Boss Paul Jewell has hinted that there could be news on the Town contract situation sooner rather than later, revealing that moves to re-sign some of the 21 players whose terms are up in the summer have been going on behind the scenes.

Saturday's 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe all but secured the Blues’ Championship status, Jewell having previously stated that further talks with players would take place once that was the case.

But asked about the situation after the game, the Blues boss said that the process is up and running: “It’s already ongoing but you [the press] don’t know about it.”

Before Christmas skipper David Norris and key defender Gareth McAuley turned down deals, while Damien Delaney, Brian Murphy and Colin Healy are amongst the other senior players whose contracts are up at the end of the season.

Carlos Edwards is understood to have already triggered a clause in his current deal which will see the Trinidadian remain at Portman Road for a further season.

Overall, Jewell felt claiming the victory was the most significant aim against Scunthorpe on Saturday: “It’s important to keep a clean sheet and win a game. Scunthorpe are fighting for their lives and it was a potential banana skin.

“The points were the main thing today because we’ve lost the last three home games. People will look at the table expecting us to beat Scunthorpe but it’s not like that, they’ve taken points off Notts Forest and Swansea over the last two or three weeks.

“It’s all about results. People say they want to see great games and lose 4-3, but they don’t, they want to see their sides win.

“I thought we passed the ball really well at times in the first half. If you analyse the game we dominated it for large periods without killing it game off.”

The Blues boss said he wasn’t sure whether Lee Martin should have won a penalty in the second half, the midfielder receiving a yellow card for diving which took him to 10 bookings for the season and sees him miss the next two games.

“If it was [a penalty], we can’t appeal and that’s a disappointment. That’s something he’s got to sharpen up on — it’s not as if he’s a tough-tackling winger, is he?," said Jewell.

“He’ll have to be careful in the future, whether that’s dissent or silly fouls, but I thought he was good against Scunthorpe.”

Jewell outlined why he switched Connor Wickham to the lone central striking role for the first time since he’s been at the club: “I just thought he’d give us a bit more energy and directness down the side of people today, as he showed with the chance we had in the first minute when he chased the long ball down, crossed it and Lee Martin got it back.

“He gives us that but he’s still learning the game. He’s caught between the devil and deep blue sea at the moment, but I thought that with his pace and his power he was always a threat.

“I’m happy to play him there if I think it’s the best way to go. He’s nearly 18 and it’s not as if it’s a lone furrow, we’ve got three midfielders who are all trying to join him and two wingers to help him. The best way to find out if people are good enough is to stick them in the team.”

On which note, Jewell felt debutant Josh Carson had a decent enough afternoon: “He did OK. He’s a really confident lad and he’s going to be a good player. He’s hungry, it didn’t faze him, but obviously it’s a big, big step up for him and he’ll be all the better for the game.”

The Blues now have a fortnight before their next game, at Burnley, with the manager feeling that a rest is very much required: “I’m looking forward to the two-week break. I think we’ve had a lot of games, the most in the Championship with the League Cup, something like 46 matches.

“We’re looking for a break, but unfortunately the lads who are off on international duty won’t get one. Everyone else will get the odd day off and it gives us two weeks to try and catch our breath.”

Photo: Action Images

uppersirbob added 15:10 - Mar 21 Of course jewell is going to say that talks in background season tickets sales depends on players signing just hope its true and macauley norris delaney sign up
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Garv added 15:25 - Mar 21 McAuley and Delaney yes please, Norris can, quite frankly, do one. Use his wages, and Leadbitter's on Bullard, and buy a cheap replacement, looking at drury, he has impressed me more in a few games than the £2.6m man has in almost two years.
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CleverTrevor added 15:33 - Mar 21 Keep McAuley, lose Delaney and Norris. Sell Peters too (he's obviously never going to play), along with Priskin and Scotland - then get in a new CH, two new strikers and another creative midfielder.
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Garv added 15:35 - Mar 21 ...and drury cost 150k!
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triggs21 added 15:55 - Mar 21 Ipswich Town would be in serious trouble but for Norris and his goals this season ... It fine saying replace him, but whoever you replace him with must score goals otherwise your no better off, if it is Bullard who signs then that's ok because he has shown he can score goals from Midfield but if it's not it has to be some one who can take over the midfield scoring from Norris.

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DiamondGezzer added 16:02 - Mar 21 Hope we hear some good news very soon. Personally, I'd sign Macauley, Delainey and Norris - just my humble and personal opinion. But there, I'd also sign Delia and put her in charge of the pies !
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blue_beats_yellow added 16:08 - Mar 21 Bullard would not be a good replacement for Norris. Bullard would be a superb addition to the squad with his technique and character but not a replacement for Norris. Norris is the engine, flying around and putting in tackles. Bullard and Norris would work well together, both can score and would compliment each other. We need to keep Mac, he's the best defender at the club by far. Delaney makes way to many mistakes, he's either brilliant (v Arsenal) or useless (v Norwich, Watfrod etc).

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Ipswich24 added 16:46 - Mar 21 McAulay has to stay no question, Norris is 90% there for me well I am undecided on Delaney we have Tommy Smith and Troy Brown and am sure could get someone with more pace to paly alongside McAualy.
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Bergholtblue added 17:03 - Mar 21 People have started to get on Norris's back, but he gets suspended/injured and out for two games, we play awful, he returns and we win. If and that is a big if, we sign Bullard, there is no way he will last all 40 odd games next season. We will then rely on Norris to run the midfield. Leadbitter can go, since Bullard's arrival, it has shown what a poor delivery of a set ball Leadbitter has, and to think he used to take every corner and free kick. Credit where credit is due he took a good penalty, but if Bullard does come, then Leadbitter is superfluous.

