Norris: I Want Three Years

Ipswich Town captain David Norris has revealed that contract negotiations have been held up because the club has yet to offer him a three year deal.

Norris is one of a considerable number of Town players who are set to be out of contract at the end of this season. With no extension agreed up to now, rumours have circulated over the past few weeks that the 29-year-old could be set to leave Portman Road, with Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill claiming back in January that Norris had wanted to move to Fratton Park. The midfielder was also the subject of a failed bid from Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.

However, Norris has now dismissed suggestions that he ever wished to leave Ipswich, explaining that contract talks have actually stalled because he wishes for a longer deal than that which the club has proposed to him.

‘I’m nowhere on contract talks. I had the offer two months ago, it wasn’t quite right for me,’ Norris told BBC Radio Suffolk. ‘It was for two years, I was hoping to get three and since then I haven’t heard anything.’

‘It hasn’t gone past the negotiation on years, so there’s been no big demands,’ he added.

On the subject of the Portsmouth rumours, Norris denied the claims that he wanted to join Cotterill’s side. ‘I tend to leave all that stuff to my agent away from the game,’ he said. ‘I’m settled here, the family’s settled here, I’m close to my family, it’s a great football club. The grass isn’t always greener.’

Ipswich fans will be pleased to know that the captain still wishes to stay at Portman Road, but the problem remains that the club has been unable to agree terms as yet. This may result from a desire to affirm the club’s place in the Championship before committing to a new deal for one of their biggest assets, but they may run the risk of alienating a key player. Since signing from Plymouth Argyle for around £2m in January 2008, Norris has proven indispensable for Ipswich with his impressive midfield displays. In addition, the skipper has also emerged as a surprise top scorer for the Blues, netting his 9th of the season against Sheffield United on Saturday.

Ipswich manager Paul Jewell also needs to decide upon the futures of several other first team regulars. Defender Damien Delaney, who also scored on Saturday, revealed last week that he is yet to hear from the club, whilst there has been no official news on Carlos Edwards, Gareth McAuley, and a number of additional players.