ALEX Bruce has agreed to sign a new two year contract with Ipswich Town.

Derek Davis

EXCLUSIVE

By Derek Davis

ALEX Bruce has agreed to sign a new two year contract with Ipswich Town.

The Blues moved decisively to keep the 25-year-old and offered him improved terms on the contract put before him in January.

The defender needed little persuasion to stay after speaking with new manager Roy Keane who has been impressed with the Republic of Ireland international's wholehearted approach to his game and training.

I can reveal that the deal was struck on Friday afternoon when Bruce met with Town chief executive Simon Clegg in the midlands.

As soon as Keane said he wanted to keep the son of his former team-mate Steve Bruce, Clegg was keen to get agreement before Alex flew abroad and contacted him in Manchester to set up the meeting.

Bruce sets off for a holiday in Dubai today and is expected to put pen to paper before he returns for pre-season training next month.

A raft of clubs had been interested in taking Bruce whose current contract expires in the summer and he looked set to leave when former manager Jim Magilton failed to show enough desire to keep him.

Bruce was Magilton's first signing when he took over as manager three years ago and brought in as a free transfer from Birmingham City.

The versatile defender has made 112 appearances for Ipswich, weighing in with two goals, his first coming at St Andrews.

Midfielder Ed Upson has also agreed a new one-year contract with the Blues after initially fearing that he was going to be released along with seven other players including Ivan Campo, Tommy Miller and Dean Bowditch.

Shane Supple has also been offered a new contract but has yet to agree terms.

Keane has yet to hold talks with Matt Richards, who is on holiday, and Dan Harding and Liam Trotter who are involved in the play-offs with loan clubs Reading and Scunthorpe United respectively.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk

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