand together united,surely thats why we all post comments here.
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Umros added 22:17 - May 9 Personally never rated him as a captain, apparently getting through a lot of work in midfield but I never saw this, often lost in games, yes 11 goals but not gonna lose sleep over this. Get a commanding Captain in.
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h32 added 22:25 - May 9 ...... some sad people posting on here. Why do players have to be slagged off because they want to leave ? - it's pretty obvious there is good reason for wanting to do so, otherwise they would stay - Yes ? Both McAuley and Norris are of the age that 'this' contract would almost certainly be their last - therefore it had to be right for them. I'm not surprised that Norris could possibly move to Crystal Palace - just look at our own Club's current plight before we judge others. And maybe there ambition equals or exceeds ours. Leaving contracts as late as these were offered to both these players - doesn't indicate that we are in sound, ambitious hands. Most players would think likewise. Hope that none of the long list of 'prospective' signings ever look on this forum - you'd put them off immediately the way you always see things from the Club's point and not the Players. I repeat - both Norris and McAuley should never have found themselves in this situation - the Club is TOTALLY to blame. And to the 'dreamers' amongst you - neither will be easily replaced, as we will see.

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h32 added 22:30 - May 9 ..... if possible - have a good summer everyone. Adios.
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theblueginger added 22:34 - May 9 No they cant be blamed. if they had signed in the summer then clubs would never of approached them and tempted away. The situation of not giving Norris a 3 year deal when hes 30 and then trying to bring bullard in whos almost 33 is a joke.
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ITFC4daprem added 19:19 - May 10 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!! we spend millions on are 2 star players as keane cba 2 extend there contracts Did he extend anyones
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