JASON De Vos today looked beyond the end of his current contract and said: “I want to be part of the exciting times ahead for Ipswich Town.”The Blues skipper, who will turn 34 on Wednesday, plans to start talks with manager Jim Magilton soon about signing an extension to his current contract that comes to an end in the summer.

By Elvin King

JASON De Vos today looked beyond the end of his current contract and said: “I want to be part of the exciting times ahead for Ipswich Town.”

The Blues skipper, who will turn 34 on Wednesday, plans to start talks with manager Jim Magilton soon about signing an extension to his current contract that comes to an end in the summer.

The former Canadian international central defender has not missed a start this season after undergoing an operation last spring on a troublesome long-standing foot problem.

He says that it feels as though he is playing with a new foot, and added: “It is an honour and a privilege to captain this wonderful football club.

“I have been playing football since I was seven years old, and my time at Portman Road has been my most enjoyable.

“When you reach the ripe old age of 30 you appreciate every game that much more.

“With the takeover and the fact that we go into the New Year perfectly placed to make a promotion challenge there are exciting times ahead for Ipswich Town.

“And I want to be part of that.

“Reaching the play-offs or better are our goals for this season, and anything less than that will be a big disappointment.”

Magilton has confirmed that he is looking to strengthen the spine of his team in next month's transfer window when he will have part of the £12million invested into the Blues by wealthy entrepreneur Marcus Evans to spend.

The arrival of a central defender is on the cards with Hibernians' Rob Jones reported to be on Magilton's shopping list.

But De Vos has never been dropped since he arrived at Ipswich from Wigan on a free transfer in the summer of 2004, and the player who began his career with the Montreal Impact looks capable of at least another season - whether in the Championship or the Premier League.