Chief executive Simon Clegg says contract talks have begun with a number of members of the Blues squad. At the end of last season, manager Paul Jewell said he wanted players who had a year remaining on their contracts to sign new deals or be sold.

Clegg subsequently said midfielder Lee Martin would be amongst those who would be offered new terms with the player himself keen to get his future sorted with Town.

The Blues chief wouldn’t name names but confirmed that discussions have begun: “We’re having talks with a number of players about their futures with the club, but I don’t want to go any further than that.

“I‘m not going to speculate in terms of who we’re speaking to at the moment. We’re highly conscious of individual players’ situations and we’re dealing with them in a timeframe that we think is right for the football club.”

In addition to Martin, Jack Ainsley, Jimmy Bullard, Damien Delaney, Andy Drury, Nathan Ellington, Arran Lee-Barrett, Jaime Peters, Ryan Stevenson, Joe Whight and Cormac Burke all have deals which are up at the end of June 2013, while skipper Carlos Edwards, Jason Scotland and Luke Hyam have signed new one-year contracts within the last few months.

Clegg was similarly tight-lipped on whether the Blues’ third signing of the summer might be close: “I’d hold myself as a hostage to fortune if I started hares running. My position has been absolutely consistent since I joined the club and I just don’t do it.

“We’re not going to be rushed into anything. We’re going to do the deals which will be right for this football club, at the time that is right for us and in particular at the price that is right for us.”

He says a lot of work goes on in the background even if it doesn’t always appear to be the case: “I was up at the training ground this morning, watching training and talking to the manager about a whole range of issues.

“These things are ongoing the whole time. People think we wake up one day and think ‘we’re going to find a centre-back’. These things don’t happen like that.

“We’re constantly on top of this, even though I do accept that because we don’t talk about it, it sometimes appears we may not be.”

With clubs now back in pre-season training, the transfer market has started to get going in earnest in the last week with Clegg feeling the Blues have done one of the standout deals: “There’s been quite a lot of movement across the Championship in the last 48 hours or so and one of those was ours. And what a great signing that was in the form of Luke Chambers.”

The Town chief executive says a few of the players the Blues are reported to have missed out on this summer weren’t even on club’s radar.

While manager Jewell has confirmed that keeper Tomasz Kuszczak came for talks before opting to join Brighton, we understand Town had given up on last season’s Portsmouth targets Jason Pearce and Joel Ward long before they joined Leeds and Crystal Palace, despite widespread reports to the contrary.

Clegg wouldn’t confirm any names but said: “There were particular players who were mentioned earlier in the summer that we had absolutely no interest in whatsoever.”

He believes that contrary to claims, the Blues usually land their targets: “I remain convinced that we get the vast majority of players that we want. Very few slip through the net.”

In terms of current Town players moving on, he again wouldn’t get into specifics: “We’re constantly speaking to people. We’re constantly looking at every player in terms of where they fit into the long-term aspirations of the football club.”

Overall, with Chambers and young right-back Elliott Hewitt already added to the squad, Clegg is pleased with progress up to now: “I’m delighted [with the way the summer has gone so far]. I hope we’ve picked up a couple of good signings and it’s about quality more than quantity.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Len_Brennan added 06:16 - Jul 11 Now this is good news. Sorting some of these contracts out is just as important as making new signings. Interesting to hear/read him say that we get most our targets & a lot of those speculated about were never even on the radar.
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village_blue added 06:59 - Jul 11 Of all those who se contracts are up within a year I would only offer new deals to Lee Martin,Andy Drury,Ryan Stevenson and Jack Ainsley.
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DiamondGezzer added 07:03 - Jul 11 Len :- Some top-hat will come on here and call him a liar. Personally, I find that Mr. Clegg conducts himself with a lot more dignity than I could, being slated by idiots who most times appear to not read all of the post they are slagging off.
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Urchin added 07:23 - Jul 11 @diamondgeezer:I agree totally. As long as he lets Jewell control the football matters I see no problem in having a chief executive who maintains the club on a firm financial basis. Its becoming even more necessary these days
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irishtim added 07:25 - Jul 11 Alot of sense in what he said imo.Lets get behind all involved &hopefully have a succesful season.
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irishtim added 07:25 - Jul 11 Alot of sense in what he said imo.Lets get behind all involved &hopefully have a succesful season.
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itfc1981 added 07:33 - Jul 11 “I remain convinced that we get the vast majority of players that we want. Very few slip through the net.” Kuszczak, Austin, Derry, Sharp, Rodriguez, Ward (first time round), Ayala, Giorgos Karagounis...... "it's about quality more than quantity.” Ellington, Healy....
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martleshamitfc added 08:04 - Jul 11 I hope all the moaners who make negative comments but have no idea of the truth have read ALL of the above and learnt something.
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Jeff_winger added 08:04 - Jul 11 itfc1981 your an idiot you have mentioned just 7 players that have slipped through the net yet in cleggs time we've signed way more than double that amount so your backing up his point. You then name 2 players who have not been quality out of everyone we signed again backing up his point you idiot
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itfc1981 added 08:15 - Jul 11 scowie Thats just off the top of my head hence..., thats not bad. We know we miss out on players to regularly to other clubs its silly to even hint to claim otherwise. you think we have been signing quality players.... Priskin (got a great fee for him didnt we) Leadbitterr, Norris, Martin has taken three years to come to life, ALB what a star.... need I go on!
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pitseablue added 08:29 - Jul 11 So it would appear that Simon Clegg gets slagged off for not signing players the club are not interested in. !!!!
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KesgraveBlue added 08:54 - Jul 11 I have to agree with itfc1981. I really cannot think of any player who we have signed since the new owner took over (and we have signed many players as has been well documented) who I can honestly say "what a great player". Mr Keane spent an awful lot of money in particular and bought rubbish. Last summer PJ (again he has admitted his errors) bought (or signed on a free) rubbish, some of whom departed mid-season. What makes you think our recent signings have been great Scowie?

