Town boss Paul Jewell has told Grant Leadbitter that he wants to know whether the midfielder is going to stay at Portman Road in the early part of this week. Leadbitter, who has been offered new terms by Town having turned down a deal earlier in the season, is out of contract at the end of June and is understood to have been approached by Middlesbrough, while Brighton have also been linked.

Jewell says he held talks with the August 2009 £2.65 million signing from Sunderland at the end of the week: “I spoke to him on Friday morning and told him we need an answer asap and outlined to him the plans that I have, and hopefully he’ll want to be part of that.

“He says he likes Ipswich and he’d like to stay, so obviously we’ve got to work out the package he needs. We need to know in the next 48 hours. I’m hopeful. Fingers crossed he likes what we’re trying to do here and he wants to be part of it.”

Pressed on the 48-hour time limit the Blues manager said it might not be quite that strict but he wants the situation clear soon so both parties can move forward.

Jewell says the conversation wasn’t about money but on how he sees the seasons to come: “I didn’t speak to him about finance, I spoke to him about the plans that I’ve got, hopefully for the long-term. Hopefully he wants to be part of them. He gave me that impression.

“But it’s a big decision for him because I think he gets married in the summer, he’s 26 now. We want to keep him, he wants to stay so hopefully we can get it done.”

He reiterated that there will be news on that and other contract issues after his Tuesday meeting with Marcus Evans, who has been on holiday in the Bahamas: “That will all be resolved on Tuesday. Marcus has been away for three weeks but we’ve been speaking constantly. We’ll sit down face to face and go through next year.”

Jewell says he works well with Evans: “He’s part of what we’re trying to do, he’s been a terrific foil for me and hopefully in the long-term I’ll be able to reward him.”

On Saturday’s draw at Crystal Palace, the Blues manager had praise for goalscorer Jason Scotland’s performances at Selhurst Park and over the campaign: “He’s been good for us Jason. He’s played a pivotal part, most of it’s been as a cameo but he’s a terrific player, a terrific lad to have around the place and I think he’s had a decent enough season.

“It’s been a bit stop-start, he’s had one or two problems but he’s got himself right and we’re pleased with Jason.”

Jewell, who said he had no new injuries although Daryl Murphy was holding his hamstring towards the end, was also pleased with Aaron Cresswell’s display: “I thought Cressy was excellent against Wilfried Zaha, it was a good test for him and it shows how far he’s come from when he first got here, I thought he was terrific.”

Regarding the season as a whole, he says that while the middle of the table isn’t where he wants to be, he’s relieved to be away from the relegation zone: “No one’s ever happy to finish mid-table but if you’d said in January we’d have had a mid-table finish we’d have bitten your hand off.”

Palace boss Dougie Freedman believes he Blues have made progress since his side won 1-0 at Portman Road in October: “I thought Ipswich were very good in the middle of the park and Paul Jewell’s certainly turned them around from when we played them at the beginning of the season because I felt that we had a comfortable win up there. But we found it very hard and cagey in that midfield.”

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s opponents Birmingham may recall keeper Jack Butland from his loan at Cheltenham with first-choice Boaz Myhill sustaining a suspected sprained thumb in the warm-up ahead of Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Bristol City. Irish international Colin Doyle looks likely to start against the Blues at Portman Road.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

righty added 12:46 - Apr 16 I do know a little bit about the contract situation last year they let 2 players let go for nothing if the player wont sign a contract put him up for sale if no one buys then play him by all means but make an effort to recoup something seems like common sense to me and I am not a Keane fan at all but I also dont like Jewell which I am entitled to comment as is anyone on this site

0

garethch added 12:47 - Apr 16 BrendanH "We were on course for a playoff finish this season until Leadboots' return." Were we??!!
0

buryblue77 added 12:50 - Apr 16 All contracts should be sorted a year before they expire, we've lost far too much money over the last couple of years on players we've signedfor large fees only for them to walk at the end of their terms/mutual termination. If a player won't sign a new contract then he should be sold (assuming there'll be a buyer as clubs will know he can join them for free if he chooses to run his contract down) even if the sale is at a much reduced price compared to the purchase fee. Now there seems to be less money available, but during Magilton and Keanes time in charge other clubs knew we had a bit of money to spend hence why players such as Norris and Leadbitter were purchased for largely inflated fees, maybe as much as £1m too much for each player.

