Town have confirmed that midfielder Jimmy Bullard has left the club by mutual consent with the remaining year left on his contract having been terminated.

Manager Paul Jewell says that at 33 Bullard needs to be playing week-in, week-out, something which wasn't going to happen at Town: “I’ve known Jimmy for a long time. He’s a top lad but he wants to play regular first-team football and I can’t guarantee him that here.

“We sat down and had a straightforward chat and I explained to him that I’ve got to look to the future and that he was down the pecking order in terms of a starting place.

“Jimmy loves playing football and at his age, he needs to be playing so all parties agreed that it was best if he moved on.

“He’s a great character to have around the place and I’m sure there will be plenty of interest in him. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Bullard added: “I want to thank Paul Jewell for giving me the opportunity to play for such a fantastic football club as Ipswich Town.

“I didn’t play as much football as I would have liked last season and I need to be out there on the park on a Saturday afternoon, not sitting in the stands.

“I feel as fit as I’ve ever done and knowing that my opportunities were going to be limited at Ipswich, it’s best that I move on.

“I’ll miss the lads in the dressing-room. They are a great bunch and I was lucky enough to enjoy a great relationship with the supporters at Ipswich as well, which meant a lot to me. I wish the club the best of luck.”

Bullard, understood to be the club's highest earner on wages believed to be more than £15,000-a-week, rejoined the Blues on a permanent basis just under a year ago having had his Hull City contract terminated.

The one-time Peterborough, Wigan and Fulham man had previously enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell during the second half of the 2010/11 season in which he won the Supporters' Club's Player of the Year award.

Last season he made 12 starts - the last at Burnley in November - and nine substitute appearances, scoring just the once.

Photo: Action Images

SuperReuser added 10:07 - Aug 13 actually pretty gutted about this, I loved Jimmy, i think we all did. He just didnt love us as much. Good luck Jim. When i get a wife, im still sending her your way
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Tractorboy24 added 10:08 - Aug 13 Cheers jimmy, shame it didn't work out.
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StuartBrett8 added 10:09 - Aug 13 It's for the best
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Karlosfandangal added 10:10 - Aug 13 What a shame, However the season he came on loan help save us from Div 1 so thanks for those 16 games that season Jimmy
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fourpee added 10:11 - Aug 13 Bit gutted!! liked Jimmy. We move on though. Onwards & upwards! COYB!
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backwiththeboysagain added 10:11 - Aug 13 Fantastic while on loan, once the contract was signed seemed to lose interest in the football. Could have been so much different. Hope this frees up money to sign others, hopefully Edu and Davies, plus a CB.
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cornishnick added 10:11 - Aug 13 "Top lad", "great character"etc etc. So why did it go so wrong? Undoubted talent, but just couldn't seem to be arsed last season. He hasn't got long left in his career, and when he sits back and reflects, there might just be a few regrets. Maybe loved the lifestyle more than the football. A great waste
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SouperJim added 10:17 - Aug 13 Phil, do we know if we are likely to have paid up his contract, or was Jimmy happy for it to be torn up so he could become a free agent?
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PeekFreans added 10:18 - Aug 13 Good luck for the future you diamond geezer!
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brass63 added 10:18 - Aug 13 sad times, shame it never worked out how we all wanted it too. Loved Jimmy, all the best for the future!! "Oh Jimmy Bullard........"
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WeirdFishes added 10:18 - Aug 13 IPSWICH ARE BETTER THAN EVERYBODY
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cats_whiskers added 10:23 - Aug 13 What the HULL will he do now, At least he can go up north and don't worry about being late for work
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hogster1970 added 10:27 - Aug 13 well in one way im gutted, i still believe leadboots kept him out of the side, i think jimmy if he doesnt play proberly sulks and then goes way ward, he defo spent most of his time out of postion which prob didnt help in that diamond, but we all have to be profeesional about this, just look at the revalation martin has made since his return, thats being professional, so yep best to get rid and bring in edu, now that will be cool, and come on boys lets have a good year we all need one

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brian_a_mul added 10:31 - Aug 13 Sorry to see him go. In fairness to him and PJ, they sat down together and came to a very amicable resolution. No swipes or ill will towards the club. He helped to keep us in this league and the club stood by him during his legal troubles last season. Now its time for Jimmy to get first team football else where so best of luck to him! Adios amigo
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Maverick_Mitch added 10:37 - Aug 13 Shame - always on edge of seat when JB was on the ball. He was even good value as half-time entertainment. Good luck JB you'll be missed.
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ScottCandage added 10:38 - Aug 13 In Jimmy Bullard and Moritz Volz Ipswich Town had two of the most joyous players in modern football history. And, sadly, both Bullard and Volz had the worst period of their careers here. Yet I would still have chosen both Bullard and Volz. I wish they had done better for Town but they made following Town more fun.
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Jimmys_Law added 10:46 - Aug 13 Great shame to see him go. He was a great character, and he entertained all of us with his half time antics (most notably, throwing Scotland's hat into the crowd and jumping on his back for a piggyback). I think he will be missed by all of us and we should all look back on his time with us for the great performances while on loan rather than after he signed for us permanently. You kept us up Jimmy, we're all very grateful and I'm glad that you reached a mutually beneficial agreement with the club. Best of luck for the future... There's only one Jimmy Bullard, one Jimmy Bullard!!!

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evansblue added 10:49 - Aug 13 Its a shame as he is certainly a character but the few games I saw last season where he played he looked well off the pace. It will be interesting to see where he goes next as I think the Championship is too much for him now but I wish him all the best. His loan period was superb and gave us all a much needed lift. Thanks Jimmy
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Tractamatt added 10:49 - Aug 13 Hope this means some signings this week. We all wanted Jimmy here but it did'nt work best of luck to him for the future. Now what about Edu?
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DutchTownFan added 10:49 - Aug 13 Don't see how he's going to find a club now tbh
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DanLyles added 10:54 - Aug 13 Knowing that we have the creativity of Martin, JET, Luongo, Drury and possibly Edu makes this news far less depressing than it otherwise could have been... This should free up some funds for Davies, Edu and another centre back. I read a Celtic forum thread on Kelvin Wilson and I'm not sure what to make of it. http://www.talkceltic.net/forum/showthread.php?t=125733 Largely suggests that he is awful, but then some other fans suggest that other posters have exaggerated his weaknesses because of one bad game in the Old Firm

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Blueboy added 10:55 - Aug 13 A real shame but he really didn't perform well last season. Onwards and upwards, let's hope PJ has an ace of his sleeve as we desperately need to cover weaknesses that are present in our current squad. We need another GK CB CM & CF to compete in this league.
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Pendejo added 10:58 - Aug 13 Sad to see him go, as I believe a fit & up for it Bullard is an exciting player who makes things happen. But if PJ thinks he can't get into the team then nothing less than promotion is required... no pressure....
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irishtim added 11:08 - Aug 13 Just not good enough anymore. Shame to see talent wasted.
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ITFCforlife added 11:08 - Aug 13 So we now need a GK, CB, Cm and CF. Edu = CM (free) no idea who could be the GK CB= Wilson or the Huddersfield CB CF= Church on loan, Davis if a fee can be agreed or Orlando Sa (who would now be on a free)?
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