Town boss Paul Jewell has admitted that it might be difficult to keep midfielder Grant Leadbitter at Portman Road beyond the end of his contract in the summer. Leadbitter, 26, was offered new terms earlier in the season but with no further talks since then.

Jewell told the BBC: "We have not had much dialogue, I've got to be honest.

"We'd like to keep him. That might be difficult but that's his prerogative and I have no arguments with that.

"At the start of the season I think there was an offer made to his agent. They wanted to see how the season went, I think.

“But you can see by his attitude he doesn't have a problem with it. I just want him to play well between now and the end of the season."

The £2.65 million signing from Sunderland in the summer of 2009, who scored both Town’s goals in the 2-2 draw at Hull City last week, is back in training after suffering a minor groin injury at the KC Stadium.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Mark added 23:11 - Mar 15 I don't blame Ipswich for not offering Leadbitter the money he wants, but surely then we should have sold him last summer or at least tried to find a buyer. Letting a £2.7M signing leave for free one year after a £2M and a £1.1M signing left for nothing can't be good business.
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ClassyCranson added 23:21 - Mar 15 One goal so far all season from open play and hardly any assists is unacceptable. To give him the captain's armband for so long was a poor decision by PJ.
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Stu_Magoo added 05:22 - Mar 16 Why on earth is he still in the team then?? At the expense of our youngsters too? If this is Jewell trying to schmooze him - "Oooh I'll put you in the team, please stay" then I'd rather he didnt bother. I'd be a better bet in a Town jersey than that cretin.
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itfc1981 added 05:39 - Mar 16 hardly noticed him during games, will hardly notice he has gone next season.
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DiamondGezzer added 08:07 - Mar 16 Don't these guys think people can see through their miraculous turn around when their contract is up for renewall ? Having said that, I was one of the one's who fell for Bullards sham. Back to bed.......
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Bergholtblue added 08:43 - Mar 16 The bit I find disturbing is "we offered new terms earlier in the season but with no further talks since then. We have not had much dialogue, I've got to be honest." In business terms GL is a company assett, his contract is up in a couple of months and we could lose that assett, surely you would want regular talks with the player (or his agent) just to see which way the wind is blowing. Clearly Town adopt a 'take it or leave it' approach to the players contracts rather than out and out negotiation.

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davetheblue added 09:15 - Mar 16 if he dont wanna sign now ,whats the point in playing him now ,hyam could be gaining some extra experience in the remaining games and as clive says above ,nice saving on wages which can go to someone who's more commited.
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saffronblue added 09:27 - Mar 16 If he doesn't want to be here, put him in the reserves and play Hyam or Stevenson and start building for next season. Has been a massive let down in my opinion and I wouldn't even offer him a new contract as I don't believe he has warranted it. Would prefer to save the cash and buy Murphy.
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brian_a_mul added 09:41 - Mar 16 I would let him go. With Druary, Hyam, Martin (advanced midfield), Bullard and Bowyer fighting for central positions Leadbitter may not be worth a large contract as we have enough quality cover. Let him follow his buddy Norris in the chase for bigger wages and see where it get hims. He smacks of a player that only performs while winding down his contract. Adios Amigo

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Blue041273 added 09:48 - Mar 16 Definitely something odd about this. The other day PJ was telling us he wanted to keep GL; now he thinks that might be difficult. Yet for some reason there has been no dialogue on the renewal of GL's contract since early in the season. I think it's clear that there is no real desire to renew on either side and PJ is merely 'spinning'.
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 10:44 - Mar 16 Let him go. Consign him to the reserves for the rest of the season, play Hyam (who i think is our future Matt Holland and club captain) Stevenson and Drury. Waste of money buying him, he's lack lustred and unmotivated for the cause. Probably one of the higher earners too which would be good to offload the on the ol' wage bill. Mediocre at best, never set the league alight and let him follow Norris out the door. (Can't really blame G-Mac for moving to a Prem club) Also think we should get shot of Jimmy too....he's one expensive clown. Build for next season PJ, play the youngsters and people who will be here. Drop the people who won't and give Smith a new contract!!

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RetroBlue added 12:03 - Mar 16 "Leadbitter might not stay" Do I look bovvered?
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Lightningboy added 12:21 - Mar 16 For God's sake let him go..will not be missed for one second.
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buryblue77 added 13:46 - Mar 16 @ neilvanlimbeek, if he's a poor mans Jermain Wright then he must be bad! Agreed with Pennblue, it is another £2.5m lost, he's not exactly been great for us, (lately he's been good, but is that motivation to play or putting himself in the shop window?) and we've lost a lot of money on players who have walked on a free/terminated contract McAuley £1.5m Norris £2.5m Civelli £1m Priskin £1.7m to name a few and now the possibility of losing another player on a free, so that's over £9m lost in players walking away on a free, I thought it was bad enough when we lost players back in the early - mid 2000's when we were in administration, paying a lot of money for them and having to sell for next to nothing, but this is a lot of money invested and no return!

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