Central defender Tommy Smith has signed a new two-year deal with the Blues. The New Zealand international’s current contract was due to end on June 30th.

The 22-year-old, whose new deal includes an option for a further season, says he’s pleased to commit his future to the club he joined on leaving school at 16, although he admits that at one stage it looked like his time with Town might be coming to an end: "I'm obviously delighted to have signed the contract and sorted out my future.

“When I wasn't in the squad for a few months, it crossed my mind that I may have to move on. That's not something I wanted to happen. I got my head down though, worked hard and changed the manager's views of me.

"It was a year of ups and downs but I was pleased with how I performed at the back end of the season - and how we played as a team as well. There were definite signs of progress and I think we reaped the benefits of having a settled side

"It's important we start next year well. We've not done that for a while but there are a lot of positives we can take from the way we finished the season and I'm looking forward to being involved."

Photo: Action Images

alex12345 added 08:43 - May 16 Fantastic news, been brilliant in the back half of last season so long may that continue. Even if he's not a guarenteed starter next season, he's ideal as backup. Now for Scotland to sign his.
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gamezone added 08:50 - May 16 Fantastic news, good luck Tommy
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saffronblue added 08:50 - May 16 Great news, well done Tommy you have deserved this, hopefully next season he can kick on and go on to be a Town legend.
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fussysnake added 08:50 - May 16 really pleased with this! but still think we need to sign a new centre back to go alongside him! but this is a crutial season for Tommy!
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daniel9624 added 08:54 - May 16 Need an experianced intelligent Right sided Centre Half now, someone who can nurtue Tommy through the next 2/3 years, the job that McAuley started.
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blueoff added 08:55 - May 16 Just needs to improve on, heading power, turning, timing, speed, balance, awareness, vocals, body strength & stamina.
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bigolconnor added 08:59 - May 16 Blueoff...he is a decent defender and, happily for you, is still young.
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spanish_archer added 09:03 - May 16 Good news
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BillBlue added 09:09 - May 16 This is excellent news, thank you Tommy. IMO this is the first bit of really good news to come out of Portman Road since I do not know when. It so happens that last night I watched one of the best football matches I have seen for a long while. It was two teams from the third tier of English football and it would have graced any first division anywhere in the world. The reason I am mentioning it is because the person responsible for the excellent quality of football shown by the better of the two teams was down to an Ipswich reject, John Gorman, while the person on the other team, who was mainly responsible for that team winning the match, was another Ipswich reject, Jordan Rhodes. Is Tommy Smith's signature the very first glimmer that a bit of common sense is being applied by the Town hierachy? I sincerely hope so. If we do not find the money and bring those two people back where they belong then somebody, somewhere, and not including me, is crazy.COYB

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Maverick_Mitch added 09:09 - May 16 At last some good news. Improved throughout last season and I can see him being a key player for us next term.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 09:11 - May 16 THIS IS A DISGRACE!! We only offer short term, low wage contracts to our young players etc etc .....Oh, he's rated by the club and been given a good offer. Flouncers can stand down.
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callmeted added 09:24 - May 16 this is all cleggs fault - this shows what the club has become - jewell is a disgrace - my beloved club is falling apart - whats happpened to the academy woops sorry - had the above on a template eh jas/h32/walberswick !!!
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BlueBailey24 added 09:31 - May 16 Good news! - hope he kicks on from the back end of last season. Good luck!
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Doctor_Albran added 09:31 - May 16 Very good news, but you've to question why we have signed him on a 2 year deal and not a 3 as given the new 'we won't let contracts run out (ala Norris, Macauley, etc) mentality', we're just going to have to re-negotiate again next season -creating more administrative work... P.S. Rhoades - yawn - we sold him, get over it, it's what happens in football - good finish mind, although shocking defending - personally I'm still cut up (I cry myself to sleep every night) that we never found the £300,000 to sign Kevin Phillips when he went to Sunderland...!

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murraybrunning added 09:37 - May 16 If he can remove some of the silly errors out of his game he is potentially a future club captain. Really pleased about this, you can tell he loves the club. :-)
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Keaneish added 09:41 - May 16 Excellent!
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canarykiller18 added 09:45 - May 16 C'MON GET IN!
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jas0999 added 10:21 - May 16 Great news. But still think we need 2 x CB if we have any ambition of challenging for promotion. Smith would be an excellent back-up.
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sharvey22 added 10:30 - May 16 Brilliant news!
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Surco72 added 10:34 - May 16 Good news for the club ,Smith could be a valuable player for 10 years or more . Leicester have signed another centre back in De Laet could the St Ledger deal be back on ? Or Mills he has fallen out of favour ?
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alliedaz added 10:37 - May 16 good news he signed just another 7 or 8 players togo hopefully jewell will sort it out when he gets back of his holidays after a very hard season(gosh you must need it )
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runningout added 10:40 - May 16 Forget St Ledger 'had his moment'... Smith still a lot of room for improvement, and we need 2 more CB's as we are not solid at all here...
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Infineteregress added 10:41 - May 16 Great news. Now let's get some new blood in to partner him on the right.
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Keaneish added 10:42 - May 16 Someone's definitely on their way out the door Surco. But which one of St.Ledger, Bamba and Mills? No way 2 of them will want to travel with the squad each week and not even make the bench....unless they plan to have 2 central defenders on there of course!?
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Paddy39 added 10:46 - May 16 Thats one in the bag before you're off to the Olympics Simon, any chance of 6 more?
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