0

dubblue added 12:52 - Apr 16 Yes don't think we were ever serious contenders for the playoffs. Very curious that a player can simply up his performance to try and enhance his chances of getting the right move. Don't buy it, but his improved performances over the last few matches is strange. On balance i hope he stays as his recent performances highlight his potential.
0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 12:56 - Apr 16 Righty, as far as I have noticed from your posts over the last few months you don't like or rate anyone much. U r entitled to your view but u seem to be one of those who just posts negative comments and nothing else.
0

Strikes added 12:58 - Apr 16 Personally I would get rid. Never been a fan myself. If he doesn't want to play for the club there are plenty that will.
0

Strikes added 12:59 - Apr 16 I just read that back. There are a few that will, currently on the books... tempting players from outside appears problematic!
0

davidsc1971 added 13:05 - Apr 16 This does show how much the system favours the player now but it is market forces after all - if there is demand for services then the price rises, it's as simple as that. I think the Club could have acted quicker to secure a contract extension if it wanted one but if the player won't sign, the player won't sign. The 1. sheer volume of contracts involved in a squad, 2. the relatively short period of time involved per contract and 3. a common renewal period at season end means that we will see this story year after year just with different people. There's no avoiding it, unless the Club ponies up the dough early to secure a signature or acts to sell to recoup a fee. Town continue to do neither, hence this soap opera style conversation year after year. We won't miss him so let him do one. I agree that the wages will be better spent on a decent CB instead.

0

bluelady added 13:05 - Apr 16 Righty and I agree totally letting Norris and McCauley go for nothing was a shambles. BUT it isnt as simple as just getting rid, if a player has signed a contract we cannot force him out on the assumption he will not sign another contract to stay. I would have far more respect for your oppinion if it was a little more balanced, ok you dont like PJ or Keane, can you suggest maybe who is a good candidate, one on the right salary, willing to come to Ipswich who will take us up oh and how he should realistically sign to get us up too?

0

bluelady added 13:06 - Apr 16 *who*
0

brendanh added 13:13 - Apr 16 Yes we were on course for a playoff finish until Leadboots' return. Look at the stats. If we'd continued our avg points while Hyam was in the team instead of Leadboots early this year, we'd be in the playoffs. 13 out of 18 pts before he was subbed at Brighton. Hyam is better defensively & aerially, and shields the back four better. If Leadboots won't take a paycut or will sulk at not being in the team, get rid and spend the extra money on a new CBkeeper.

0

bluearmy4life added 13:34 - Apr 16 I'm glad pj is putting a little pressure on grant. If he isn't going to sign a new deal I can't see the point in playing him but if he does sign then fair play. He was an expensive buy by the fork but lately has shown what he is about. It willbe good for all at the club to know what grant is doing. Sell the club pj and Evans!
0

arc added 13:42 - Apr 16 "I think he's getting married this summer." Isn't that the kind of thing you should know for certain about your players?
0

Garv added 13:56 - Apr 16 I take a better corner than the lad but I would be happy to hear that he'd signed. Maybe I'm naive in this but I personally don't buy this 'hes only started playing well because his contract is up and he's in the shop window etc etc etc'. These are proud (most of them) professionals! Why do you think they got into football? To laze about not doing much until a bit of financial insecurity comes along at which point they start to enjoy their football and try and score goals (which Leadbitter seems to have added to his game)? Grant Leadbitter has never been a player to hide or give anything under full effort (despite what is often said), so for me I cannot imagine having this mindset. It does look a bit fishy to the naked eye but I think we've got to give him the benefit of the doubt. Gut feeling though tells me he's off. Regarding the wage offer, it does depend on how much of a cut it is. IF it is as much as 2/3, which I don't think it would be, I would fully expect him and wouldn't blame him if he walked. I would however be disappointed if the wage cut was only, say, a third off. I'd like to think he's not that greedy and can see that 10k a week is still a hell of a lot of money. Its not always about how much money you're still on, its about how much of a drop you've taken. If he's earning 15k and that figure suddenly drops to 5k, even though that's still ridiculous money, its going to be a bit of a shock, especially if he's been living a 15k a week lifestyle for three years.

0

Dog added 14:12 - Apr 16 I sometimes wish i went to see the Muppet movie as people told me it was funny. There are clearly a load of muppets on this forum today and last week. And if you don't agree with a comment then you just gang up on them and shout them down. Only muppets wanted Bullard to sign - everyone else who knew about football knew he had problems - and still has. Only muppets blame clegg the whole time and not the footballer or agents. And of course all these muppets stand in the North stand where the noise is deafening. Not. The elderly in the Britannia stand make more noise and probably know more. Get your Panini sticker album and go and lick the windows. Who cares if Leadbitter goes - there is nothing we can do about it now. All far too late. Football clubs never learn from their mistakes - look at Portsmouth, Darlington etc. And no - i do not support Norwich before the vitriol starts.

