LEWIS Price will look to leave Ipswich Town if Richard Wright signs.The Blues keeper is not prepared to kick his heels on the bench as a number two and will seek to find a club where he will be offered a regular start.

By Derek Davis

LEWIS Price will look to leave Ipswich Town if Richard Wright signs.

The Blues keeper is not prepared to kick his heels on the bench as a number two and will seek to find a club where he will be offered a regular start.

Price is prepared to fight for his place but knows if Wright, or any other more experienced keeper, is signed then they will be brought in as the number one and he is not prepared to take a back seat.

Speaking exclusively to the EADT, Price said: “If someone else comes in then I will have to consider my future. I have played a lot this season and feel I have done alright so

“I know people say they want an experienced keeper but you can only get experience by playing.

“That is what I want do at my age and if I want to progress my career I need to be playing.”

Although he has missed the past three games with a bruised foot, he edged ahead of Shane Supple Price four games into the season and has been regarded as the number one Town keeper since.

He is not afraid of going head to head with another keeper but is also realistic enough to know if former England keeper Wright is signed he will be pushed down the pecking order and at aged 22 feels he has earned the right to be considered a number one in his own right somewhere.

Price said: “I would like to think I would be able to give anyone a run for their money but the fact is if someone is brought in then they will clearly be brought in as a number one and I don't want to sit at a club now and not be seen as a number one.

“Don't get me wrong, I like competition because it brings the best out of you but I want to be at a club where I'm considered a number one.

“I don't expect to automatically be number one and would have to work to be number one but if someone is brought in because of their experience it is obvious they will be seen as the number one and they will expect to be seen as the number one and that is no good for me now.

“When I was younger and Kelvin (Davis) was here he was understandably seen as number one and I was starting off.

“But now I have played and gained a lot of experience and got better and feel I deserve my place.”

Price, who is keen to stay at Portman Road, has spoken with manager Jim Magilton about the situation but has not requested a transfer yet and admits it is still early days

The Wales keeper is on the books with same Stellar Group agency as Wright but has not been in contact with his agent yet and insists no moves are afoot.

He said: “It is all ifs and buts at the moments and I will cross the bridge when I have too.

“I have spoken to the manager and as we speak nothing has been finalised.

“I have not heard anything about any deals being struck and my agent has not been in touch telling me any clubs are interested yet.

“I will sit down and weigh up what is best for my future.

“I don't want to leave. I love the club, I like the way it is going but if someone comes in then I would have to consider what is best.”

A scan has shown that Price has deep bruising to a foot and while that means he will be on the bench tomorrow, he intends to join up with Wales, who qualifies for through his Welsh dad.

He said: “I'm not sure why I was left out last time, perhaps it was because I had to drop out of the Northern Ireland friendly because I had a thigh injury.

“Whatever, I'm happy to be back in the squad. Hopefully I will be okay to play.

“The bruising on the foot is not enough for me to pull me out of the squad. If the club don't want me to go then there is nothing I can do but I want to play and I'm determined to get back the starting spot. I want to go away and at least have the chance.”

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