Defender Jack Ainsley has signed a new contract aimed at keeping him at Portman Road until June 2013. The 21-year-old, who says he's likely to go out on loan in January, was offered the new terms last month having impressed manager Paul Jewell during the six-month deal he was handed in the summer.

Academy product Ainsley, an England U17 international striker as a youngster, has made four senior starts and one sub appearance for Town, in addition to loan spells in the Blue Square Premier with Histon and Rushden and Diamonds.

Boss Paul Jewell says the Felixstowe-based player, whose father George and older brother Stuart were both youth players at Town, has fully deserved his new deal: “Jack’s been terrific, he was a bit unlucky to be part of the Peterborough debacle but his attitude is terrific and he’s done really, really well in training and in the reserves.

“I gave him six months to prove himself and he’s earned the right to be offered a new contract.”

Ainsley is pleased to have his future settled: "Obviously I'm delighted to have agreed a new contract.

"The fact that it's for 18 months, which is longer than I have signed before, is a confidence booster. The manager has shown a lot of faith in me and now I want to repay him.

"He has has told me that he'd like to get me out on loan in January so I can play some competitive games and then come back to the club and start pushing for a place in the summer.

"It's down to me now to show the manager that I should be in his plans."

Meanwhile, Premier League Wigan are the latest side to be linked with Doncaster striker Billy Sharp, who Rovers chairman John Ryan has confirmed will be available for £3 million in January.

Photo: Action Images

tractorboybig added 16:09 - Dec 20 Good, a step in the right direction for everyone.
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scooterblue added 16:15 - Dec 20 now play him at right back instead of Edwards.
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bluearmy77 added 16:17 - Dec 20 Well done, now kick on and make that RB spot yours! good to see a local lad playing for his local club!
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Wallingford_Boy added 16:20 - Dec 20 Bizarre! He is miles off the standard..
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bluearmy77 added 16:22 - Dec 20 Wallingford, how may times you seen him play?
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jditfc added 16:23 - Dec 20 if hes miles from standard then he wouldnt get offerd a ''PROFESSIONAL'' football contract surely ?
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irishtim added 16:28 - Dec 20 well done onwards& upwards
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SuperReuser added 16:29 - Dec 20 i agree he hasn't looked up to the standard in the games he has played so far, but I also agree that its good to see a local lad at the club. He must have something special to have been given this contract so I hope he does well!
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shaunminx added 16:33 - Dec 20 FFs some people are never gonna be happy on here are they. Sign youngsters they say someone who wants to play for the team they cry! Hold up someone that's come through the ranks signs a contract then they're not good enough! I'm sure some on here would moan about having nothing to moan about! Give the lad a chance for Christ sake! Can't be no worse than what we've becone used to and hey he may even be good given the chance!

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WeirdFishes added 16:34 - Dec 20 Great news, thought he looked good against Northampton. Now get the rest signed up!
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hulltractor added 16:37 - Dec 20 Throw him in and get him playing. We cant be any worse off surely?
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ITFC4daprem added 16:44 - Dec 20 Adds good debth
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UsualSuspect added 16:47 - Dec 20 Shaunminx - No need to moan about people moaning. Well done Jack thoroughly deserved by the sounds of it, now push on.
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muhrensleftfoot added 16:51 - Dec 20 It's absolutely the right thing to do, to offer promising youngsters a contract, even more so if they're local lads too. You can't blame him for the Peterborough shocker - he was thrown in at the deep end, and out of position too. Play him at right back & he'll do fine
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WarkyWonderLand added 16:55 - Dec 20 Only way to learn and develop is to play. Everyone makes mistakes. Whilst Edwards offers more going forward his positional sense is still a lot to be desired. Coyb
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Langdon_Blue added 17:04 - Dec 20 UsualSuspect - No need to moan about people who moan about people moaning! ;-)
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UsualSuspect added 17:14 - Dec 20 Langdon_Blue - No need to moan about people who - oh never mind!
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TractorMan added 17:27 - Dec 20 Time will tell, but the very least means we get a small fee for him if it doesn't work out here. He has looked lightweight and out of his depth when he has played for us and his performances were considered very poor while at Histon. Let's hope he goes out on loan to a L1 club and proves he can deliver in professional football - a loan to a non-league club would be a waste in my opinion and probably indicate the level he really is at. He's 21, not 17 and should be in the first XI somewhere by now.

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jas0999 added 17:27 - Dec 20 Although I agree Edwards is not a right back - and as bizarre as it is that both PJ and Roy failed to sign a permanent RB - surely Edwards is better than Ainsley? Edwards has been decent over the past couple of games.
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Mark added 17:56 - Dec 20 Ainsley probably was unlucky to have to play against Peterborough as he had to play at centre back when he is natually a right back. Jewell obviously sees enough in him to warrant the new deal. I too am surprised that Jewell didn't sign a right back, although Edwards has done better than I initially thought he would in that position. Keane's decision to release David Wright then not sign a right back was ridiculous, and playing poor Tom Eastman there was as unfair to him as it was stupid.

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are_these_the_days added 18:36 - Dec 20 Mark - I agree. The full extent of the disastrous Keane era becomes more apparent all the time. We do need to give youth a chance
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tractorboybig added 18:50 - Dec 20 If people think edwards is a right back for us then relegation beckons. Get him out.
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theblueginger added 20:13 - Dec 20 LOL season saved.
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s6blue added 20:45 - Dec 20 lets all stop moaning about people moaning and moan at the whole group of players when an as they need to be moaned about (granted thats a lot of moaning at the moment)
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TimmyH added 20:48 - Dec 20 Agreed - start him playing at RB now! won't be worse than Edwards defensively, now is the right time, whilst Jewell is looking in the Jan shopping window possibly for a more pemanent roll.
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