Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that midfielder Lee Bowyer will not be offered a new contract with the Blues. The 35-year-old former Leeds man joined Town on a free transfer from Birmingham last summer.

Jewell said: “We’re not offering Lee Bowyer a contract. I’ve spoken with him at length over the last couple of weeks.

“He’s a terrific lad, a terrific pro, he’s been really good around the place. He’s good with the young players and I think he’s got a good career ahead of him coaching, but he wants to continue playing and I don’t think there’ll be a shortage of takers for him.

“He goes with our best wishes and, as I say, I think he’ll have a good career as a coach because he’s got terrific knowledge and he’s really good character, good for the young players."

The Blues boss admits that that that might surprise a few people: “I have to say you have these perceptions of people before you meet them and I wouldn’t have had him down as being like that, but he’s been terrific.

“He’s a winner. Everything he does he wants to win and he’s a good role model for young players. But he wants to continue playing and we just feel that maybe we’re going to go down a younger route.”

The Town boss says there have been no new firm developments on any of the other players who are out of contract at the end of the season.

Bowyer made 24 starts and five sub appearances for the Blues, scoring twice, including the last-minute winner against his former side West Ham at Upton Park.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

geography26 added 16:09 - Apr 26 Great news! Cancel Ellingtons contract now please!
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casanovacrow added 16:40 - Apr 26 his brain is there, the body has gone. Retirement due before he becomes a Mark Fish
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DanPage123 added 16:50 - Apr 26 'he's a good role model for young players' - really..? This seems positive, Jewell has got rid of two older players in Sonko and Bowyer, maybe he really is serious about getting some younger blood in afterall! Could mean lots of new players in the summer though, with needing a new centre back, new keeper, new centre mid etc. All we can do is trust Jewell I guess :)
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bluearmy4life added 17:02 - Apr 26 It just hasn't worked out for Lee. Quite injury prone and now at the end of his career. Cheers Lee, but the decision is correct. What concerns me is we have the released the right players I.E, Sonko, Bowyer, Inigarsson, Kennedy (Coaching Roll) Healy, Cropper, and possible a couple of more to follow we're getting a bit thin on the ground as a team. After Donny game I would'nt be surprised if we have one of the smallest squads in the league. I think we need 6-7 players in the summer. GK,RB,CB,CB,CM,ST And a couple more as cover and strength in dept.

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Tractamatt added 17:05 - Apr 26 To be replaced by green from derby.All the best Lee
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StowTractorBoy added 17:58 - Apr 26 Not too surprised by this decision as it hasn't worked out for him here. I can't argue with the signing as I have business contacts in Brum and they were gutted he left. As it has turned out they would not have missed him but Sindre and a few others I'm with you.
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safeashouses added 18:10 - Apr 26 Dear Mr Jewell You talking about peoples perception of others is nothing short of a joke. My perception of you is a loser who is full of excuses and liberal with the truth and a nasty piece of work . itfc1981 totally agree.
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dawoolah added 18:21 - Apr 26 Bowyer Out Michael Jacobs In
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dawoolah added 18:25 - Apr 26 'Michael Jacobs, who will be out of contract in the summer, came through the youth system at Northampton and has attracted the interest of several Championship clubs this season. The Cobblers rejected a bid for the 20-year-old on Tuesday morning, although Derby boss Nigel Clough insists it did not come from the Rams.' Would be a great move and I bet he's on half Bowyers wage!

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aliCOYBmason added 18:34 - Apr 26 Cheers Bowys but well played Jewell for getting rid of him.
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h32 added 18:40 - Apr 26 SINDRE94 - forgive me if I'm wrong (and I may be), but as I understand it you are not based in this country therefore not a season ticket holder (totally understand that) - BUT if you were, and paid out quite a substantial amount of money each season on a season ticket/s - do you think you would be so understanding, and pro Ipswich town as you are ???, and prepared to accept the less than satisfactory returns of this season - YET AGAIN. Somehow I think not, it is much easier to stomach, if you support from afar and only see a couple of games a season. When you balance the pocket with the entertainment - not so clever I assure you. But credit for your support of the Club anyway.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:42 - Apr 26 h32 - iam a season ticket holder and do attend games and yet i share a lot of Sindre's views.
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beerhelps added 18:42 - Apr 26 Role model.....? Good for young players......? Good grief.
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jas0999 added 18:43 - Apr 26 A poor signing. Has offered very little and rightly released. Let's hope PJ learns from this, as that's now the FOURTH signing (Wright, Bowyer, Sonko, Ingimarrsson) of PJ's from this season that won't be here next year. That does not include the five loanees (Stockdale, McCarthy, Wabarra, Murphy and Collins) that have gone, or will go. How is that building for the future?

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h32 added 18:46 - Apr 26 alfromcol - one thing for sure is you will never snooker yourself - you are the proverbial human weather vane - North, South, East, West - depending on the day. To say you are unpredictable would be a massive understatement.
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h32 added 19:07 - Apr 26 Dozzles Bobblehat - nothing surprises me about you - you let that hat drop over your eyes too often.
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TimmyH added 19:59 - Apr 26 legs had gone...Birmingham left him out of their team the last few months of last season, the alarm bells should have rang. Good in his time but too late in his career to be here.
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Strikes added 20:11 - Apr 26 I also agree with a lot of what our Norwegian sage says and I also am a season ticket holder. Sindre talks an awful lot of sense in what is, after all, his second language I believe. Anyway I've not enjoyed this season's underachievement (I think I'm being kind using that word), so let's draw a line under this season, look forward to next year, and hope Jewell can pull off that marquee signing that gets us all excited around July. If we're still as bad or worse in November then Jewell will, I think, be looking at the job centre.

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Michael11 added 20:19 - Apr 26 Wise decision. maybe, just maybe, Jewell is actually going to try and sign young exciting players this year!
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runaround added 21:10 - Apr 26 Could have been a great signing but unfortunately time had caught up with Bowyer. Releasing him is correct decision and hopefully PJ will do as he says and concentrate on younger hungrier players with things to prove
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RaymondovicBlue added 21:37 - Apr 26 Not sure my boss has anything to do with it as such (the clue is in the name!) - but it is the right decision as we all agree!
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budgieplucker added 21:52 - Apr 26 Think tractamatt is probably right, Green from Derby lined up and Joel Ward as utility man for back-up.
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RegencyBlue added 22:21 - Apr 26 Legs have gone and injury prone.
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TractorTrog added 22:57 - Apr 26 SIDRE94...really like your posts you are well balanced and your views are always respectful bless you ...I wish Lee all the best he did work hard at his age try and run for 90 mins and score Im no spring chicken either but I do play the game and know how hard it is to keep that level of fitness top bloke well done thankyou for all of your hard work Lee hoped you would join the coaching staff!!!

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braveblue added 23:08 - Apr 26 Yippee
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