Brilliant! The best thing now is that he stays for at least a year or two more and helps to get us back up. But even if he doesn't, then he's done right by the club in that we should be able to get more money for him now with a contract to back up the negotiations. But I'd also make him captain (ChrisFelix) with the potential to become an ITFC legend.

Really good news & will send positive waves through the club, hopefully influencing others to stay in the knowledge that the club hasn't thrown in the towel. I understand that someone might still come in for him & he could still go, but at least we're in a stronger position to reject a insulting offer now & worse case scenario would get good money to be able to replace him with a decent centre half.
Despite his injury hit season the previous year, I still feel the decision to sell Adam Webster was the start of the rot for us 2 seasons ago (whether it was Hurst's decision, or had been decided before his appointment) and I'm convinced it played a part in Bart's falling out with the club having signed his deal n the expectation of a promotion run that season.
The thoughts of having a fit KVY and Luke Woolfenden in our back 4 next season is the kind of thing that makes me feel positive about what may lay in store again. A new decent left-footed centre half, a left back & a goal scoring centre forward and I might even get excited about next season.

Welcome positive news. It will also make Championship and greedy PL clubs realise that they can't pinch our young promising players for peanuts. The squad has the potential to get out of league one if they all get their act together and Lambert plays his strongest team. Reasons to be cheerful.

The contract must be pretty decent - well done ME

I still think it's 50/50 if he will play for us again
However, this probably guarantees £6m+ in a transfer

In today's climate that buys us 4 very good lower league players that might be of more value to the team than Woolfy

Far too laid back to be our Captain

Happy not to be a Wigan fan today, and this news shows the difference of having stable ownership

That's really good news.
Now Lambert / Marcus, go and get the lad Lloyd Jones who was playing for Luton in our EFL cup game way back in August. He's 24, a centre-half and just been released by Luton.
I thought he looked pretty darn good, he scored their first goal, he's been a squad player for them, so shouldn't be looking for especially high wages.
Go on, he would look very good alongside many of our defenders, and that'd be a pretty strong pairing with Woolfy!

Great news, lengthy contract which he will hopefully see out at but at least it gives us the security that we'll at least get some money if he does go at some point. I'd be surprised if a contract with Downes isn't next to be agreed as he was mentioned in the kit reveal trailer yesterday. Having said that I don't know how long Downes is currently contracted for. Good way to start the month, COYB

All been said really, very pleasing news.
Even if he is still sold to a Premier club there's always a chance we could still have him with us for a season on loan.
Either way we have to make the proverbial hay whilst the sun shines because unless we get out of league one next season he will be gone contract or no contract.

Oh.........so thenegcrew were wrong....again!

Wow this is fantastic news. Think this shows how serious the club is about getting out of this league next season. Downes next hopefully. We have some fantastic young talent at this club let's try and keep them all. #promotion

Excellent news - he is one of our best players. Well done Luke!

4years good news,but while Evans is in charge there's a good chance he will be sold for half his value.

Absolutely brilliant new. I just hope this Club is serious about keeping players like Woolfie and building the team around h8m and others like h8m on the squad. They ARE the future. But for Gods sake Evans keep hold of them!

Nice one Luke.

Wonder what defensive formation Lambert will go with next season?..if it's 352 then we need a new centre back to play alongside Woolfy & Chambers PLUS we'll need a new left wing-back unless we can get Garbutt back.

Great news a future captain(soon i hope) in the making, now get all our other youngsters on contracts instead of handing big contracts to old pros with nothing to offer.

Thats massive COYB

Great news. A statement of intent or a hint that the club may be about to change hands?🤔

Great news one of maybe 4 at most who could cut it in the championship I just hope and pray this doesn't end up like the Connor Wickham new contract when he was sold not long after signing a new contract 🤞

Fantastic news!

Brilliant news. Could go on to be a club legend.

Good news. However let's be honest, if a club came in with a £6m or £7m offer with a small sell-on clause it would be accepted. Hopefully Championship clubs will be tightening their belts due to COVID, and Prem clubs may not feel he's quite proved himself yet.

Top Banana! Good move for both parties. No where near the finished article but has bags of potential. Let's hope he turns into something special then sell him on for a few mills. That's the Ipswich way and always has been, so deal with it.

Absolutely brilliant news!!!!! 😀😀

First bit of good news in months.
Great stuff, hopefully more to come

Something slightly different than the original post....

As a keen Town fan all my life and a season ticket holder for a large part of it I always take my colours on holiday abroad and two years ago met a lovely couple from Hengelo in the Netherlands. They are both massive FC Twente fans and I have already enjoyed two visits over there to watch their beloved reds play, first in their Championship level league and more recent a top flight game.

FC Twente (like our own) is a massive local community club and this summer (during the Covid-19 crisis), Over 200 of their fans have volunteered to paint the entire stadium 🏟 red. The photos I have received from him this morning are simply amazing and shows just how much the club and stadium are such a focal point to the area. It makes me wonder why we couldn't do a similar offering here to really being the old ground back to former glory and to have a bit of pride in the place! The stairways and plain concrete walls are dull and would look amazing and I would one would certainly offer up my time to put a bit of pride back into PR.

Interested to hear what others think out there 👍