IPSWICH midfield ace Jermaine Wright will definitely be offered a new contract at Portman Road, boss Joe Royle revealed today.Wright, 28, is one of eight senior stars whose current deals expire in the summer, with some on tenterhooks about their futures, not only at Ipswich, but in the game generally.

IPSWICH midfield ace Jermaine Wright will definitely be offered a new contract at Portman Road, boss Joe Royle revealed today.

Wright, 28, is one of eight senior stars whose current deals expire in the summer, with some on tenterhooks about their futures, not only at Ipswich, but in the game generally.

But Royle insisted: “Jermaine Wright will be offered a new contract - there is absolutely no doubt about that. I would dearly love to keep him at the club.”

Town are in no position to do business with any of their out-of-contract stars and will begin negotiations when their own immediate future is resolved.

Royle admitted: “It is going to depend on the finances and they will depend on whether we are still playing in the First Division or have moved up to the Premiership.

“We are still running a very tight ship. Promises have been made and we must abide by them - but it is safe to say that Jermaine will be made an offer.”

Wright, a £500,000 recruit from Crewe almost five years ago, has started every fixture since the start of September - an ever-present run of 42 games in which he has taken his goal tally for the season to five.

Town fans were today recording their votes in the annual player of the year poll and Royle said: “I would think Jamma would be on a lot of people's short lists for the award.

“Nobody ever doubted his talent, but he has allied that to consistency and that applies to every position in which he has played.

“He is in the prime of his career at the moment and there is no reason why he can't go on to play well into his 30s, as Jim Magilton has done.

“I was misquoted a few weeks when it seemed I was saying he should be playing for England. That's not what I said - I said Jamma had the talent to play for his country, which is entirely different.

“You need a lot more than talent to play for England, but there's no doubt in my mind that there have been less talented players who have won senior caps.

“It's only two or three years ago that Tord Grip made no secret of the fact that he was looking at Jamma on behalf of Sven Goran Eriksson. Nothing came of it then, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the end of it.

“Jamma has the ability, the fitness, the consistency and when you put it all together, along with the fact that he is a lot more mature as a player, it's an attractive package.”

Wright is dreaming of a double date at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in May and has already booked himself one trip - to cheer on boyhood favourites Millwall in the FA Cup Final against Manchester United.

He is also aiming to be back in Wales a week later, as Ipswich look to repeat their play-off final success of 2000 when he was a key member of the side.