With hindsight, would Norris make the same decision again? But having regard to the unfair criticism directed at Leadbetter who could blame him for leaving?

After Pompey of course!

Jas

GL has a contract until the end of June. The contract was negotiated when we deemed the value of his services was high. As with all contracts when they are concluded both parties are free of any further obligation. The club has no obligation to offer a further contract on existing terms whether or not you believe he should not have to take a pay cut. His value to us is considerably reduced from the point of his originally signing; most would say that we have not had value for money. Sure if he can get a better deal elsewhere he should and almost certainly will take it. Good luck to him!

walberswick

It is not only the club that has let it run down, the player himself has had a big hand in letting it run down.

I agree will all the posters that say he should look after his own interests. It is the half-truths trotted out by the players such as 'I would like to stay' that annoy me.

isnt consistent enough and suffers from performance anxiety problems......

Already has another club for next year ! If he had really wanted to stay he would have signed the contract offered earlier ! He is at the moment showing the new club what he can do when he puts his mind to it ! Let us see what Stevenson can do rather than play someone who is due to leave !

With respect Jas is anyone on this board earning 15k a week?

15k down to 10k will not hurt him.

Lets be honest 3 months ago we would all have gladly driven Leadbitter to any club that would take him and if he had signed a new contract with us there would have been complaints and shouts of throw Clegg and Jewell to the lions. He was offered a new contract months ago and this has just been left to hang. Not sure where the fault lies but i suspect there was no will on either side to resolve this.

What is really frustrating is that it is only over the last couple of weeks that he has actually looked like the player we thought we were getting when he signed two years ago.

Grant is clearly trying to get the best deal for himself but to suggest (Jas) that he should not take a pay cut is ridiculous. I work in the Construction Industry and almost everyone I know has had to take a substantial pay cut as well as a pay freeze for the last few years and I don't see why footballers should be exempt.

If he can continue the sort of form we have seen recently I would be happy for him to stay and I would glady eat the humble pie served as certainly a few months ago I was one calling for him to go and for Hyam/Drury to play instead

Leadbitter is a very good player, who is now back to his best - the form he showed when he first came to the club - he was head and shoulders over everyone in that midfield. For whatever reason his form has been poor for the past two seasons (up til the past month) - which has been disappointing for everyone, no doubt including himself.

Every business 7 individual in the current financial climate are having to cut costs - players will get less lucrative contracts but they are still on mega money. However, if he goes elsehwere for money money, then that is what it is - just business. there isn't a person writing on here that wouldn't do the same.

Personally, in the form he is showing I hope he stays and ALL the fans get behind him. I am also glad he has managed to shut up all the boo boys that were on his back for most of the season.

This is a nothing comment from Leadbitter. all he is doing is protecting his own interests which also sends out a signal to other clubs saying that he will need a big offer to 'prise' him away.

A better comment would have been, 'thanks for having the patience with me through 2 years of abysmal form, I will do whatever it takes to win a new contract and pay you all back next season".

@SaffronBlue. Good post. many of us have taken substantial paycuts. Footballers should take a bigger cut than any of us, the money has spoilt the game. However, if he gets offered more elsewhere, no-one can blame him. We would all do it & I am sure Ipswich not the team he supported as a boy either!

I have always liked him and think that poor management has let him down as much as he has let us down by some average performances. He is performing well now becuase the midfield has some width and energy and there is a forward who can hold the ball up and score. All of this has been missing in his time here.
After being booed when he came on a few weeks ago there is very little chance he will want to stay.

This situation is more similar to McCauley this time last year when there were a number of negative comments about him but he ended up in the Prem.
Leadbitter is a good player, -I think the footballing world knows this. If Andrews can play in the Premier League so can Leadbitter.
Good Luck to him

Edwards revealed the other day that the deal he has signed (even though its a drop in wages from his last) was better than the one offered to him a few months ago , which he turned down. Could be that GL is just doing the same.
I dont know whats going to happen, but neither do any of you, so maybe we should wait and see before we judge him.

Sounds like Norris last year. Carlos signed on reduced terms, do the same or shut up and walk at the end of the season

Is he really just upping his game for a new deal? Probably in part. However, let's not forget how significant the recent form of Hyam and Drury could be in terms of his recent form. In my opinion, this is also clear proof that competition in each position is healthy and good for everyone. Hopefully, he will take reduced terms (like Edwards) if he really wants to stay.

Grant Leadbitter “I would like to stay at Ipswich"

It's quite simple. You sign up.

MaySixth

Phil didn't record the whole sentence it should have said “I would like to stay at Ipswich BUT I have another offer in the bag so unfortunately I will not be able to"

Hmmm, there are some interesting opinions on both sides of this issue on here.

I am totally in agreement that these guys have got to get the most they can whilst they can. We are fans and therefore biased - most of us would PAY to play for Town. The players are employees who couldn't care less WHERE they work as long as it pays well.

The only thing I am a bit frustrated about is that now (after club and Leadbitter himself have let the contract run down) he is 'suddenly' performing in a way that he hasn't for two years.

That, in my opinion, is rather hard to stomach.

Grant - don't make out that you have any particular loyalty to Ipswich but also don't step up your performances in order to secure a better deal (otherwise this situation will be another Bullard-saga...!!)

Sign him up and lets finish this season on a high and next season could be very exciting. If Leadbitter goes we will once again have to find a new midfield pair. Hyam / Drury most would say but I do not belive they can do it a whole season. Leadbitter still the best we got.

To anyone who thinks that a player can start performing well just to win a contract is deluded. He can't just decide to play well when he sees fit

marc96...money is a motivator and it could well be, that is the reason behind his motivated performances of late. it could be anyone of a number of reasons, i dont know him, so dont know what motivates him...

Jas...really looking forward to a post from you that i can agree with,wont be holding my breath though. its about time football had a reality check. Even if he went down to 5k a week, he will get more in a month than a lot people who pay to watch him earn in a year, How can you suggest that his finances are comparable to i suspect the majority of posters on here.(normal wage earners) I was asked only yesterday by my employers to take a pay cut, resulting in me not being able to pay my bills, of course i jumped at the chance and asked," where do i sign"....NOT.... hardly the same is it?...

Grant must do what he feels is right and you have to respect his decision, just dont you compare his situation with people who have real jobs and work dam hard to keep themselves and their families afloat....coyb

@muhrensleftfoot - yep spot on! makes you think if some of the other top earners really give 100% - I think not!

If Leadbitter was any good we could have sold him in the Jan transfer window for about £500k. But he isn't and nobody wanted him.

At best he is very ordinary and for all but the last month he hasn't even been that good. Does anyone really think he is gonna be the heartbeat of a promotion winning side next season? No - so lets cut our losses let him drift off and plan for the future. If he wanted to be here next year he would have signed up. If he doesnt get an offer he still might but it sure wont help us.

He is an average midfielder at best, he thinks he is worth more and he may be right but if he won't sign then leave him out, the problem is that it will cost us money to replace him, which is money we don't have, if he does'nt get a better offer he will sign.