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jas0999 added 17:05 - Mar 21 Let's hope for good news soon.
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Lamby95 added 17:34 - Mar 21 Those of you calling for Norris to go you must be blind. Every midfield needs an engine and with Norris we have that. Also in a 4-5-1 he gets forward and his runs made the difference IMO against scunny. He effectively showed us what we missed against reading and Watford.
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TractorMan added 17:36 - Mar 21 With our bid for St Ledger in January, there is clearly some thought in Jewells mind about replacing one of Delaney or McCauley as you don't spend that kind of money to sit on the bench. With Preston almost certain to go down, then I can see him leaving as they will need the money. He's fairly quick for a CD, but only 5ft11.
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Garv added 17:53 - Mar 21 Good point tractorman, I quite like centre halfs that are 6ft 3/4, St Ledger is a lot smaller than that!
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itfc1981 added 18:22 - Mar 21 Come on Scunny beat the scum next time out!
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bluelady added 19:12 - Mar 21 St Ledger is left footed i believe so will be Delaney replacment... maybe thats why Smith is out on loan then Jewell can see if he is happy with the two as his left footed Centre Halves. It is also no co-incendence that we win far more games with Norris than without, he works tireleslly if not the prettiest footballer he is one of the most commited.
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Mark added 19:32 - Mar 21 I would sign all three up, as there is little point letting players leave for free. Delaney, McAuley and Norris cost us around £4M! I agree that Norris is the engine of the midfield, and I share the concern about what Leadbitter does. Grant hasn't scored from open play for about 18 months and although he works hard I don't agree with Keane's view that "he should be playing in the Premier League" as was said at the AGM. Would it not be better to sign up Norris and then sell Leadbitter? (if we can). I suspect we would only get a third of the £2.7M we paid for him, but Leadbitter is not helping our goals for tally.

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kevlowestoft added 19:34 - Mar 21 The one thing that we did well on saturday was defend very high up the pitch. This was down to Norris / Wickham and the very impressive Lee Martin. With P Jewell wanting to play 4-4-2 next season it would be hard to see where the likes of Norris and Bullard (if he stays) play. With Martin getting better with games and confidence (and good man management) would he play Norris / Bullard in the Centre? Could Bullard do the tough tackling holding role or would Norris be expected to do that? Interesting times ahead....You could see Saturday why PJ thinks 4-5-1 suits us. Kennedy looks old and slow and i cant see Edwards happy playing at RBack all next season...As i Say, an very interesting summer ahead. Trust PJ though he has a good back room team and will get it right given the backing. All agree???

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JoshTheLad added 19:51 - Mar 21 Sign up McAuley, Delaney please! Theyve acted like one of the best c/b partnerships in the league! and they are pretty consistent!
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MickMillsTash added 19:58 - Mar 21 Delaney- accident waiting to happen, poor on the ball, loses concentration, not a leader. I like him but I would not renew. Norris- injured, suspended- only missed in the team because what comes in his place is not good- I think we can do better for less McCauley- Excellent but of the 3, I guess he will be hardest to keep. Drury- is his first touch very good? Leadbetter- great when he first came to the club but the club has been a shambles for the last 2 years and he has lost his way, has showed a range of passing, can shoot - he is a proper footballer. We need to keep off his back until Jewell can the best out of him.

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broomfield123 added 21:11 - Mar 21 Sell mac,dd,leadbetter, murphy , civelli and let smith ,eastman , oconner , and brown play at the back and give reggie lambe a go. Also nothing wrong with hyam . Buy some quality experience like bullard and perhaps a couple more quality youngsters and build a good young team
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Blue041273 added 22:22 - Mar 21 Broomfield123, Get a grip. You clearly have no understanding of the situation. We can't sell Mac or DD; they are free agents and with Norris can walk away in less than 2 months for nothing. Leadbitter, Murphy and Civelli won't be sold if it's not in their interests. While we want to develop youth talent recent experience has shown that we can't trust our fortunes on youth alone. Eastman, Brown and Lambe are currently back up players. That is very important in the wider perspective but it would not be fair on them or the paying public to saddle them with the responsibility of taking us up a level.

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Garv added 22:26 - Mar 21 Thanks broomfield, I needed a laugh.
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Bobby_Petta added 11:46 - Mar 22 Keep McCauley, his been our best player, would lose Norris, sorry but very over rated, can't pass and on a lot of money. We need to move to a 4-4-2 get a decent winger with pace in, Try and get Bullard, if not try someone like Darren Pratley of Swansea (if they don't go up). Would sell Priskin & Scotland, get Billy Sharp. What ever happens I trust Paul Jewell!
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Dorsetblue added 13:50 - Mar 22 I would keep Norris as we miss him when he is not there. Not the best leader but he does try not like some of the squad. McCauley is a person I would try and sign but it's an open market place and I can guess what his agent is saying! Bet it's not sign for Ipswich.... I feel sorry for Peters, never really had a bag game but never gets a game. I get the feeling that a large number of players will be leaving the club come the summer and some we don't expect to as well. Hopefully Jewell can do better in the market place then Keane did..

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Back_The_Boss added 07:51 - Mar 23 Sign him up, sign him up, sign him up!
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