Town boss Paul Jewell says he is hopeful of completing the signing of Leicester central defender Sean St Ledger today. The deal is likely to be on the basis of an initial loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.

Jewell says that long-time target St Ledger was hesitating over the move last night having agreed personal terms before receiving reassurance from Blues owner Marcus Evans: “We tried to get him in the summer when Leicester were blowing everyone out of the water.

“Everything’s agreed between the two clubs. I spoke to his agent when I was on the way to Arsenal last night and he said ‘Everything’s fine, but the only thing is, and I don’t want to be funny, he’s just concerned that you’re going to lose your job’.

“When I was on the phone to him, Marcus was also ringing me. I said that Marcus has only ever given me positive pointers and when I’d put the phone down, I took Marcus’s call, told him about the conversation and Marcus said he’d ring him up and put him right, and Marcus put him right.

“I spoke to Sean St Ledger after that and he said ‘I hope you don’t think I was being rude, I went to Middlesbrough and the manager lost his job, went to Leicester and the same thing happened’. I said ‘You know what Sean, maybe I shouldn’t be thinking about signing you!”

He says the Blues are now expecting a call confirming that the Ireland international wants to join, although they are aware that there are other clubs also interested: “We’re just waiting him on getting back to us, he’s got one or two other irons in the fire, but hopefully we’ll get a positive answer from him today, if not we move on. But hopefully we’ll get something done there.”

Jewell says it’s unlikely the deal will be done in time for the 27-year-old to play at Birmingham tomorrow: “We’d like to but I think there’s a 12 o’clock deadline today, so we’re not sure.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

AndyStannard added 14:58 - Jan 10 Town agree fee! thought you'd like to know!! http://aggbot.com/Ipswich-Town-News/article/15859847
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Brazils_Hair added 15:01 - Jan 10 My heart says that I hope he signs and that Jewell manages to turns things around. My head says that neither of these things will happen.
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bgexile added 15:04 - Jan 10 @andy stannard...that's an old link just says what TWTD says...he's HOPING he'll sign...that's all
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tractorboybig added 15:20 - Jan 10 Does he want to be here? Other souces suggest that ipswich leciester and agents have agreed everything but he wishes to look at other options first before signing for anyone. Another real enthusiastic signing then, or just here for the money?
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bidwellh added 15:47 - Jan 10 Think we need to be looking at the positives. We have looked poor recently, particularly in defence but I think that a partnership of Sonko and St. Ledger could be good. One being more mobile and good on the deck and the other a powerhouse who clears everything in the air (sort of like a poor man's Ferdinand and Vidic). Hopefully Jewell will be looking for a RB and a holding midfielder now, enabling us to push Edwards to RM and Leadbitter onto the bench. We could do with another frontman too but that is not a priority right now.

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bigolconnor added 16:04 - Jan 10 He hasn't signed yet.
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kerryblue added 16:17 - Jan 10 Dont get carried away fellow blues,this guy is very prone to mistakes,Boro backed out of doing a permenant deal for him when they had him on loan,Leicester obs dont rate him and he does like his liquor a bit too much .
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TractorBeezer added 16:19 - Jan 10 We seem to be divided about the pros and cons of loan signings. There has been mention of a plan (5 year?) but has anyone seen this mystery plan? Recent events and heavy reliance on borrowed players gives the impression that we are operating on a day to day basis and don't really know what we are doing. As a long time supporter I desperately want our team to succeed. Unfortunately I have to rely on memories of the great teams that we have had in the past plus a handful of games earlier this season until the diamond became predictable and easy to beat. I rarely submit a negative post but tell us....what is the plan?? Meanwhile, I hope that Sean makes up his mind and if he joins us I wish him a long successful career.

