Town boss Paul Jewell says there have been no developments regarding the contract talks with Josh Carson and skipper Grant Leadbitter over the Christmas period. The duo now have less than six months on their deals and — along with 14 other players including Carlos Edwards and Jason Scotland — can now talk to other clubs about summer Bosman moves.

Jewell says discussions are ongoing but with progress appearing to have stalled: “Simon Clegg met with [Carson’s agent] Kevin Moran regarding Josh’s contract before Christmas and there’s been dialogue, and that’s as far as it’s gone on that one.

"I spoke to Grant’s agent last week, but I’ve heard nothing since then.”

With so many players having their deals up in the summer, Jewell admits it’s a difficult situation.

He says he plans to speak to Trinidadian pair Jason Scotland and Carlos Edwards in due course with their representatives having asked for talks a few months ago and having received a response but as yet no firm offer of new deals from chief executive Clegg by email before Christmas.

Edwards has previously been linked with the LA Galaxy and we understand other MLS sides could also show interest. Scotland was a target of Blackpool and other Championship sides in the summer and may be on clubs' radar again this month with the Blues perhaps willing to deal if they have brought in some of the additions Paul Jewell is looking for.

Jewell said: “It’s going to be hard to manage between now and the end of the season with players’ contracts up. We will be speaking to them in the future going forward.

“Both of them are 33 [by the end of the season]. We will be speaking to them. We did offer Carlos a new contract last year but he chose to turn it down and carry on on his current contract. It’s not as if we haven’t tried on that one. We haven’t spoken to the players since last year.”

Midfielder Jamie Griffiths has already left the club and is on trial at Colchester with his contract having been up at the end of December, while Shane O’Connor, at Southend on trial, has been told he will not be offered new terms when his deal is up at the end of June.

Jewell says there are other players he has already decided to release but refused to be drawn on their identities, adding that they weren’t necessarily all young players.

Photo: Action Images

leroy2488 added 14:32 - Jan 7 It was amusing to hear at the start of the season that this would not happen again, especially as the club can't stop any player running his contract down and trying to barter deals at the end of it. However, I very much doubt that any other team is going to offer many of our let downs more money than they are on here apart from maybe Carson? We could do with a bloody good sort out at Portman Road anyway, so on a whole I hope it will be goodbye to a lot of deadwood and this will give whoever is in charge at the time spare cash to build a less mature, successful squad of hungry winners who can better portray professional footballers.

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braveblue added 14:55 - Jan 7 'We have not spoken to the players since last year' 'Its not as if we haven't tried on that one' Brilliant management - either Jewell pr Clegg - who cares - sack the pair of them. In any other business they would be gone. Incompetent.
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PSGBlue added 15:07 - Jan 7 Maybe its time for those with one year left on contracts to either sign an extension or be sold!
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airliner added 21:28 - Jan 7 A complete an utter shambles is what this is. Is ITFC just bought by evans to make a loss to offset against his profitable business. Its looking like no one from owner /manager really cares what happens to this club.
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