OUTSTANDING prospects Owen Garvan, Matt Richards and Scott Barron have been offered new deals while Jason De Vos has pledged the rest of his playing career to Ipswich Town.

OUTSTANDING prospects Owen Garvan, Matt Richards and Scott Barron have been offered new deals while Jason De Vos has pledged the rest of his playing career to Ipswich Town.

Dutchman Fabian Wilnis has been offered another year on his contract as the Blues start preparations for next season.

Manager Joe Royle is delighted the players are being secured but is leaving contract talks to chairman David Sheepshanks.

He said: “The chairman is in talks with the players' agents and I'm happy to leave all the discussions up to him.”

Ipswich Town have told De Vos they are keen to pick up the option on his contract to keep him at Portman Road until 2008, but De Vos would love to stay even longer and see out his playing days with the Blues.

De Vos said: “My agent tells me the club are picking up the option of another year on my contract and that is great. There is not too much to discuss really. They want me to stay and I want to stay.

“I'm delighted to be here. I have never enjoyed being at a club so much and I can see myself finishing my career here at Ipswich.

“ I tell the young kids here how lucky they are to be at Portman Road. Darren Currie and I started out at Third Division clubs where we trained on the local park with the dogs coming along and doing their business while you were training.

“We have great facilities here with marvellous support staff and great coaching, and I tell the young lads the standards will only be lower if you go elsewhere - unless you are like Darren Bent and move to a Premiership club.”

De Vos is expected to take over as club skipper from Jim Magilton when the Irishman leaves at the end of the season as he plans to do.

The Canadian defender praised the job Magilton does and the influence he still has.

He said: “Jim picks passes that no one else can see. He is such a great competitor and leader and that rubs off on everyone.”

January player of the month Wilnis has been in outstanding form again this season and has also been offered a new one-year deal.

De Vos said: “Not only have I played alongside but I have played against Fabian so I know what a good player he is. Fab is keeping Sito out of the team and he has been a tremendous value signing and made a big impact too.”