Town boss Paul Jewell is understood to want to add his former Wigan and Derby chief scout David Hamilton to his Portman Road staff. Hamilton was until recently working as chief scout at Walsall, having been appointed by Blues assistant boss Chris Hutchings during his time as manager at the Bescot Stadium.

Speaking on Monday, Jewell confirmed that he would be looking to shake up the club’s scouting set-up: “I want to add to it, it’s something we need to add to and something which is ongoing.

“We’re always, always trying to improve. Our scouts are looking at 20 games a week to try and improve our squad. I’m happy with the squad but I’m trying to improve it to give more competition.”

Hamilton, 50, joined Jewell’s Wigan staff in 2002, having been a player alongside the Town manager during his time at Springfield Park.

The Latics’ first ever full-time chief scout, the South Shields-born former midfielder was the man responsible for bringing Jimmy Bullard and Antonio Valencia to the JJB Stadium, the Honduran eventually moving on to Manchester United for £16 million in June 2009.

Hamilton was reunited with the new Blues boss and Hutchings at Derby in 2007 but was sacked by Nigel Clough shortly after he took over at Pride Park, along with another Jewell appointment, general manager Bill Green, who was recently appointed chief scout at Leicester. Hamilton subsequently joined Hutchings at Walsall in June 2009 but left in the wake of the new Town assistant manager's January sacking.

A player with Sunderland, Blackburn, Cardiff (loan), Chester and Burnley in addition to Wigan, Hamilton won England youth caps playing under Brian Clough as a youngster. He has also been youth coach, assistant manager and caretaker-manager at Rochdale, assistant manager and caretaker-manager at Great Harwood Town and had coaching roles at Accrington Stanley and Preston North End.

Steve McCall has been Town's chief scout since the beginning of the Jim Magilton era, taking over from Colin Suggett, having previously been reserve team coach, while international scout Simon Hunt was released by the club in June 2009, chief executive Simon Clegg citing the expense of retaining someone in that role.

Photo: Action Images

fourth added 15:42 - Feb 17 Paul Jewell the rich man's Harry Redknapp? Teach Mr Hamilton French (€500 or so) and let him pick up a couple of players here in France at half the salary. Bordeaux, Marseille, Paris, Lyon, we can set up interpreters and translate the contracts
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CavendishBlue added 16:33 - Feb 23 Whatever next...? The Great Gambo on goalkeeping duties and Mike Read coaching the under 15's?
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