Josh Carson (right) in action against Blackpool last month
POLL: Josh Carson set to sign contract but no news on Tommy Smith
By Dave Gooderham
Thursday, February 2, 2012
7:34 PM
PAUL Jewell has admitted he is confident Josh Carson will sign his new deal with Ipswich Town next week – but fellow young gun Tommy Smith might have to wait until the end of the season to have his fate decided.
The Blues boss yesterday gave mixed messages over the future of two of his brightest youngsters. The majority of supporters want to see Carson’s future sorted and Jewell is confident the teenager will sign a three-year contract next week. But the future of 21-year-old Smith is less certain.
Of the young duo, Jewell confirmed: “I am meeting Josh’s agent on Tuesday or Wednesday to try and finalise that deal, but I am confident it will go ahead. We haven’t spoken to Tommy.
“Sometimes you think lets see what happens at the end of the season. If players perform until the end of the season, it will put them in a stronger position. It might weaken our hand but we will deal with the contracts on an individual basis.”
Talks with Carlos Edwards have stalled of late and we understand the winger-turned-defender would have to accept reduced terms to remain at Portman Road.
But Jewell reiterated his stance over Jason Scotland maintaining the striker would be selected regardless of a contract clause that states he will get a new deal on the same terms if he makes 19 league starts this season.
With Scotland just three away from that target, he was surprisingly dropped in favour of Michael Chopra in Tuesday night’s fantastic win over West Ham.
But Jewell quickly shot down any conspiracy theories and only spoke about the 32-year-old yesterday in glowing terms.
With 11 players’ futures still to be decided, the contract saga is likely to rumble on until the end of the season. The full list is Carson, Smith, Edwards, Scotland, club captain Grant Leadbitter, Richard Wright, Lee Bowyer, Ibrahima Sonko, Mark Kennedy and young duo Cody Cropper and Cormac Burke.
But Jewell seems untroubled by the repeat of last season’s fiasco, insisting: “If any players are doing really well here, we don’t let the contracts run out.”
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6 comments
Rob: By “outstanding central defender in the youth team”, are you talking about Jide Madauko?
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Pete James
Monday, February 6, 2012
Rob Steroo is not a blue, is not a blue. Rob Steroo is not a blue, he loves Norwich.
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Roy
Friday, February 3, 2012
Steroo. Your point of view is demoralising and useless. Love Paul xx
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Paul The Alien
Friday, February 3, 2012
The more news EADT report coming out of PR via Jewell's lips in particular, the more contradictory and confusing it becomes. He's the one that plays Edwards out of position and then offers him less for any new deal. Last summer he said that the out of contract fiasco would not happen again ' but it has'. This time he seems untroubled, saying if players are doing well we don't let contracts run out.Well they did last season with McAuley & Norris. So why should season Ticket holders renew for next season when all this uncertainty exists and whilst Evans spokesman CEO Clegg remains as silent as his boss remains invisible ?
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Brian Betts
Friday, February 3, 2012
Rob do you get turned on by perpetually writing negative stuff about Town? Is it your way of getting attention or do you really believe all the bull you actually write about? I for one would love to know.
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FRANK WESTON
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tommy Smith, unfortunately will have to wait patiently for Jewell to be sacked as he has gone backwards under this crass manager's sustained and demoralising uselessness. However, those few of your readers who have seen both Smith play and an outstanding looking central defender in the youth team would note he should not be in the team much longer, even if Jewell gets in yet another batch of dud central defenders
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Rob Steroo
Friday, February 3, 2012