Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says rumours linking his players with moves away from Portman Road have had a negative effect.
Christophe Berra has been continuously linked with a move back to Scotland, to be nearer to his four-year-old daughter, while inspirational captain Luke Chambers saw a much-publicised move to former club Nottingham Forest, break down on January’s transfer deadline day.
Meanwhile, second-choice goalkeeper Dean Gerken has been linked in recent times with a move to the Blues’ opponents on Saturday, Cardiff City, and McCarthy says such stories are not welcome.
The Blues boss, whose side are seven points clear of the Championship’s bottom three, with nine games to go, said: “There are rumours about him (Berra) moving and I think there have been a few stories that have had a bit of an affect on the place really, which we don’t need
“We had Chambo (Luke Chambers) with Forest on deadline day and there was rumours about Gerks (Dean Gerken) and Cardiff for a time, and then Bezza (Berra).
“It does us no favours and we have just got to try and get enough points.”
McCarthy, who did confirm that Jonathan Douglas would leave Ipswich when his two-year contract comes to an end in the summer, added: “When we get enough points that we are certain to stay in this league, there are a number of discussions to be had.”
Berra, Chambers and Gerken are all out of contract in the summer, but the club have the option to extend their deals for another year.
Berra was quizzed on his future at today’s pre-match press conference, but refused to be drawn on anything beyond the end of the season.
The Scottish international, who has played 178 times for the Blues since joining on a free transfer in the summer of 2013, said: “At the moment I am just focused on playing for Ipswich, giving 110% for these last nine games and just go from there.”
Berra, who began his career with Hearts and added that he’d not had any discussion with the club over his future, explained: “I do have a four-year-old daughter back in Scotland and she means the world to me.
“At the moment I am at Ipswich and my job is to give my all until the end of the season so far, see us through and get as many points as possible.”
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