Cole Skuse has stressed the important role played by skipper Luke Chambers and underlined his immense value to the club — both on and off the field.

Skuse and Chambers are more than just team-mates. They are a similar age, born just six months apart, and together with their wives and young families are close away from Portman Road, living in the same part of town and seeing a lot of each other outside normal working hours.

Chambers may not be every fan’s favourite player — he has taken more than his fair share of criticism this season — but no one can question his commitment, amply illustrated in recent weeks when he has soldiered on with one broken rib and another cracked, the painful after-effects of scoring with a brave header early in the 1-1 draw at Brighton.

Skuse admitted that he and his colleagues would not like to see him depart, as was almost the case on the last day of the January transfer window when he was close to rejoining former club Nottingham Forest.

“It was made public and everyone knows the situation — Chambo was close to going to Forest and his contract situation is a little bit up in the air,” said Skuse.

“But it wouldn’t be right for me to speak to you on Luke’s behalf about his contract situation. That’s something you would have to speak to him about.

“We are very close as team-mates and we talk a lot. While we give him plenty of stick in general — just for being Chambo — none of the lads in the dressing room want to see him leave.

“He’s an unbelievable captain — the best I’ve played under — and I’m sure a lot of the lads would say the same. For him to leave would be a massive blow, not just for us but for the club in general.”

Chambers, who was signed by former boss Paul Jewell in July 2012, will be out of contract in the summer, although the club have a one-year option on his services and manager Mick McCarthy dropped a strong hint that they will at least exercise that right.

Prior to the Forest development the player spoke about his disappointment at not being approached about a new, extended deal to extend his time in Suffolk, where he has always insisted he is happy, regardless of the fact that the majority of his time has been spent at right-back rather than in his preferred role as a central defender.

Recently, of course, McCarthy has switched to a 3-5-2 formation and Chambers has relished the opportunity to play in the middle, with Skuse also paying tribute to his friend and colleague for the way he tackles the role of club captain.

Skuse added: “Let me give you an insight into being Chambo. People with kids will know it’s tough and I’ve got two of my own.

“There are times when I come in for training in the morning and I might have been up through the night and then up early again in the morning to make them breakfast.

“There’s the feeding — giving them bottles — and changing dirty nappies, and there are times when you think ‘Jesus, this is tough’.

“Well, that’s not the case with Chambo and he’s got three young kids. He comes in every morning like he’s just drunk 10 cans of Red Bull. He’s Mr Hyper and Mr Positivity rolled into one and never has a down day. He’s the loudest around the changing room.

“One of his responsibilities is the players’ tickets. He’s in charge of giving them out and he makes sure every last person is looked after before he sorts himself out.

“He also arranges nights out for the lads to get together and have a bite to eat. It’s everything about him — he’s the most vocal before every game and in the pre-match huddle his speeches are always very, very good. He’s just an all-round good character.

“Another good trait of Chambo’s is that he is approachable. There were times when I was a young lad and I was a tad scared of going to the team captain to get things off my chest.

“That would never be the case with Chambo. Any of the younger lads would be able to go to him — it wouldn’t even have to be an issue at the football club, maybe some off-the-field problem.

“They wouldn’t be afraid to go and ask for his advice. They would find him willing to listen and he would try to help.”

Photo: TWTD

henryblue added 17:36 - Mar 6 Unbelievably awful yeah
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CBMTOBWMMBG added 17:51 - Mar 6 brilliantly incisive insult
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cat added 17:55 - Mar 6 If we are ever going to evolve into a footballing side again, then Skuse and Chambers will be surplus to requirements. I was hung, drawn and quartered on here a few weeks ago for daring to say that Chambers is a liabity, but I generally believe this, whether at RB or CH. Injury or not, Saturday well and truly highlighted his flaws. Although his a useful defender, his footballing abilities leave a lot to be desired, and he looks very uncomfortable on the ball. Skuse for me breaks up play well, tackles well, but is so negative in moving the ball forward. Add to that 1 goal and being an integral major part of a struggling side for the last 18 month, is not really a lot to show for his undoubted effort. On another note, I watched the Brum/Leeds game on Friday and although Brum are very much a "work in progress", you could see and appreciate that Zola is trying to get them to play the right way. Unlucky with the result imo, but a very entertaining game from a footballing point of view which flattered Leeds.

