DIE-hard Town fan Martin Lambert is prepared to put his money where his mouth is in a bid to keep his hero at Portman Road.The 12-year-old has offered to give his £5 pocket money to help pay the wages of Captain Fantastic Matt Holland – and keep him out of the clutches of a bunch of Premiership clubs chasing his signature.

By Paul Geater

DIE-hard Town fan Martin Lambert is prepared to put his money where his mouth is in a bid to keep his hero at Portman Road.

The 12-year-old has offered to give his £5 pocket money to help pay the wages of Captain Fantastic Matt Holland – and keep him out of the clutches of a bunch of Premiership clubs chasing his signature.

However it would take of lot of pocket money to pay the captain's wages – Holland is believed to earn £15,000 a week as one of Town's biggest earners.

Martin, from Mill Pouch, Trimley St Mary, wrote to the Star after seeing Holland's performance in the opening day victory over Walsall.

And the Ireland international's two-goal salvo against Leicester on Sunday has brought him to the attention of Premiership bosses.

The thought of losing the star player was too much for Martin, who wrote to the Star following reports that the club was desperate to sell players to recoup loses suffered in the pain of relegation.

Holland is believed to be Town's most valuable player and is attracting the attention of Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor – earlier in the summer he was also linked with Manchester City and West Ham.

Martin wrote:

"Could the Star run a 'Keep Matty Holland' campaign?

"If every season ticket holder donated £1 for every home game in a month or so, then that would help the club pay his wages, hopefully the club would agree to keep him for at least this season. After all, we have cover in every other part of the pitch.

"Matty Holland proved at Walsall he cannot be replaced and is our only hope of getting back in the Premiership.

"I'm even happy to give a month's pocket money to start the campaign!"

Officials at Portman Road were touched to hear about Martin's gesture, and promised to tell the captain when he returns from international duty – he is currently away with Ireland for a friendly match in Helsinki against Finland.

"I'm sure Matt will want to send him some personalised things," said a spokeswoman for the club.

What do you think of the threat of a "Sale of the Century" among Town stars?

Write to Sports letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starsport@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the Premier Blues Forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk/PremierBlues/latest/forums/forumhome.asp

See tomorrow's Evening Star for more letters about the threat of major departures from Portman Road.