Keeper Vaclav Hladky says he expects his Town future to be resolved one way or another next week when he returns for pre-season training.

The 33-year-old’s contract is up on Sunday with discussions having been ongoing since January and we understand Town’s offer remains on the table.

In March, Hladky, one of the stars of Town’s Championship promotion season, told TWTD and other local media that he was keen to stay and that he wasn’t sure why a deal hadn’t already been signed.

Speaking in the Czech media, with whom he has been working during Euro 2024, he revealed there has been no progress on that front and he doesn’t yet know whether he’ll be involved in pre-season training when it starts on Monday.

“I don’t, I don’t, and truth be told, I don’t know when I’ll find out,” he told Canal Plus Sport

“No, I think the deadline is 30th June when my contract ends. That’s Saturday, if I’ve got my dates right, and on Monday we report back for training so everything will all overlap, or link up nicely. And I think, in that week, I should know for sure if I’ll be at Ipswich or if something else awaits me.”

Hladky, who joined the Blues from Salford in the summer of 2021, says he is now also looking at options other than Town, where he might well be second choice next season were he to remain with the Blues looking at other keepers.

“Ever since we opened negotiations on a new contract in January, we’ve followed a clear line that our preferred choice would be Ipswich, I want to stay at Ipswich, I want to extend my time there,” he said.

“And at this point there’s been a slight change in the situation because the negotiations have been tough going and not exactly the way we were expecting them to play out.

“So right now we’re following a strategy where we’ll sit down and take a look at any offer that lands on our desk, weigh-up all the pros and cons, and it’s not like I would prefer this or that destination or league. It really is a case of, whatever comes along, I’ll sit down with the manager [his agent] and with my wife, and assess it.”

Hladky says Town boss Kieran McKenna has told him he wants him as part of his squad next season: “I was there in person on 10th June and sat down with the manager.

“We had a long chat and laid our cards out, how he sees things, how he sees my role next season, and the upshot of that was that he definitely wants me to stay.

“He was a little surprised how the club is engaging with my manager. So he told me he’d have a talk with the [club] management and clarify the things, under what circumstances I can continue and so on. So we’ll see.

“But I would say the difference is that the coaching staff and I are of like mind, but we can’t find common ground with the club.”

Town’s keeper ranks could be set for a shake-up over the summer with Christian Walton perhaps looking to move on having rarely featured last season. The club recently took an option to extend his contract for a further season, which would ensure a fee should the 28-year-old depart.

Third-choice Cieran Slicker has said the next step in his development is a spell out on loan with Kilmarnock and Hibernian understood to be keen on the Scotland U21 international.

The Blues have been widely linked with Brighton’s former England U21 keeper Carl Rushworth, 22, who spent last season on loan at Swansea City and the previous campaign at Lincoln City, having had earlier stints with Worthing and Walsall.

We understand Rushworth, who is 6ft 2in tall, is on Town’s list but with claims that a move is imminent overstating the situation as it stands.

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Bert added 08:44 - Jun 26 Spot on Len. Hladky is only doing what anyone else would do at his age.
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OliveR16 added 08:54 - Jun 26 There are two issues though: What his agent is aiming to do seems reasonable. What he chose to say about it to the press is not what everyone else would do. For that latter reason I believe he will be let go. He is not uniquely talented and he should be positive and excited to get in the PL with Town. So, thanks Vaz and good-bye.
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PhuketPete added 08:56 - Jun 26 Some slightly critical comments on here re Vas wanting to get the best deal and assurances he can be #1. But If he is = fair dues. It’s what his manager has just done and I daresay other players are doing the same be they already here or elsewhere and considering a move here. Personally I rate him (and CW) pretty highly and if we don’t end up upgrading Vas, I still think we’ll be fine. In terms of improving our sometimes rather leaky defence, I reckon other positions are more critically in need than the Gk Dept but heh… KMcK knows best !!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:15 - Jun 26 I think this highlights an issue that K McK and the club will have to face, not just with Hladky but generally. We heard constantly last season about the incredible togetherness among the playing group being a strong factor in our success, which I'm sure was true. Now we are faced with the need of upgrading some previoulsy League 1 and Championship-level players who were responsible for getting us where we are. It's a choice between loyalty and hard-headed reality - not an easy path for McK to navigate. Obviously, we need to strengthen, but can we do it and still maintain the same group spirit we had before? I hope so. If anyone, I think K McK is the man to answer that question.

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Linkboy13 added 09:16 - Jun 26 Dosent command his area that's why McKenna is looking at other keepers.
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planetblue_2011 added 10:02 - Jun 26 Strange one feel a bit sorry for Hladky a deal hasn’t been done yet but on the other hand it must have its reasons. Not sure if he is good enough for prem, even though he saved us a few times last season. Just have to wait and see on this one.
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TB42 added 10:18 - Jun 26 Slightly confused by all of this. WALTON was number one and but for injury at the beginning of last season would have probably started and kept his place. He’s 4 years younger than HLADKY and as has been pointed out, HLADKY would likely not secure premiership status elsewhere? Why are we thinking of unloading WALTON, seems bizarre?
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Bazza8564 added 10:34 - Jun 26 Wants a two year deal, offered a one year extension. With Slicker coming through and Rushworth a possibility expect him to move on. He won't be first choice, neither will Walton, im expecting both to leave, Vaz now, Walton if we can get a fee or when his deal is up next summer
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NorwichBlue138 added 11:32 - Jun 26 Am I the only one who would be happy to retain Walton as #1, even having not played in a year or so? How much possession are we going to have in the Prem? I'd take a better shot stopper (Walton) over a guy who is much better with the ball at his feet (Hladky) to try and keep us in games.
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Reality_2021 added 11:43 - Jun 26 Hladky is a puzzling one. Wouldn’t have started last season if Walton wasn’t injured - came in and kept his place. Was not at his best over the latter part of the season and it’s some iffy moments. His shot to save ratio is not as good as it should be for me personally. To have a chance at staying up - we need a better shot stopper in goal. My personal opinion would be to let him go. If there is a remote chance (dream on) we should try and get Kellerher from Liverpool on loan.

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Cervantes added 12:40 - Jun 26 Hladky is batter with the ball at his feet than Walton and is a decent shot stopper. The main problem with Hladky, as I see it, is his inability to command his box and gather crosses. We're going to need a keeper who is better at collecting crosses and not getting swamped at corners. I never felt comfortable when Hladky was underneath a hanging cross. He lacks the physical presence to to collect the ball under pressure.

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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 13:10 - Jun 26 @Reality_2021 - if you guessed bottom third in save percentage (19th), you'd be correct. But that beats the half year he started for us in L1, when he finished at the very bottom for save percentage in the entire league.
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Facefacts added 20:46 - Jun 26 No one will take Walton off our hands based on his performances since his plantar injury. So, if he can come back and do well, great. He will need a run of games. If he doesn't get back in, he will be let go at the end of his contract.
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leagueonescum added 19:05 - Jun 29 He reminds me of a waiter carrying 10 pints to your table on a tray. He makes you nervous but you hope he gets the job done. His ball control isn't good enough, he struggles to play out from the back and that's what's required of a modern keeper. Good luck and move on I say.
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