Cole Skuse has confirmed he wants to stay with Town, regardless of which league they are in next season, and is hoping good friend and team-mate Luke Chambers will also be on board.

Even if he is keen to put the emphasis on youth, manager Paul Lambert has made it clear he wants the experienced duo to be in his squad next term, but while Skuse is under contract for another year, Chambers is relying on the club to trigger the 12-month option they have on his services.

Skuse recalled how Lambert spoke in glowing terms about the pair and said: “It was flattering the way he spoke about Chambo and me in such high regard, which was obviously very, very nice, and I don’t think Chambo has made any secret of the fact that he would love to stay around the club to some degree.

“It’s something I have thought of as well. It’s a fantastic club and the infrastructure is brilliant.

“I’ve got a contract and if I’m wanted around the place I’m here. If the club want to pursue something new that’s not my decision, but I do want to be around the place.

“This is my sixth season and I’ve loved every minute of it. The family are settled here and I’m contracted to the place so I want to be around the place.

“I’m not actively looking but if someone comes to the club and offers some money for me to go elsewhere — and the club accept it — it’s kind of out of my hands.

“I’m not looking to move, I’m at Ipswich Town and I’m contracted to Ipswich Town. I feel as though I’ve got loads of football left in me but what will be, will be. It’s not something I’ve thought about and it’s not a bridge I’ve crossed just yet.”

Chambers and Skuse are so close as friends that they have already gone public with their plans to stay together when their playing days are over, the former as a manager and the latter as his assistant, but for now they want to continue their playing careers for as long as possible.

Skuse added: “We’re close and I’ve offered my services as an agent! He’s in conversation with the club and I don’t think a decision is too far away.

“That’s a question for him to answer really. As much as I’m very, very close to Luke — he spends as much time at my house as I spend at his — when the door closes at night and he’s sat down with his wife and family I’m sure they have discussions that they don’t have with me and my wife.

“He knows his final decision, he’s got that in his head, but I hope for both the town’s sake and the club’s sake that he gets things ironed out and he stays.

“He is an unbelievable leader of an organisation and while he’s 33 years of age he’s another one who looks after himself and conducts himself very well, and he’s got plenty of football left in him as well.

With Lambert keen to keep the player and Chambers also looking to remain at the club, Skuse was asked why a deal has yet to be confirmed.

He replied: “It has been ongoing for a little while and I don’t know the real nooks and crannies of why it might not have been done — let’s just hope it does get done.”

Meanwhile, Skuse is delighted that Teddy Bishop, who recently signed a new two-year deal, is back and close to firing on all cylinders again. “I’m really pleased for Teddy,” he added.

“It almost got to the stage — and he openly said this himself in an interview a little while back — that it was close between whether he was staying or going.

“I’m glad he has ironed out a deal with the club to stay because when you watch him in a game he’s got certain things about him, things that not many people have got.

“He can jink and glide past opponents, and he’s a creator who makes things happen. He’s a fantastic player and it’s great to see him back playing frequently now that he’s fit. He’s one that could go on to play at the very top.

“In terms of the other lads, they proved again on Tuesday night against Bristol City the talent that is on show.

“Andre [Dozzell] came in for the first time in a little while and he was different class. Josh Emmanuel, you forget that he’s still a young lad and he was fantastic. There’s an abundance of them and they are international players for a reason.”

Idris El Mizouni became the latest academy graduate to make his senior debut when he came off the bench to in the 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate with 75 minutes on the clock and Skuse added: “Idris deserves every bit of credit he gets because he’s a great kid and you want to see kids like him succeed.

“He’s come over from France, he’s learned the language off his own back, he has integrated with everyone around the place and he’s a very, very talented boy.

“It’s not as if we’re mid-table, we’re 3-0 up at home and the manager has chucked him on. We need a result, we’re away from home and it’s 1-1 — that’s credit to Idris, I think, that he deserves to be on the pitch at that stage in the game.”

Photo: TWTD

Suffolkboy added 19:14 - Mar 14 Character, integrity ,honesty enthusiasm and loyalty are ALL attributes Mr S and Mr C bring to ITFC: let's find a way to fulfil PL's wish they remain! COYB
15

Terry_Nutkins added 19:28 - Mar 14 Get Chambo signed up. Both very important and experienced players to build youth around and nurture them through. Skuse is class as well and youngsters can learn a lot from him.
13

terry_butchers_twin added 19:29 - Mar 14 Agree with Suffolkboy. Need some solid senior players to bring the younger ones through in what will be a very tough season ahead.
10

pazzy added 19:31 - Mar 14 I for one hope the two boys stay they are great lads never hide during a match love to have both on board for next season
10

TractorCam added 19:40 - Mar 14 Excellent news, both of these have been class on and off the field and with a barrel of youngsters coming through we need their experience for everyone's benefit.
10

