Boss Paul Jewell says Town’s location slightly off the beaten track affects the club’s ability to make loan signings, echoing comments made by his predecessors Jim Magilton and Roy Keane. But the current Blues manager says that once players get to the club and have a look around, they like what they see.

Jewell says that with plenty of Championship sides chasing the same loanees — including current target Danny Collins — the Blues are sometimes up against it with players often unwilling to move too far away from their permanent homes: “We are up against geography a little bit, I know that has always been an argument.

“Once we get them here, I think it surprises a lot of people. It certainly has surprised a lot of people that we have got in over the summer.

“Everyone knows Ipswich is a good club, but even I didn’t realise what a great club it is until I got here. I am excited every day when I walk through the doors.”

The Blues manager says he will continue to look to build on the 11 signings he made before the window closed: “We would like to always improve on what we got and if there is something out there we think will suit us and we can afford, we’ll try and do it.

“And we have seven away on international duty and if they come back injured, it might change my plans.”

Football League clubs can bring players in on 'emergency' loans of up to 93 days from Thursday.

Meanwhile, former boss Keane is reported to have failed to show for a meeting with the Icelandic FA in Reykjavik. Keane, who is amongst those in the running for the role of Iceland’s national manager, is due to watch their home Euro 2012 qualifier against Cyprus tonight. Iceland's FA have neither confirmed nor denied their interest in Keane.

Elsewhere, ex-Blue Kevin Lisbie, released at the end of last season, is still a free agent. The 32-year-old, who is set to train with a Championship side this week, says he turned down offers from League Two clubs earlier in the summer: "I spoke with both Gillingham and Southend at the beginning of pre-season and they were both interested in offering me something, but I'd prefer to play at a higher level, to be honest.

"I feel that dropping down to League Two would be a massive jump having played in the Championship last season [on loan at Millwall].

"I'm quite fit and I would like to leave the option of playing in either the Championship or League One open as long as possible really.”

Photo: Action Images

yorkshireblue added 13:46 - Sep 6 PJ still has a property in Menston, which is about 10miles away from Leeds, but classed as Bradford. Before he joined us he was seen pretty much everyday in a certain pub avidly reading a copy of the Racing Post.
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WonkyZombie added 15:16 - Sep 6 Sooo many of you guys are totally missing the context of what Jewell has said here. Jewell states that when looking for loanees, it can be hard to convince them to up sticks and temporarily move a long way to what is deemed by many, unfairly so in my opinion, as a backwoods town with nothing of interest in the area. Keane stated that nobody would sign permanently, let alone temporarily because of the location and of course, that's a load of twoddle but I can understand what Jewell is saying in this instance.

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WonkyZombie added 15:21 - Sep 6 Sooo many of you guys are totally missing the context of what Jewell has said here. Jewell states that when looking for loanees, it can be hard to convince them to up sticks and temporarily move a long way to what is deemed by many, unfairly so in my opinion, as a backwoods town with nothing of interest in the area. Keane stated that nobody would sign permanently, let alone temporarily because of the location and of course, that's a load of twoddle but I can understand what Jewell is saying in this instance.

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fourth added 18:17 - Sep 6 Gosh I had no idea PJ had invested in Menston. It is famous for its ex Paupers' Asylum for the Insane. I know this because I recently discovered my Grandmother died there. Our lot moved from rural Wharfedale to the Armitage's back-to-backs in the ironstone mines, working from the age of twelve. So the message is, where do you feel happiest PJ? Menston or Ipswich?
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fourth added 18:39 - Sep 6 Historically our ties have been with West Ham, because of manager connection. But we seem to have lost this rather. There is a real need for Ipswich to look to a Premiership future in terms of back room staff. Are our assistant manager and fitness coach able to understand the needs of the top half of the Premiership? Or are they rather overawed by it? (See interviews) If not, can they grow?

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jas0999 added 18:49 - Sep 6 Let's not rely on loans. Permanent deals should have been done well before now. What happened to the Wickham cash? Since his sale only JET in on a fee. With 16 players out and only 11 in - 3 loans; I can't see we have spent all that money. PJ has failed to deliver in my opinion - wanted 3 before the deadline - secured eh, none. Not good PJ - now do us all a favour and do NOT make the mistake Norwich and Sheffield Utd made when relegated by relying on loans. You have had your chance and failed.

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ITFC_Budapest added 20:08 - Sep 6 Location? What a joke. We are within easy reach of the capital, a major international airport, and a ferry port! What the hell is he talking about!
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harlingblue added 22:03 - Sep 6 Do the players that we need on loan want to play football? or do they only want night clubs? If they are coming from big 'cities' and have young families...then they can open there minds, get a holiday home, and then see what a great area this is...if they like it, they will stay...if not, at least it will open up their knowledge of our country.
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Bluroo added 14:47 - Sep 7 I'm sorry but whoever said one of the positives of Ipswich's location is its proximity to Standstead Airport needs to get real! Go on tell that to Collins and see if that twists his arm! These players are young and loaded. There isn't a lot going on in Ipswich. It will suit young players who put football before anything else, and the older player who maybe has a young family. But it isn't London or Liverpool in whats happening terms for the majority of footballers.

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BlackandBlue added 11:33 - Sep 8 Has anybody been to the beautiful towns of Blackburn, Hull, Midlesborough, Wigan and Burnley? These places would have a real excuse for being a turn- off for new signings. Ipswich isn't exactly SanTropez, but it's a darned site nicer than a alot of places that seem to have no trouble attracting players. This is just an excuse which is trotteed out becasue it's unfixable.

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