Town skipper Jim Magilton will be offered a new 12-month contract when his current deal is up in the summer. Magilton, 35 this May, joined the Blues for £682,500 from Sheffield Wednesday in March 1999 after a successful loan spell.

Club boss Joe Royle is full of praise for Magilton who took over the Town captaincy in the summer: "There is no doubting Jim's worth to out club. He is a very influential player

"There are few players who can influence matches in professional football these days and very few in the First Division. Jim is one of them."

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