0

rosseden added 15:09 - Apr 16 Dog - we can point out that agents and player greed have caused all these situation, likewise, we can see where mistakes are repeated and there needs to be learnings made by the club, which in reality is how it started, agents, green and lack of continuity. But some people are blinded by the reality and live on a cloud..... they then 'argue' with the same vitriolic statements, constantly contradicting themselves and presenting facts to suit the 'arguement', sometimes omitting facts as facts might muddy the waters of their rant...... I want the best for the club, but i want a long term vision and a way of acheiving it..... lets see how that pans out next year...... if ME / SC / PJ have learnt a bit, then we might have some progress...... it could be all relative however, we could be in a mess, but if everyone else is in more of a mess we could still do ok!

0

cornishnick added 15:19 - Apr 16 Always love this "he wants to stay" nonsense. They never do. Modern footballers are driven by the dollar. No loyalty anymore.
0

DiamondGezzer added 15:37 - Apr 16 It would be nice to think that the 'Current ' Grant Leadbitter would sign, as his newly found form has been an asset to the team. Also, a replacement might cost money required for other positions. However, what has to be considered is the possibility that the old out of form Grant Leadbitter could reappear once resigned. I don't just mean a drop in form, but the form shown until the last few weeks. Glad I don't have to make Paul Jewel's decisions, no doubt some think it's an easy enough choice.

0

saffronblue added 16:08 - Apr 16 Surely it's not what sort of Contract he is on now but what the club values him at going forward. For what it's worth I believe if he is in the team and playing alongside Drury then he should be offered a contract similar to that of Drury as from what I have seen he plays at a similar level. To be honest I am not bothered if he leaves as we have not had anything like value for money out of him and if he has been offered 2/3 of what he is on now it is probably a more realistic assessment of his value to the club.

0

Ipswichbusiness added 16:59 - Apr 16 Let's be realistic about this. What is happening is a negotiation with both sides jockeying for position. GL wants the best he can for his family (a quite proper concern) and we want the best we can for the club (an equally proper concern). No doubt that he (or his agent) will spin stories about how this, that and the other club are going to sign him in order to improve his negotiating position. Frankly, I think he is on weak ground given that we have quite a few players who can do a job in centre midfield (e.g. Hyam, Drury, Stevenson and Edwards). Even if we lost Bowyer and Bullard as well I still wouldn't mourn GL going. We need to free up some resources for the other areas of the team and his departure will help.

0

PimsNumber1 added 17:36 - Apr 16 I would rather see the wages spent on a top goalie or CB leadbitter has been less than e average for most of his ipswich career and although he is playing well now , will it last eg bullard I never can get my head round transfer fees but perhaps someone can sort my maths out. Fee 2.6 mill , signs on say 15k a week. Spread that lost fee over 3 years and he is costing us 17300 PER WEEK and then we have his wages on top . I cannot see why any championship club would really want to pay a fee. leicester have spent a fortune , including Mills at 5.5 mill who doesnt even play. I cant belive Leadbitter has been offered a 1/3 of his original wage. He has to be worth 10k even now ( so was he on 30k +NO !) . 0k would make him however on alot more than say drury. Not alot better for at least twice the wage .

0

billlm added 17:59 - Apr 16 couple of points one we should adopt the peterborough stance with 12 months to go either sign an extension if the club offers and wants you to stay or be sold thats what they do so the contract dosent wear down and no fee can be obtained, two,maybe we have more money to spend than what you think jewell says he dosent know what he has to budget with but THINKS it will be less than last year, now take last year as soon as everyone knew we had money a lot of unatainable inflated prices so this year with a lot of mid range clubs cutting there cloth and allegedly we dont have as much money more leway and bargaining power if we do but there not aware clever stratigy if we do have the money unlike last years gun ho approach just a thought

0

RetroBlue added 19:35 - Apr 16 Has ITFC actually "made an error" (assuming that Leadboots is likely to walk away from the Club in the summer?). Or is it a calculated strategy by the Club to offload the more heafty wage earners here, (if they wont accept a lower contract), given the changes in financial restrictions set be imposed on all clubs...Bullard next?
0

RAH4 added 20:33 - Apr 16 Over priced Over paid Thanks Roy Will soon be over there, somewhere ,anywhere. Over it all ready Bye Grant
0

40yearsablue added 21:05 - Apr 16 Just wish he would go. Against Leicester his corners were awful (yet again....) and he lost posession so often in the middle. I think some people's opinions of this waste of space have been influenced by just 3 recent games. Mine has not. Don't you remember his shocking lack of leadership when captain???
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls