Chief executive Simon Clegg has wished departing duo Gareth McAuley and David Norris well for the future and says he doesn’t regret the club not offering them new terms last summer. On Monday the pair told manager Paul Jewell that they will be leaving Town with their current deals up at the end of the season.

Clegg told TWTD that he wanted both of them to remain at Portman Road: “I think it’s clear that we would have liked Gareth and Chuck to stay here.

“We offered them new contracts but they decided their aspirations were greater than we were able to meet, and as such I wish them all the best for the future because they’ve played an important part in this club.”

Asked why the club allowed their contracts to run down, the former British Olympic Association chief said: “There are a number of factors, I don’t really want to get into the specifics of it.

“We were very clear that once we made a change of manager we didn’t want to tie the new manager’s hands and wanted to give him a completely blank sheet of paper to work from.”

Clegg says a decision not to offer new deals was taken last summer: “We took a long-term view in terms of what we were going to do and why we were going to allow their contracts to run down, and we move on and wish them well for the future. We now need to bring into the club good replacements for them.”

The Blues chief executive disagreed that looking at the situation as it developed, deals should have been offered a year ago: “I don’t think that at all. Hindsight’s a great thing. We are where we’re at.

“The decision was made then on very conscious grounds and we move on. I’m not going to get into the specifics of it. It’s the position that the club took.”

As for those replacements for Norris and McAuley and other additions to the squad, Clegg was tight-lipped: “Things are ongoing. I’m not going to comment on any speculation because to do so just puts yourself in a very difficult position.

“As soon as I have something firm to say, then I’ll let you know. Consistent with the club’s normal policy, I’m not going to comment on any speculation.”

Clegg wouldn’t be drawn into reacting to former manager Roy Keane’s comments about him over the weekend: “I enjoyed my time working with Roy, that’s now history and I’m focused on supporting the new manager and that’s going very well.”

McAuley is believed to be on his way to West Brom, while Norris is interesting a number of Championship clubs including Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Portsmouth.

Photo: Action Images

the_gospel added 13:57 - May 11 yeh Clegg, stick it up em.
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radiogaga added 13:57 - May 11 Do one Clegg. Assuming you are well on the way to getting new signings sorted if you've got the time to come out and talk like this...
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WadzillaBhoy added 14:00 - May 11 Oh well when Clegg's contract runs out I'm sure the vast majority of Town fans will have no regrets when he's gone either.
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DiamondGezzer added 14:00 - May 11 Thanks for all of your efforts lads, hope the future goes well fo you. Its over to you now Mr. Clegg.
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costadelblue added 14:02 - May 11 Michael Owen has been seen at Ipswich Town's playford road training facility this morning. 100% true from a very reliable club source. i read this on the web anyone else heard this
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danger_matt added 14:04 - May 11 Sounds like Clegg wouldn't be drawn into saying anything of use whatsoever.
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pazelle added 14:07 - May 11 "Consistent with the club's normal policy, I'm going to comment on any speculation.” Go on then!
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TJS added 14:07 - May 11 yeah whatever Clegg. I'm sure you don't REGRET anything when it comes to Town probably including the 5-1 defeat to Norwich.
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JimmyJazz added 14:08 - May 11 Reading Clegg's comments suggests that the intention to replace RK was made last summer. So the question should be changed from 'do you regret not offering contracts last summer' to 'why didn't you sack RK sooner'. The comment of a blank slate for a new manager is fair, but with contracts to key players running down to less than 6 months the new manager is put in a very difficult position.

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gypo added 14:09 - May 11 Well it goes to show no loyalty they both said they want to stay and were offered contracts 5 months ago. Mcauley and Norris who are they !!!
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Marcus added 14:14 - May 11 For now I'll give Clegg the benefit of the doubt but he needs to demonstrate that he can get the right players to sign on the dotted line and not have players sitting in the managers' office ready to join and then be sent home.
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Vexorg added 14:16 - May 11 Joker. P1ssing around with Olympic tickets and trying to run football club in his spare time
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cornishnick added 14:16 - May 11 The man's a clown. PJ has said letting their contracts run down was a mistake and musn't happen again, yet Clegg seems perfectly comfortable with it.
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itfc1981 added 14:18 - May 11 I regret Evans offering you a contract Clegg
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Keaneish added 14:26 - May 11 3.5 million down the swaney!! I'd have regrets about that as i'm sure anyone would!
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itfc1981 added 14:27 - May 11
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Karlosfandangal added 14:28 - May 11 Agree with Clegg Norris and McAuley are (IMO) average players as is most of the team, we have been a middle table team for the last 3 years and leeking goals, so why tie up 2 average players with long contracts and then moan at the new manager for not getting us up. If we fail to gain promotion under PJ it will be because of his decisions on players he brings in not because he is stuck with players brought by Magilton and Keane. The club needs a new start and this summer will prove is Clegg has learnt from his mistakes. Norris and McAuley have served this club well and they may also need a fresh start to further thier careers, Good luck to them

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bluelady added 14:30 - May 11 itfc1981 i expect Evans maybe beginning to regret it too! As a few have said it does look like RK was out on his ear last summer just finances kept him here till January....... just think PJ for an entire season and we may well have gone up, i would suggest we would definately have sold more season tickets so this gamble clearly didnt pay off!
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blue_em_away added 14:31 - May 11 costadelblue I saw PJ in Milsoms the other day but he didnt cook my food.... If the idea is to sign Owen, I hope not.
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bedsitfc added 14:34 - May 11 all sounds fair enough in the fact of give pj a black sheet of paper but my only worry is that the owners chq wont be so blank.
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alfromcol added 14:36 - May 11 Karlosfandangal Totally agree. Move on everyone. Lets look forward rather than backward. All this spite against Clegg is all rather boring, get real people. None of you know the details of what goes on within the club, so stop making it up, pointing the finger guessing what goes on, pointing the finger etc etc. Lets hope for some decent signing shortly.
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Matteo_Sereni added 14:38 - May 11 I was slated on here a few weeks ago for criticising Clegg but now look at the reaction! Norris and Mcauley should have been sorted last summer...whatever Clegg says that is a fact! shame his contract is not up this summer too!
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blue_floyd added 14:38 - May 11 This just proves how naive Clegg is when it comes to the workings of the football world. Hopefully, now that PJ is involved in the contract negotiations, this situation won't happen again.
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tractorgirl2 added 14:48 - May 11 costadelblue i have seen the rumour on the transfer rumour site and also wickipeader are reporting that james coppinger from doncaster is an ipswich player i wouldn't play to much a tension to them. Wickipeader can be changed by anyone and the rumour site is just that a rumour site.
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Wickets added 14:50 - May 11 Little bit odd this interview as PJ was quoted as saying that their where lessons to be learned from this contract fiasco but Clegg feels it was handled satifactory!! They seem to be singing from a differant songsheet already. Whatever Clegg says it has been a right cock up that will not be repeated while PJ is manager. or i'll eat my dads hat!!!
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