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brittaniaman added 09:02 - Jul 11 itfc1981 Those last players you mentioned were all in our DARK LORDS Era a period which I am sure we would all like to forget !!!!!! players recommended by him (exept Norris) to be rubber stamped by Clegg ?? true Jewellio was the one to extended the ALB contract !!!!
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buryblue77 added 09:09 - Jul 11 When were we ever in for Giorgos Karagounis? Must have missed that one. It's good that we're finally getting to grips with this one and stop lettng players walk away for fee.
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buryblue77 added 09:12 - Jul 11 Typing issues: letting and free.
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Wickets added 09:19 - Jul 11 He's learning slowly but he is getting better, as for"people think we wake up one morning" ect No most of us people dont think that!!
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SuperReuser added 09:22 - Jul 11 yeah erm, silly comments from ITFC1981 and Kesgraveblue. Are you just on this website to have a debate? I cannot belive ITFC1981, you are slagging off Clegg for not signing a few players we have been linked with over the years. And as for good signings - Cresswell? Chopra? JET? to just name three. Im happy with those. Yes some people dont like him, I personally dont think he has ever done too much wrong.. but my point is, stop finding pathetic reasons to have a go at him. Read Sindre94's latest blog... his comment about QPR getting behind Warnock is what we should be doing... getting behind every member of ITFC!

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:53 - Jul 11 itfc1981 and kesgraveblue - no argument on Priskin, and all the others named were by Keane. Cresswell and Drury picked up for small fees, JET and and Chopra for 1m each (ish) , and thats without counting Stevenson as we havent really seen him for what 50k, and Chambers for nowt. itfc1981 as for your quality not quantity comment , Ellington agreed and i would add Ingarmarsson to that but Healy wasnt terrible and we paid peanuts for him. I think someone said Clegg has done 16 signings now in the last 18 months, even including Healy three poor signings (who cost about 70k between them) isnt that bad is it. But then thats not the point is it, its an opportunity for you to have a dig for no other reason than you can.

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TR11BLU added 10:18 - Jul 11 @Village_Blue agree with your views, Stevenson apart. Hope Im wrong but that goal at Donny apart, I was very un impressed with what Ive seen. He looks overweight and unfit with no pace at all. Lets hope pre season has sorted the first two issues come 18th. At 50K maybe he was worth the gamble but I certainly wouldnt be rushing to offer him an extension to the year, time will tell.

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Legend added 10:19 - Jul 11 Isnt if Cleggs job to get Players signed up and sort out contracts etc? If we sign a crap player surely the blame should lie with the manager who wanted him? Clegg has faults as do most people, but manager picks the players he wants, Thats why Roy 'listen' Keane lashed up our club! Look at the garbage he brought in
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Behind_Enemy_Lines added 10:21 - Jul 11 I'm confused but where did ITFC1981 slag off Clegg, he just pointed out that the statement clegg made put a rosier picture on signings then what has actually happened. It's funny how some people seem to have rose tinted glasses on when the chief ex speaks!!!. Also the players mentioned that did not sign are just the ones we know about and I bet there are at least 10 more that we don't know about. And to say that we think they wake one morning and say lets go and sign a centre back smacks of arrogance. People only see what they want to see even if they are right or wrong and at the very least we must respect everyones opinion but apart from that COYB and looking forward to the new season!!!!

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itfc1981 added 10:23 - Jul 11 Dozzell_Bobblehat Bullard 20k a week? Bowyers big wages. bit more costly than Ellington and Healy??? and Healy was shocking bar the Arsenal home game. Clegg does not say these days we sign quality he talking in general, we have wasted big money be it in fees or wages under both managers. As well you all know. Super_Reuser The point is we were not LINKED with those players they were at club in talks but went elsewhere. Its more than a few players.

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pazelle added 10:27 - Jul 11 Simon's a good lad, he has learnt quick imo and we've made some really good signings in the last 12 months. It's important that we're firm as well cause there's a lot of players about who take the pips. But if we haven't got a new goalkeeper by the first game of the season then he's a muppet. PS ITFC1981 loves Charlie Austin and will never forgive Clegg for not spunking millions on a bricklaying wide boy Roger that

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itfc1981 added 10:33 - Jul 11 Pazelle adding to the intellectual debate there.
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SuperReuser added 10:34 - Jul 11 behind enemy lines - always! check any old news story which isnt overly positive and there will be a 'clegg out comment.' itfc81 - you are sort of contradicting yourself there. you start by suggesting player like bullard get paid too much then go on to say that its ridiculous players have been at the club for talks but went elsewhere (ie suggesting that clegg didnt offer them enough money). cant have it both ways. anyway enough of that, lets all be friends. i agree with pazelle! he is a good lad, learning and its not always his fault. onwards and upward. get a keeper in!

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