Boss Paul Jewell says fans will learn whether midfielder Grant Leadbitter will be staying at Portman Road or moving on when his contract is up this summer from Saturday’s teamsheet at Doncaster. The 26-year-old was given an extra week to consider his future with Middlesbrough understood to have offered him a contract and Brighton and Hove Albion also linked.

Jewell, who admits that the former Sunderland man now seems more likely to move on than remain at Portman Road, said: “If he’s in the team on Saturday, he’s agreed to stay. If he’s not, it’s because he’s moving elsewhere. It’s as simple as that.

“I expect to know by tomorrow. We’d love him to stay, but if he doesn’t we wish him well and we move on. It’s a big move for him, I understand that.”

The former England U21 international joined the Blues for a fee of £2.65 million from the Black Cats in the summer of 2009.

Photo: Action Images

yorkhenry added 16:16 - Apr 26 This is like something out of Sky One's, fabled, mid-90s drama Dream Team.
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RetroBlue added 16:16 - Apr 26 place yer bets...if you give a flying ***
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Sindre94 added 16:16 - Apr 26 Exciting.... hope he starts
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bobbyramsey added 16:17 - Apr 26 Sounds like he's on his way.
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hadleighboyblue added 16:22 - Apr 26 why didn't we learn from last season's situation with Norris & McAuley ? he should have signed an extended contract in January or gone on on the transfer list . When the recent deadline was ignored we all new he wouldn't sign , so he shouldn't have been picked to play .....once again ITFC have let players go for free , as a buisinessman surely ME shouldn't let that happen

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DiamondGezzer added 16:22 - Apr 26 Suppose we could be in for a surprise, but I don't think so. Would he be a loss ? Playing like he did recently, of course. But good games compared to bad/ordinary games, the ratio isn't that good.
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RetroBlue added 16:22 - Apr 26 sounds like he's staying, otherwise PJ would have said.
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yorkhenry added 16:23 - Apr 26 I reckon he plays, and then leaves anyway. Just a hunch.
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HighgateBlue added 16:23 - Apr 26 We can give him a lift as far as Doncaster, and he can hitchhike the rest of the way to Boro. If he goes to Brighton, he's on his feckin' own.
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Keaneish added 16:24 - Apr 26 Stevenson, Drury, Hyam and Bullard in the central positions for next season... Seems like Green might be coming but we need one other. Our transfer list for the summer seems to be growing rather than getting smaller...
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JoshTheLad added 16:25 - Apr 26 Thanks for not a lot Grant. Have fun at Middlesborough.
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Special_A added 16:27 - Apr 26 I hope he signs. Be a shame to see another player walk away. I still strongly believe he has a lot to offer us. 26, has a lot of experience and still a lot to learn!
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Paddy39 added 16:28 - Apr 26 I laugh when we hear comments from blueas like; Take your sh1t attitude with you. Then he finds he's in the starting lineup and has to watch him for another season ha ha ha ha.
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RetroBlue added 16:34 - Apr 26 It's going to be fun listening to the fans reactions in the crowd at Donny Saturday
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casanovacrow added 16:35 - Apr 26 Leadbitter off then. I'll get the party poppers ready
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Garv added 16:36 - Apr 26 Always knew Jewell was a tease.
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eaii added 16:38 - Apr 26 "He is signing" or "he is leaving and wont be here next season" would suffice? all this cryptic stuff could give us the impression the right arm dont know what the left is doing? More of my confidence in this leadership slips away.
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MattinLondon added 16:39 - Apr 26 Don't understand why we didn't tell him to either sign a new contract or be placed on the transfer list. Just really badly handled that it has dragged on and on and on. And then when other clubs offer him a contract we give him extra time to think things over. Absolutly
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kerryblue added 16:40 - Apr 26 Hopefully he's leaving,don't rate him and never near good enough.
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martleshamitfc added 16:42 - Apr 26 I find it very strange how "fans" slag a player off before they even know his decision. Maybe he hasn't had the best of seasons, but then who has? At 26 I would rather he stayed but if he goes to Boro' and back up to the NE then wouldn't blame him. I do hope he stays.
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tristan_tractorboy added 16:45 - Apr 26 If he was committed and wanted to stay, he would have signed up by now. Let him go, he's only bucked his ideas up recently to put him in the shop window. Personally I think we will see the real Jimmy Bullard again next season after a full pre-season. Blend him in with Hyam and Drury, we should be fine. Would like to see another young and hungry midfielder brought in mind.

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bluearmy4life added 16:50 - Apr 26 I will be checking my phone all morning to see the starting 11. It will be a shame if he goes by seeing his recent performances. The one thing that get's on my nerves is he could leave for nothing. A £2.65 million player leaving on a free. Now Marcus Evans is a business man, would you run a business like that? I wouldn't that's for sure. It's happend too often.
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 16:55 - Apr 26 Find it funny everybody having a rant about Jewell not giving us a decisive yes or no on Leadbitter staying....but if you read the article properly, he still doesn't know whether Grant is staying or not....“I expect to know by tomorrow"
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Seasider added 16:59 - Apr 26 Think the reason Jewell hasn't said one way or the other is probably because he doesn't yet know.Most players contracts go through until end of June and expect player is trying to secure the best contract he can from where ever. Apart from finishing lower than last season situation seems very similar to a year ago.Lets hope close season isn't same as last year with us being linked with numerous good players and not getting any of them,at least where we have faced competition for their signatures. Most of Jewells signings were failures with at least 3 already been released,only Cresswell can be said to be a unqualified success,although JET and Andy Drury could also turn out to be good buys. Surprised Jewell is still here after disappointing season and although he is trying to dampen expectations for next season,dont think Mr Evans will put up with another season like this one.

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saffronblue added 17:00 - Apr 26 He's been offered a new contract and clearly doesn't want to stay. Why would a club buy him in January when they only have to wait 6 months to have him for free. I know it's easy to slag of the Management but sometimes these things are out of there hands and he will have more options/bargaining power with other clubs as a free agent. Sad really as only in the last couple of months did he come anywhere near fullfilling his potential. Not worth breaking the bank to keep in my opinion.

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