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UsualSuspect added 16:22 - Jan 10 Sean sign on the dotted line please, don't keep us waiting any longer.
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scooterblue added 16:37 - Jan 10 now for Clegg to ball's it up. Clegg has the personality of a dead fish.
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bluearmy4life added 16:39 - Jan 10 Another loan player? Would only be good if made permanant. Still JEWELL OUT.
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StowTractorBoy added 16:43 - Jan 10 Does not bother me if he signs or not. He is not the best by any stretch of the imagination but must be better than what we have other than Sonko and he looked dodgy at Hull. We are in such a mess it is unthinkable where we could be heading.
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Seasider added 16:45 - Jan 10 Paul Jewell typical scouser,has a lot to say but doesn't deliver.Journos will ask a lot of questions but he need not answer them just wait until the deal is done,thats what the good Managers we have had in the past have done.Cant believe have sunk so low that cant persuade any decent players to join us.See so many good players we have had here on loan or permanently playing well for other clubs at present.Will take a miracle to keep us out of Div 1 now I fear,and cant see Jewell delivering.Ironic we are now in same position as last year with over a dozen out of contract and one place lower than when RK was sacked

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jas0999 added 16:54 - Jan 10 Remarkable - simply remarkable that ME is allowing this fool to remain as manager. As I predicted, there will be crowds of 12K by the time PJ has finished. He truely is a poor manager - but I have now totally lost faith in Marcus Evans. Statistically PJ is the second worst manager EVER after 1 year in charge. Why is he still here? Good to see he has 'learnt' from having too many loans. That's two more then. Priskin was with a view to a permanent move and look what happened. Basically, if we go down St Ledger will just leave - nor will he care. Yet another poor effort by PJ. ME needs to wake up. Loans are no good - you get nowhere with them and the fact this is with a view to a permanent move means nothing. Building for the future? Nope. PJ OUT

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yorksblue added 16:58 - Jan 10 Sadly, Warnock will have been snapped up before Evans gets his finger out.
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TractorTrog added 17:27 - Jan 10 Quality signing well done Jewell you got your man in the end lets hope we can now get on with winning games!!!
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buryblue77 added 17:31 - Jan 10 I honestly don't think Paul Jewell has as much to do with the financial side of the transfer dealings as you lot thinks on here. Sure he identifies targets and may well make recomendatitions to the board on types of players wanted and types of contract, but I think the real business element is orchestrated between Evans and Clegg.
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Legend added 17:40 - Jan 10 So has he signed or not then??
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truthhurts added 18:14 - Jan 10 If there are crowds of 12k in the future that speaks more about the clubs sub-standard supporters than anything else I'm afraid to say. Too many disappear in a state of expletives when the going gets tough. Those that do aren't fans. Not having a pop, just stating the obvious
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h32 added 18:22 - Jan 10 Building for the future ?? - there is NOTHING happening at Portman Road that has the word FUTURE as a consideration. Never, ever did I think this Club would find itself in such incapable, and non interested hands. Short term, non ambitious project if ever there was one - that's the reason nothing that's happening makes any sense to sensible people anymore.
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BlueArmy01 added 18:30 - Jan 10 Sorry truthhurts but you obviously have plenty of spare money and can afford to watch no matter what is on show, the rest of us on the other hand have priorities and with the sad state of affairs performance wise and ridiculous prices at the turnstiles, have harder decisions to make............
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MAVERICK added 18:30 - Jan 10 'Paul Jewells Blue & White LOAN Army' See you tomorrow at Brum
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Crazee added 18:35 - Jan 10 How is this building for the future? How can Jewell say he has learnt lessons and we signed too many on loan in the summer? Maybe, just maybe, this really means that ME won't give him any funds as he won't be here much longer? Then we all get what we want! Rid of the clown from Merseyside!!!!!! There is a good chance of us going down whatever managerial decisions are taken now - but at least with a new man at the helm, BUYING players who want to play for us, we might just have a positive future to get just a little excited about.

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WoodfordTim added 18:36 - Jan 10 He hasn't signed yet. Doesn't sound too eager. Maybe these other options appeal more to him geographically. I'm worried about the 16 players out of contract in June. They can all now in theory leave on Bosman's, so no chance of receiving any transfer fees. Mind you, no bids have apparently been received, so that must tell us something! Are Town waiting to see what division we will be in next season? What's going on?

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h32 added 18:44 - Jan 10 BlueArmy01 - agree with you - perhaps the person commenting would be better with a bit of ambition themselves - instead of slating SENSIBLE supporters, who choose NOT to be supporters of PERPETUAL LOSERS. Just ignore such people is the best policy - no wonder the Club's in dire straits with supporters like that. Forever satisfied Charlies -
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