 Monday, 2nd May 2011 08:48 Defender Damien Delaney says he would be delighted if the Blues signed loanee Jimmy Bullard permanently in the summer. The Irishman says Bullard has told him that he wants to stay at Portman Road. Delaney said: “I most certainly hope they do sign him. I think the lads would love him to stay, not only for what he gives you on the pitch but he’s a good lad to have around in the changing room. “There’s never a dull minute with him. He’s a good lad and I’m sure the club will be working away behind the scenes to get him in. “I know for a fact that he wants to stay here. He said to me that if something got sorted out now, he’d stay. He wants to stay, so it’s just up to the two clubs really to sort something out.” The 29-year-old believes the Hull City man would be worth the considerable outlay it would cost owner and chairman Marcus Evans: “He’s worth it. I know there are limitations and it’s not my money that’s going out and the club has a structure in place, but you’ve seen what he’s brought to the club in the last 16 games. “He gives you a real buzz and gives a feel-good factor around the place. Hopefully something can be sorted out.” On precisely what he brings to life off the field Delaney wouldn’t be drawn: “I couldn’t tell you, if I did, you wouldn’t believe me! “He’s a good lad, he’s funny and you just tend to hear him before you tend to see him, every day in the changing room. He’s just puts a smile on everyone’s face. On top of that he does a good job on the pitch.” But however much he wants him at the club Delaney says he wouldn’t want to share a room with him: “I don’t think he has a room-mate. I wouldn’t room with him, not in a million years. I don’t think he sleeps!” The former Hull City, QPR and Leicester man was unable to say whether team-mates Gareth McAuley or David Norris will join him in signing a new Town contract: “I don’t know, I can’t say whether they’re staying or not. I haven’t seen much of Gareth because he’s been injured. “I think Chuck was in for more talks on Thursday or Friday but I don’t know what came out of them. I know I’m not giving you much but hand on my heart, I don’t actually know. “I know they do want to stay but I’m sure if they get better offers then they’re both grown men and they’ll both make up their minds, and if they decide to go, then they’ll go.” Delaney himself had little hesitation in signing a deal which will keep him at Portman Road for up to three years depending on appearances in his second season: “For me it was simple. The fact that after Norwich 18,000 still showed up today shows the type of club that’s here, the type of fans that are here. “To be honest, after the Norwich game, I was expecting nine or ten thousand to show up, which would have been more than justified, to be honest with you. It just shows you how dedicated the true fans are to the club. “That, plus the training ground, it’s a lovely area to live and I’m quite settled and happy here. “Is there anywhere better than Ipswich in the Championship? I’m not sure there is. I’ve been to a few Championship clubs, I’ve had my fair share. If you could get this place right, then it could be one of the biggest in the Championship.” The Cork-born defender admits that the Blues have underperformed in recent seasons: “Anyone who looks back over the last two years and says that mid-table mediocrity is good enough for this club isn’t all there. “This club deserves to be higher, deserves to do better, but until someone actually does it we’ll continue to languish in the middle of the Championship. “I’ve got faith in the manager. I’ve got a lot of belief in him. He’s consistent in everything he says to us and he’s done it twice before. I just hope to God that next year we can get it right and return this club to where it should be. As for Saturday’s victory over Preston, the central defender was downbeat about the second half display in particular: “A win’s a win, I suppose, but they were there for the taking really. We did our jobs in the first half and then for whatever reason allowed them back into the game. “It pretty much summed up our season really. We got so far and then took our foot off the gas in the second half and let them get back into the game.” Meanwhile, according to one of this morning's tabloids, Doncaster Rovers have slapped a £2.5 million price tag on striker Billy Sharp. The Blues are believed to be one of a number of clubs chasing the 25-year-old.
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