TOMMY Smith has admitted he is unsure where he will be playing his football next season.

The Blues centre-back has no doubt he wants to remain with Ipswich – but won’t put pen to paper unless he gets assurances that he will be in and around the first team squad.

His concern has not been helped by the fact Paul Jewell has offered new deals to fellow youngsters Josh Carson, Luke Hyam and Ronan Murray while contract talks with the New Zealand international have not been so forthcoming.

But the 21-year-old, who has started the last three games for Town, is in no rush himself to commit to the club, who last night had a second bid for Portsmouth pair Jason Pearce and Joel Ward turned down.

He explained: “I haven’t really spoken to him (Jewell) about the contract situation. There is a little bit of uncertainty as I want to play as high a standard as I can and you want the security of knowing you are going to be playing football next season.

“I want to be part of first team plans and if I am, I would be delighted to stay.”

Arguably through injuries and loanee Danny Collins returning to Stoke, Smith is currently a pivotal member of the Blues backline.

And while Jewell has continued his interest in Pompey defender Pearce, Smith will be confident that he can keep his place following Ibrahima Sonko’s high-profile errors against Leeds United on Saturday.

But the young defender admitted that his first thoughts are on helping to shore up a dismal defensive backline as Town edge worryingly close to a century of goals conceded in just over a year under Jewell.

The 3-1 defeat against Leeds brought the unwanted tally to 98 and with league leaders West Ham on the horizon, Ipswich are going to have to somehow stop the rot to have any chance of moving away from the bottom three.

As for his own uncertain future, Smith added: “From my point of view, I just want to keep staying in that team and doing as well as I can.

“Hopefully the results will turn and then if they come to me, they come to me. First and foremost in my mind is try and stay in the team, do as well as I can for Ipswich and if they offer me a new deal, happy days.”