IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell says that he’s confident that money will be available to meet skipper David Norris’ wage demands later in the year.

The 30-year-old will be his usual key self in tonight’s Championship game at Pride Park against Derby County (kick-off 7.45pm).

Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill conceded defeat on trying to sign the midfielder prior to the transfer window closing last night.

Norris is one of 22 Town players who are now in effect worth nothing to the club as they are out of contract by the time transfers can take place again in the summer.

Jewell, who has had little time to assess his players, has set Norris a challenge – ‘to show that you’re worth a better deal than the one that you’ve turned down here’.

“I’ve spoken to David Norris, Gareth McAuley and a couple of other senior players among the 22 that are out of contract in the summer,” said Jewell.

“Basically they don’t want to leave.

“I have said to them ‘Give us everything you’ve got to the end of the season as we need points’.

“The ball will then be in their court – they will be holding all the cards.

“We can talk further as we go along, but there is no issue with the players. They said both happy to stay here.

“They are good professionals, and have a chance to make it difficult for us not to offer them better deals than at the moment.

“It’s a chance for them to say ‘I’m worth more than you’ve offered me’.

“And I’m confident that finances will be available for me to keep them here.”

Jewell confirmed that he would have let Norris go if they had wanted to leave adding:

“If they had already decided they wanted to play for someone else leaving would have been best for both parties as long as the fee was right.

“Players have careers to think about, and they have to look after their families. But the important thing is for them to settle down and play to the end of the season.

“If we stay in division, and with a brilliant end to season it will benefit us and benefit David and Gareth.

“The important thing is they are comfortable with the situation. That’s the main thing, and they are.

“One player told me when he came here he was told that he would not want to leave. This clubs breeds that affinity. This is one of those clubs.”

Cotterill said of the Norris situation: “It’s down to money. I wasn’t confident, but I was hopeful.”