DARREN Currie today pleaded with the Ipswich Town board: “Don't split the team up.”The Blues' promotion hopes were shattered in a 4-2 aggregate defeat by Championship play-off opponents West Ham.

DARREN Currie today pleaded with the Ipswich Town board: “Don't split the team up.”

The Blues' promotion hopes were shattered in a 4-2 aggregate defeat by Championship play-off opponents West Ham.

Currie has already set his sights on glory in the 2005-06 campaign, but he fears Town could lose some of their most highly-prized stars.

He said: “There are a few players out of contract and there are a few quality players that teams in the Premier League will be trying to sniff out.

“Personally I hope everyone can stay together, the gaffer can add to the team and we can put right what's gone wrong and go up automatically next season.

“I cannot guess what is happening with other players, but I just hope to God that everyone stays together because it is a great team and a great club at which to be.

“We will be there or thereabouts next season.”

Currie had no complaints about the play-offs system, despite Ipswich finishing 12 points ahead of West Ham in the regular season.

He said: “It is harsh but everyone knows from the start of the season that if you finish third you are in the play-offs and that's the way it was for us.

“We have been in the top three all year and finished with a large amount of points.

“If we can aim for 85 points again next season hopefully that will take us up.

“Although I'm down now, I'm looking forward to next season already.”

When Currie, who is 31 later this year, joined Ipswich from Brighton last December, he declared that his dream was to play in the Premiership.

Despite the setback in the play-offs this year, he remains confident he can fulfil his ambitions while at Portman Road.

“We have to build on this year,” said Currie. “It has obviously finished very disappointingly, but there are a lot of positives that we can take from it.

“I'm sure the club is going in the right direction and I'm really pleased to be a part of that.

“Every player is quality, a very good footballer, but the team spirit and togetherness is frightening.

“Ipswich will be trying to get in the Premiership next season and this is the club with whom I want to have my chance in the Premier League.

“Although I'm down now, I have had a fine season and enjoyed myself. Things could have gone better in the end but I'm still happy with what has happened to me over the last six or seven months.

“It's a bitter pill to swallow at the moment with the way the whole season has come to a grinding halt.”