Saxonblue74 added 19:41 - Mar 14 We need the squad we have now to take into league 1, perfect balance of youth and experience. Hope they both stay.
9

Saxonblue74 added 19:43 - Mar 14 .......also great to see the positive comments, I was fearful of what I'd read when I saw the headline!
8

Cakeman added 20:02 - Mar 14 All been said but I will add my support for both of them too.
5

Monkey_Blue added 20:10 - Mar 14 Why aren't there lots of ignorant posts slagging both Cole and chambers off? Hope both stay but I would be saying the same of we weren't looking at league one footballnext season.
6

ThaiBlue added 20:11 - Mar 14 Well sorry to upset the applecart but both can go in my opinion.skuse no creativity and to slow and chambers do I really have to say anything should have gone start of this season.keep Collins on pay as you play and can help the young ones on the training pitch to no brainer.
3

TraktorBoyz added 20:15 - Mar 14 No you're definitely way too good for league 1 it's OK find another club.
-2

afcfee added 20:25 - Mar 14 Got to be his friends or family commenting on here, Chambers has been OK but Skuse definitely way past it too slow. Would make sense to off load the highest earners especially one of the, if not the worse performers. Trouble is can't see anybody taking him. I don't think Lambert rates him anyway tbf if you look at preference to youngster Chalobah. I'm sure he'll look to add a experienced CDM who can actually play, not just play him because he's experienced which is literally his only attribute.

-5

jas0999 added 20:32 - Mar 14 I'd personally like to see both go. Neither even remotely good enough now.
0

Elto added 20:38 - Mar 14 Here they are Saxon, didn't think they would let you down!
7

Michael101 added 20:59 - Mar 14 Don't think anybody else would want them,.time to start doing your coaching badges, That's where there future lies.
-4

skankerman added 21:13 - Mar 14 Both great servants to the club and both would be key experienced players to get us back up
7

oioihardy added 21:41 - Mar 14 Both would be useful squad players in league 1. Chamber of love to see him in the back room staff soon with a chance of manager in the future.
3

dukey44 added 21:44 - Mar 14 Sorry get rid of both. Just an opinion... Skuse offers us nothing and Chambers looks well out of his depth now let him go make money in USA...
-4

Gazelle added 23:08 - Mar 14 What makes the critics of Skuse and Chambers think they know more than Lambert.
5

MickMillsTash added 08:07 - Mar 15 Part of the problem this season was that we let too much experience leave in the summer. Collins isn't staying/ fit, Knudesn is off- we will off-load Barts wages if we can - it does not leave much in defense. Skuse gets himself into great defensive positions and saves a lot of goals a season - if Bishop and Dozzell can last a season we should have enough creativity for at least a top half position and Skuse will give them some freedom. Suggest that we keep Both

5

rugbytomc added 09:08 - Mar 15 I like both as individuals and leaders off the pitch. I like Skuse as a player - I thought Mick often played him out of position or in the wrong style, but Lambert and Hurst to be fair have got the best out of him. Don't think pace is an issue - Busquets is pretty slow, Sheringham was pretty slow (by football standards not compared to me!). Chambers has struggled in a struggling defence this season. He's lost Smith, Berra, Webster and at the start of the season he'd basically lost Bart too. I thought he had a shocker against West Brom but credit where it's due he had a good game against Bristol City. We're going down - don't know what wages he's on/would be on if the extension was triggered. Don't see anyone with experience and to his standard available on a free so with that and his off field influence - i'd say definitely keep him. (bit waffly - trying to put some thought out reason behind it!)

0

muhrensleftfoot added 09:34 - Mar 15 Chambers and Skuse should be nailed on for next season. They are championship quality players with loads of experience to help our youngsters. In League 1 they will both be top players. A mix of our promising bright young players with the experience of these old McCarthy stalwarts, and there is much hope for next season. Having accepted the disaster of relegation, I'm quite looking forward to next season. A few new away grounds and a cheaper season ticket too.

3

Jonaldo added 11:10 - Mar 15 Both these players can do a job for us next season. I hope we can win their hearts and minds and do a deal with them. Neither had their best seasons this year, but with something to prove next year, they can contribute a lot to the youngsters.
1

bluearmy78 added 11:53 - Mar 15 Like like Lambert say's you still need to see a couple of senior pro's in the squad. We have some very young talented lads at the club but you can't play all of them together in the starting 11 every game, so for me Skuse & Chambers are no brainier. Plus next season Lambert might not even start Skuse & Chambers in a starting 11 , but they are still good enough in my opinion to be on the bench. COYB!

0

afcfee added 12:37 - Mar 15 If they're nailed on next season we're screwed there is a thing called pace in league 1. Luckily our manager being a top midfielder himself I doubt he'd such a donkey playing every game but he's not going to say it yet.
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