McAuley grabbed his first goal of the season against Millwall on Tuesday

Ipswich Town defender Gareth McAuley says he is in no rush to get a new contract finalised at the club.

Talks have yet to commence on extending the 30-year-old's deal, which is set to run out at the end of the season.

McAuley told BBC Radio Suffolk: "There's nothing at the minute, it's not a big issue or a big deal.

"It's not something that's at the forefront of my mind or anything. I'm not panicking or worrying about it, it's business as usual."

Town boss Roy Keane had stated a week ago that he was eager for the club's board to open up discussions with a number of players who could become free agents next summer.

But McAuley is remaining coy on whether he would welcome the prospect of an extended stay at Portman Road.

"It's always a possibility. But there's nothing happening so I can't really comment.

"But I do enjoy being at the club, playing here and things are good off the field as well," he added.

I changed my agent not long after the thing about whether or not I was going Ipswich defender Gareth McAuley

"I've just got to keep playing and those things look after themselves."

The new campaign has signalled a fresh start for the Northern Irishman, who has been named in Nigel Worthington's squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.

Despite being a first-team regular last season, the former Leicester centre-half was regularly linked with a move away from Ipswich, with speculation dragging on into the summer.

"I maybe had the wrong people looking after me who were trying to do things," McAuley continued.

"I changed my agent not long after the thing about whether or not I was going and I may have had people trying to turn my head when I wasn't really interested.

"You need someone who's working on your behalf, with your thoughts and feelings in mind."

McAuley has not only been an ever-present in the Championship so far this term, but has encompassed Town's new-found resolute approach, something he puts down to a clean bill of health.

"I just feel fit and strong, the last two seasons I've had injuries in pre-season," he continued.

"This time things have been done spot on, we got a good result on the first day and we've been able to move on from that."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version