SHANE Supple has pledged himself to Ipswich Town by agreeing a new one-year extension to his contract.

Elvin King

SHANE Supple has pledged himself to Ipswich Town by agreeing a new one-year extension to his contract.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper was offered the new deal by manager Roy Keane last week and, after considering his options over the weekend, it is understood that he is prepared to commit himself to the Blues for the 2009/10 campaign.

The deal has not been signed yet, and may not be completed for a few days. But Supple is happy to stay at Portman Road and push Richard Wright for the goalkeeper's jersey.

Supple has played just one Carling Cup game for the last two seasons after making his debut as a substitute for Lewis Price at Leicester early in the 2005/06 campaign.

He made 23 appearances that term after helping Town win the FA Youth Cup the previous year.

In 2006/07, Republic of Ireland-born Supple made 13 appearances but the following campaign he sat on the bench as understudy to Neil Alexander until January before going on loan to Falkirk and playing four times.

This season he joined Joe Royle when the former Town manager took charge of Oldham in March but injured a knee and returned to Portman Road, having made four starts towards the end of last month.

He is desperate to play regular first team football but is following the example of Alex Bruce who signed a new two-year deal yesterday.

Both see a bright future for Town under new manager Roy Keane and with Supple having years of playing days ahead of him, he is prepared to act as cover for Wright and ensure that the former England keeper is kept on his toes.

Keane sees Supple as a youngster with a future in the game, and is happy to keep him onboard and strengthen the squad in other areas - up front for example - which he has identified.

Midfielder Ed Upson, also offered a new deal to follow the one that expires next month, is also set to sign on the dotted line.

The 19-year-old is also expected to agree a one-year deal that will give him a chance to force himself into the first-team reckoning after a season when his career made little progress.