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

Garv added 10:35 - Jul 11 The two best players we've signed since the take over actually came last year, in the form of a left back and an attacker. Who was the manager at the time?
0

BoredWithThisNow added 10:50 - Jul 11 "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" Who is worth keeping apart from Martin, Ainsley, Drury and Stevenson? Ta Dah to the rest please.
0

AlanMahon2011 added 10:52 - Jul 11 We only have half a squad as it is!
0

itfc1981 added 11:03 - Jul 11 SuperReuser To much money given to dross to little offerd to quality.
0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 11:54 - Jul 11 itfc1981 - firstly how do you know Bullard is on 20k ? secondly you have just totally ignored the good signings i mentioned and have focused on three or four that didnt work out. Thats football, look at any club and you will find players signed for decent fees who havent quite done it at that club. They then move on and sometimes do better elsewhere. Man Utd sign quite a few players who dont make the grade and get farmed out. If they were all rubbish fair enough, but they arent, and why are you now going on about Priskin, Leadbitter etc, they came in three years ago, how far do you want to go back ? Lets judge this summer's signings , they are more relevant.

0

Alfie1476 added 11:55 - Jul 11 There is sense on both sides about the transfer activity. I think the ambition is there, but the throwing on money at signing players such as Priskin / Leadbitter etc has had to stop due to finances. Very wasteful years under RK. However, I don't recall Sharp being at PR for contract talks ITFC1981? We never agreed a fee for him, basically because we were priced out of the market. I think it a little harsh to say players 'slipped through the net' when we were not really in the running due fo transfer fees and/or wage demands. I could quite happily offer 15k for a brand new car, but if it's asking price is double that, I can't really claim that I nearly owned it!?!?!?

0

kerryblue added 11:58 - Jul 11 CLEGG OUT HE HAS RUINED OUR CLUB
0

Mark added 12:29 - Jul 11 Lee Martin is the stand out player who we need to sign up or sell, as he must have a decent transfer value. As for the others... Jack Ainsley - He will be 22 soon and we've hardly seen him, so lets see how he does this season before offering a new contract. With Hewitt coming in at right-back to challenge Edwards, I think Ainsley could be just a squad backup player. Jimmy Bullard - A very poor season last time for the big earner, so surely no new contract offered. He might get a much reduced deal next summer if he performs this season. Damien Delaney - About to sign 31 so no hurry to sign him. Andy Drury - Probably deserves a contract extension. Nathan Ellington - We'd release him now if we could. Arran Lee-Barrett - Better to assess next summer. Jaime Peters - We'd release him now if we could. Ryan Stevenson - We need to see how he turns out as he has to earn a new deal. Joe Whight - Nowhere near the first team, so no new contract yet. Cormac Burke - Nowhere near the first team, so no new contract yet.

0

bluebud added 12:34 - Jul 11 One of Drury or Martin.............will go, more likely Drury. I love this euphoria at the moment because we signed a defender and Chops has a good article and seems really well. Nothing has changed - there will be exits before entrances, for sure.
0

theblueginger added 12:51 - Jul 11 Martin, Stevenson, Whight-Certainly sign them up Drury, Delaney, Bullard, ALB-Depends on this season The rest-Long gone
0

Superfrans added 12:58 - Jul 11 I'm not even starting with ITFC1981. Its pointless. As for Kesgrave - if you are not happy with any of the signings we have made in the past 12 months I suggest you either shouldn't be following a football team, or you should find another one which can meet your unrealistic expectations.
0

Warkys_Tash added 13:23 - Jul 11 All arguments a side - does anyone agree that we must re-sign Lee Martin. He was quality most of last season & we should be looking to build the team round him. Pace, skill, passion & desire to win. We looked way better when he was in the side than without & he has looked a totally better player since PJ moved him into the middle behind the striker.
0

MathieandMarshall added 13:24 - Jul 11 Suprised that a few are saying to let Drury go?! Thought he looked decent second half of last season.
0

Michael11 added 13:26 - Jul 11 Holding down the young players like Hyam, Smith & Martin to long term contracts is as good as new signings, we need to start building for the long term future as much as the short term, do your job Cleggy get it done!
0

eaii added 13:35 - Jul 11 Is that the end of the transfers then?
0

TractorRoyNo1 added 14:08 - Jul 11 jewell is also in his last year, i wonder if clegg has offered him a new deal
0

jas0999 added 17:16 - Jul 11 Disappointing it has taken so long to realise this. The previous managers can not be blamed for the contract debacle. Losing Norris and McAuley was careless, but then Leadbitter as well was stupidity. Okay, not everyone rated Leadbitter - but to lose him on a free was poor business. I still don't think we have replaced Norris, whilst McAuley had been doing very well in the PL. To lose both for nothing was bad business. Whatever the Clegg fans think - he has made many poor errors, but does at least seem to FINALLY be learning from it - but is it too little too late?

0

TimmyH added 20:24 - Jul 11 Martin and Drury - yes get them to renew their conntracts, were Drury and Stevenson only offered 2 year deals because they both have a year left, is that correct?
0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls