Ipswich Town defender Damien Delaney has put pen to paper on a new contract with the Blues, with Gareth McAuley soon set to follow.
Both defenders were offered new deals in March following another impressive season at the heart of the Town defence. Delaney has now confirmed he will be staying with the Blues having signed a two year contract which includes the option of a third year, reportedly based on appearances.
The Republic of Ireland international told the Official Club Website of his delight at signing a new deal and spoke of his ambitions to help Town into the Premier League: ‘I came here to win promotion and that’s the aim. I believe we can do it and I wouldn’t have signed a new deal unless I felt that.’
‘There is a lot of optimism about the place and the results have shown that recently. There are too many positives, too much optimism to walk away from Ipswich Town.’
Meanwhile manager Paul Jewell has revealed that fellow defender Gareth McAuley has also agreed terms, with the Northern Ireland international expected to complete the formalities in the next few days.
‘We have agreed to Gareth McAuley’s terms and we are just waiting for him to say ‘yes’ to it,’, Jewell told the local press. ‘As far as I am aware, everything is done, and hopefully he will get signed.’
The news will surely come as a major relief for Ipswich fans, with the pair having proven a solid defensive partnership in the last two seasons. Of the 21 players whose contracts were set to expire in the summer, Delaney and McAuley become the second and third to agree new terms, with Carlos Edwards having already secured another year having triggered a clause in his contract. A total of nine others have also been offered new deals – Jack Ainsley, Troy Brown, Tom Eastman, Colin Healy, Conor Hourihane, Luke Hyam, Arran Lee-Barrett, Brian Murphy and Ronan Murray – though there has been no news of further signatures as yet. The situation with captain David Norris also remains unclear.
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