Jason Pearce could dig his heels in over Ipswich Town move
Monday, January 30, 2012
11:03 AM
IPSWICH Town transfer target defender Jason Pearce has professed his love of employers Portsmouth.
However, the centre-back has admitted that his future could be out of his hands if his club – desperately trying to pay off a £1.6m tax bill – are forced to cash in on him.
Ipswich have offered £1.75m to Championship rivals Pompey for Pearce, versatile right-back Joel Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson.
Blues boss Paul Jewell is also understood to have muted the possibility of a swap deal involving captain Grant Leadbitter and defender Damien Delaney.
With the January transfer window closing tomorrow evening, Ipswich boss Paul Jewell watched Pearce head his side’s second goal in a 3-0 win at Peterborough on Saturday.
The 24-year-old then spoke of happiness at Fratton Park following his £300,000 summer return from Bournemouth, saying: “It’s all out of my hands.
“I love the club everyone, knows that. I want to stay here but no one knows what is going to happen with the current situation.
“I will always give 100 per cent though. It’s nice to be talked about and wanted – at the end of the day though, I’m a Portsmouth player and that’s all that matters.
“There’s a lot of talk but, at the end of the day, I’m here. I don’t know what is going to go on, I really don’t. All I can effect is what I do on the pitch. At the moment, it’s got nothing to do with me.
“With regard to the off the field stuff, if a bid is accepted, I can go and talk to them. I don’t have to accept anything, though. I just hope Portsmouth gets sorted out.”
Pompey boss Michael Appleton admits Pompey players have been ribbing Pearce and Ward – described as ‘two peas in a pod’ – in training, by calling them the ‘Tractor Boys’.
“There’s a bit of banter,” admitted Pearce. “I take it with a pinch of salt, get on with it and give 100 per cent in training and on the pitch.
“I don’t want to talk about it really. It’s got nothing to do with me. I’m a Portsmouth player and want to talk about Portsmouth.”
Reports on the south coast say that Portsmouth players haven’t been told anything about the perilous financial position the club is reportedly in ahead of a High Court hearing – set for February 20 – over their winding-up petition.
Pearce said: “We know what everyone else knows really. I see the stuff in the paper.
“They are keeping it quiet because they want to get the deal sorted. That’s good.
“We have to let people get on with it behind the scenes, concentrate on the football and let what will be, be.”
Latest Sport News See all
Poll: Tickets for Olympic torch party in Ipswich available tomorrow morning
TICKETS for an evening of Olympic celebration are about to become available, as the fabled flame winds its way across the country towards us.
8 comments
Understandably Pearce sounds very reluctant to move at all. One can only think that should he eventually have to find a new employer it wouldnt be a club like Town. Afterall given the mess at Portsmouth he will no doubt be keen to avoid jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
Report this comment
Mellow_Yellow
Monday, January 30, 2012
I can't see this deal coming to anything and it seems a waist of time and effort with Pearce seemingly unwilling to leave Portsmouth, you have to question if this deal is worth pursuing in the next 24hours if he's that intent on staying their. The likelihood of a bid being accepted in time before the transfer window closes seems slim, and if it is, contract negotiations could be very brief. But I hope I'm proved wrong as I think he's a good player along with Joe Ward. Their certainly the right type of players to be targeting but time is against us in which has proved to be a disappointing transfer window in general.
Report this comment
Quagmire
Monday, January 30, 2012
I guess by what Pearce says, he definately does not want to sign for the town or play for them and who can blame him. When you think with all Portsmouths problems they have 6 more points than clueless going nowhere town and its not hard to understand why.
Report this comment
ged scott
Monday, January 30, 2012
"muted"? That's a bit quiet, I assume you mean "mooted"
Report this comment
DaveJS
Monday, January 30, 2012
I cannot see the point of wasting time with players who are not interested in joining us. Paul Jewel has intimated that deals that are done on the last day are panic buys and yet here we are with just 24 hours remaining before the window slams shut and we are still haggling with Portsmouth only because their players might come a little cheaper than elsewhere. It seems crazy to me. We are rapidly becoming the Cheapie Charlies of the Championship!
Report this comment
FRANK WESTON
Monday, January 30, 2012
The standards of English at this newspaper are abysmal. "Blues boss Paul Jewell is also understood to have muted the possibility of a swap deal involving captain Grant Leadbitter and defender Damien Delaney." I assume you mean "mooted", as in to suggest or put forward. "Muted" means made silent. Or perhaps this is what you meant, ie that Jewell has been silenced. Whichever the case, it looks like this guy doesn't want to come anywhere near this train crash of a football club.
Report this comment
Graham de Max
Monday, January 30, 2012
As Town know from bitter experience players are in the driving seat as preferential creditors when clubs go belly up - and players also go where it suits them - irrespective of who wants to buy them. This unpleasant situation will surely unravel if two players running down their contract at Town are expected to join a club that may cease to exist.
Report this comment
Rob Steroo
Monday, January 30, 2012
OH DEAR !!,lets hope we find a quality CB before the deadline,time is running out fast.!
Report this comment
brisie58
Monday, January 30, 2012