Defender Tommy Smith has stressed his desire to remain an Ipswich player after his present contract expires at the end of the season.

Academy graduate Smith, 25, signed as a professional in July 2007, a year after joining as a scholar, which makes him the club’s longest-serving player, and he is eager to extend his stay at Portman Road, having so far made 238 appearances and scored 23 goals. He also played 29 games in loan spells with Stevenage, Brentford and Colchester.

Smith said: “My contract finishes at the end of this season but the club have an option to extend that for a further year.

“My agent has been in contact with the club but Marcus [Evans] is away for a few weeks at the moment so there’s no real progress on that front at the moment.

“Hopefully my long-term future will be here. I’m enjoying my football and we’re being quite successful. We reached the play-offs last year and hopefully we will go one better this year. There’s no reason for me to want to move at the moment.”

By the summer of 2017 the New Zealand international will be eligible for a testimonial, a rare occurrence in football these days with few players spending a decade at one club.

But he added: “I haven’t even looked into that. I think this is my seventh season in the first team and obviously it would be nice if I could stick around for that long — or if the club will have me for that long — but at the moment that’s not in the forefront of my mind.”

Meanwhile, Smith has admitted he was taken aback to hear last month that Australian winger Tommy Oar, who arrived last summer via a five-year spell in Holland with Utrecht, had left Town.

He admitted: “It came as a shock to be honest. I didn’t see it coming myself and I thought he was just about getting adapted to English football after coming from the slower-paced Dutch game.

“He was starting to look really good in training and the gaffer was starting to bring him on to have an impact in games, so it was a shock at the time.

“I wish him all the best — he’s a nice guy and I hope he has a good future. He was a quiet lad who kept himself to himself but we tried to involve him in any group activities we had. It’s unfortunate he didn’t manage to settle but none of us have anything against him and all wish him well.”

Photo: Action Images

deano85 added 06:13 - Feb 5 Leaving it a little late.....
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eMeM added 06:49 - Feb 5 He should become our next skipper.
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TractorCam added 07:19 - Feb 5 Didn't even know he was out of contract, sign him up!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:54 - Feb 5 A really genuine guy and one of our own. Hope he gets a good deal.
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essexboy added 09:20 - Feb 5 Very strange to let his contract run down,just maybe there is a motive somewhere,but I hope not.!
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HarryS_H added 09:21 - Feb 5 In my opinion he's been our best defender this year and with him getting so much unjustified criticism everything he touches the ball I do hope he gets this deal he deserves every game we give him. We're lucky to have him
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BlueandTruesince82 added 10:04 - Feb 5 Sign him up, he gives everything for the shirt. Club has an option, I'm sure they'll use it
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muccletonjoe added 10:11 - Feb 5 Everyone I am sure will be hoping tommy gets a new contract. He has been by far our best defender all season
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sidtheswan added 12:14 - Feb 5 Tommy tries 100% every game . Isnt he another square peg as left footed ? Shouldn't he be on other side of pitch ? Would be better if he played with a right footer not that would ever want Berra to go . Don't know why not signed up as one of MM's favourites .
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RonFearonsHair added 13:30 - Feb 5 I guess we can hardly be surprised at not signing any players if our owner goes into hiding during the transfer window.
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blueboy1981 added 20:32 - Feb 5 Rock on Tommy. Very much an unsung hero, who has spent most, if not all, of his time playing somewhat out of position. But, if we rate him - sure as hell MM won't be as keen as he should be.
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blueboy1981 added 20:36 - Feb 5 ....... leave it any later, and I would tell MM where to go. Would be plenty of interest in Tommy from outside the Club, and within the game.
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