Jewell Confirms Cox Move But Dismisses Delfouneso Link
Friday, 4th Mar 2011 08:14

Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that he made a loan approach for West Brom striker Simon Cox, as reported by TWTD on Tuesday, and that he was at the Derby-Doncaster match earlier in the week but has dismissed claims that he made a move for Aston Villa’s Nathan Delfouneso and that owner Marcus Evans joined him at Pride Park.

Asked about Cox, Jewell was reluctant to comment in too much detail: “I don’t really like talking about [other clubs'] players. He’s a player that we’ve enquired about to West Brom, but he wants to see if he can get in their first team, which is fine.

“He’s got a decent goalscoring record at this level. He’s a young player, 23. A new manager’s gone in at West Brom and he wants to impress him, and I fully understand that.”

However, the Blues boss says there is nothing in claims he made a similar move for Aston Villa frontman Nathan Delfouneso: “We haven’t made any phone calls regarding Nathan Delfouneso, but we’ve made a few phone calls and Cox was one of them.”

Jewell admitted that Cox’s current wish to remain with the Baggies doesn’t mean he might not revisit the situation in the future: “It probably doesn’t.”

The Town manager confirmed that he was back at his former club Derby on Tuesday to watch their 3-1 defeat to Doncaster with Rovers frontman Billy Sharp thought to be the reason for him making the trip: “I was at the game. I’m trying to look around for players for next season to improve our squad.

“It was either Derby-Doncaster or Middlesbrough-Notts Forest and Derby was closer than Middlesbrough.”

Jewell dismissed claims that Evans was with him at Pride Park and also that they held a meeting after Saturday’s game with Portsmouth, joking: “I don’t know what he looks like, he might have been sat next to me, I don’t know! There was also a report that I had an hour’s meeting on Saturday after the game.”

The Town manager says he is continuing to look for loan additions as well as more permanent signings: “I got knocked back on a couple last week. We’re not sitting here thinking we’re doing OK, we’re trying to improve the squad and it’s important to bring in people who will only improve our squad rather than being of a similarly ilk. We’re trying to improve it rather than bringing in people for the sake of it.

“I’ve made a few phone calls, spoken to a couple of managers and made a few enquiries but it’s that time of the year when no one’s safe from relegation or clubs are in a play-off situation. In the Premier League, if they aren’t in the 25 they can go, but sometimes it’s difficult to get people to come out of their comfort zone and I don’t want people coming here to do us a favour.”

The Blues boss is continuing to look for loan clubs for his fringe players, although he says he wants to keep hold of Tommy Smith, who turned down the chance of a spell three weeks ago: “Tommy we consider part of the first team squad at the moment.

"I’m not so much talking about Luke Hyam, but the Conor Hourihanes, the David Cawleys, the younger pros like Jack Ainsley, who I think are all good players and who I would like to see playing where it really means something.”

Photo: Action Images

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gypo added 08:37 - Mar 4 I know keane lost the plot but it does look like its hard to attract higher level players to our corner of the country.
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sonian_blue added 08:55 - Mar 4 To be fair Gypo I think that has always been the case in the modern era. Years ago players would move to play first team footy but nowadays they are content to sit on the bench for big bucks. We know this is a great area and most warm to it once they have sampled it but at face value we are out in the sticks.
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rivierablue added 09:16 - Mar 4 Don't know what Marcus Evans looks like? I thought Paul Jewell went to Ireland for an interview with Marcus Evans before being appointed?!?
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JewellintheTown added 09:25 - Mar 4 Jewell said - "I don't really like talking about [other clubs'] players." then goes on to talk about him. If Keane had said that, some forum would have picked up and attacked that one straight away. Interesting how our attitudes have changed.
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Garv added 09:38 - Mar 4 ^^ but I don't hate Paul Jewell.
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PhilTWTD added 09:42 - Mar 4 rivierablue He was joking, have amended to make it clearer and take out Word-induced typo.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:45 - Mar 4 I really hope it was Sharp that we were looking at. he is just the sort os striker we need. That and two full backs and i think we would be very close.
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brittaniaman added 09:48 - Mar 4 If he wanted to see what Marcus Evans looks like all he had to do was to turn round on Sat. and Iam sure he would have recognised him !!!!!!!!!
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itfc1981 added 09:51 - Mar 4 rivierablue, oh dear.
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naa added 10:18 - Mar 4 Garv: that's the point isn't it? I disliked pretty much everything Keane did to our club and so would pick up on little things he said, whereas Jewell has already made us fun to watch to again and his sense of humour is better than any of the angry mumblings Keane came out with. It's just human nature and I'm sure Jewellinthetown knew that.
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DiamondGezzer added 10:41 - Mar 4 " I don't want people coming here to do us a favour ". Well said Paul, like it ! I'm sure we are all totally in agreement on that one ! Please keep looking in Billy Sharpe's direction !
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RegencyBlue added 11:26 - Mar 4 Jewell can look at who he likes but its down to Clegg and Evans to do the deal(s). Lets hope they do better than last summer!
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