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ArnieM added 18:12 - Mar 6 If Chambers is a liability WTF is Berra??? Chambers is fine in his correct position. He is also a very good Captain. If he left in the summer , I think we would struggle without his presence about the Club, as well as on the pitch.
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The_Romford_Blue added 18:34 - Mar 6 If Evans doesn't offer him a new contract, it'd be absolutely criminal
14

Dissblue added 19:29 - Mar 6 Does it sound like Skusey is after Chambo's job?
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OwainG1992 added 19:53 - Mar 6 People need to learn that players like Chambers deserve respect. If he leaves in the summer we'll be a lot weaker.
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Mark added 19:59 - Mar 6 I think most fans like Chambers, just not at right-back where McCarthy played him for so long but seems no longer will. I wouldn't call Berra a liability by the way, he is good in the air and often our best defender. True, neither of the above pass very well but that is true of many ITFC players in recent years.
5

Lightningboy added 21:13 - Mar 6 Dunno about anyone else but I don't think any of the fans dislike Chambers as suggested in this piece,they just dislike the fact that the bloke's been played completely out of position for the last 3 seasons. I don't want to see Chambo leave,he should be given a new deal..no brainer. Skuse on the other hand can go tomorrow as far as i'm concerned.
12

Lightningboy added 21:16 - Mar 6 Skuse moaning about his home routine with the kids might explain why he plays like he's half asleep most of the time.
8

theblueginger added 21:19 - Mar 6 Skuse and Chambers....not our best players by any means, but their value will never be appreciated until after they leave. Chambo should've got a new contract in January.
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1RWR added 22:24 - Mar 6 People worry about Chambers leaving as captain, we've got Smith-Webster-Taylor as future captains so don't worry. He's done his bit, move onwards & upwards.
1

bbg added 22:24 - Mar 6 Skuse and Chambers are key players. If they were hopeless at RB/DCM, how did we get to the play-off with a good defensive records less than 2 years ago. If we had Fraser and Lawrence alongside Murphy/McGoldrick we would have got promoted. Anyone who says Skuse is poor as a championship DCM, simply doesn't understand the role. As for Chambers, of course he is a more natural centre back, but lots of teams have used converted centre-backs at full back. As Knudsen has proven, defensively there is very little difference between RCB/LCB and full back. Also while Chambers was never going to be a player to take the ball out of defence or overlap, dont forget the goals he contributed arriving at the back post to meet crosses from the other flank as Knudsen did in the derby. As far as I am concerned we have decent defensive players in the club at the moment. Skuse (DCM), Spence (RCB or RWB), Chambers, Berra, Taylor, Knudsen, Webster, Bart, etc give us a very solid base. Smith will have a bit to do to get back in if they all stay. Spence must be offered a contract. Both Emmanuel and Kenlock still have a lot to learn in my opinion and let's hope they both do so.

4

Cakeman added 23:08 - Mar 6 What on earth are you on about Skuse? Talking about how hard it is working and looking after children at the same time. Welcome to the real world!
4

GiveusaWave added 23:20 - Mar 6 He's looked way better in a centre-3, and deserves a new contract.
6

harlingblue added 02:21 - Mar 7 A well deserved appraisal of Chambers, should have been given a new contract in January. He has a big heart on the pitch and in our community, has been played out of position without a moan from him, more from us supporters, as we have seen two left footed centre backs take up his natural position. With Berra probably leaving at the end of the season, a back three of Chambers, Webster and Smith, complemented by attacking fullbacks Spence and Knudsen or Emmanuel and Kenlock, looks promising?

2

therein61 added 07:13 - Mar 7 Just concentrate on being a footballer Mr Skuse
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Swailsey added 09:55 - Mar 7 Glad to see support for LC on here. Deserves a lot more respect from some of our fans. Very good player at this level. Some of our fans seem to think we should have the 'complete' player. If we did, they wouldn't be here long!
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cornishblu added 14:27 - Mar 7 Agree with most posts so far that chambers still warrants his place but only at CB.....he is absolutely a liability at RB...go through the videos and just see how many goals can even partially be pointed at him whilst in that position....but not his fault a stubborn manager can't see sense. The ther side to the argument howver is ....we always need to raise money..,.who would be better to go £500k each for chambers and Berra or £1.5m for dozzell .....would drive chambo and Berra myself ....we have too many old players ...but we do have a great blend if we balance the team with what we have .....as soon as we are safe these conversations become much more relevant and it would be fascinating to see the team that McCarthy puts out.....one for another time maybe COYB

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Jonnosdreadlocks added 23:05 - Mar 7 Both have ' cant be dropped' clauses in their contracts
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