Chief executive Simon Clegg has revealed that he, owner and chairman Marcus Evans and manager Paul Jewell held a five-hour meeting in Dublin to discuss next season’s budget and transfer plans. The trio were in the Irish capital, where Evans has his European headquarters, last Wednesday.

Clegg said: “During the meeting between Marcus, Paul and myself last week we talked about what sort of money would be available, the sort of players that we want to bring in and those that are out of contract that we want to keep.

“Those discussions are just in the process of being started now and I’m hoping that some of them will be done sooner rather than later.

“But I don’t want to be boxed into a corner on this because they’ll take as long as they’ll take and you’d not expect me to get those deals done at any price just for the sake of getting them done, that’s not good business.”

The chief executive says new manager Jewell wanted to assess the out of contract players before making any decisions: “Paul came in, wanted to take some time to look at the squad, he didn’t want to have his hand forced. We’ve done that and I think the players have accepted it.

“Publicly Paul has said that we wanted to get to the position where we’re guaranteed playing Championship football next season and I think three points on Saturday certainly helped on that.”

Clegg wouldn’t be drawn on whether the likes of Jimmy Bullard and Kieron Dyer would become permanent additions to Jewell’s squad, but isn’t ruling it out: “You wouldn’t expect me to back myself into a corner on that.

“I think Jimmy’s made a huge contribution since he arrived at the club, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, and was also fantastic with some of our corporate guests.

“He’s a pleasure to have around the place, but let’s see where we get to over the next couple of months.”

The former British Olympic Association chief says Marcus Evans’s intentions with Town remain the same: “The owner will want to support the new manager in the same way that he supported the old manager.

“If the ambition is still the same, and I can assure you that it is, then there’ll be no holding back, but conversely, don’t think it’s a blank chequebook because it’s not.

“I’m certainly not ruling out big money signings. I’m very excited from the conversations that the three of us had in Dublin last week.”

Photo: Action Images

MarkITFC added 12:20 - Mar 22 George Boyd Billy Sharp ^ two players which we should be looking to sign .
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SouperJim added 12:21 - Mar 22 Well let's not get ahead of ourselves with talk of big money signings Simon. We all know what happened last time expectations were raised...
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BotesdaleBlue added 12:24 - Mar 22 Sounds promising, but as ever, time will tell. MCAuley would be my priority, and hope both Norris and Delaney can be resigned. Realistically, Bullard will be a massive ask - perhaps a season long loan next year may be the best way forward.
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hampstead_blue added 12:37 - Mar 22 One assumes all clubs have such strategy meetings. Nothing new there. I do recall RK getting us all hot under the collar about potential signings and then hearing SC didn't get them signed (for whatever reason). Let's not get too carried away, but I'm warmly optimistic.
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onlybluesandhorses added 12:37 - Mar 22 Dublin because ME is a tax exile?
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Mark added 12:37 - Mar 22 I'm not surprised it took five hours as there is a lot to sort out! As well as the players out of contract this summer, we have to assess all of the players who will be out of contract next summer to stop the same Deleney/Norris/McAuley situation reoccuring. Do not let key players enter the last year of their contracts: sign them up or sell them!
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WirralBlue added 12:46 - Mar 22 Jimmy Bullard is also fantastic with the corporate guests!!! What are we waiting for then Mr Clegg? Sign him on now then!!
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svendust added 13:00 - Mar 22 “I'm certainly not ruling out big money signings. I'm very excited from the conversations that the three of us had in Dublin last week.” ie please buy a season ticket!
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Matteo_Sereni added 13:05 - Mar 22 the corporate guests comment just sums he up! What a prat! We need players who will win us games (im not saying Jimmy isnt one of these) but this shouldnt be in the consideration criteria when thinking of signing a player! Thats what the various retired players on the payroll are for! If we win the game the corporate guests will be happy and buy more booze in any case! Also clegg doesnt realise that football is a different 'business' than he has worked in before. he's obviously never heard the phase that football is a great game but a cr*p business!

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Keaneish added 13:18 - Mar 22 Given our record in the market in recent years and the amount of false dawns i'm not going to bother checking pre-season but Markeyboy, those two will definitely do for me!
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ldnj added 13:19 - Mar 22 Presumably ME is a tax exile therefore can only spent limited days in the country (inc travelling) and as it says the European HQ is Dublin where the corp tax levels are v beneficial why is why many o/seas cos. have European HGs there.
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andygizmo added 13:30 - Mar 22 Mmmmm Sharp doesnt seem to travel well from Doncaster so maybe not. Watched Boyd a few times and not convinced he hasnt found his level. Cox will score goals in the championship. Wouldnt be surprised to see both Norris and Delaney go and McCauley stay and a few surplus young prem playeers come in their stead. At least he seems to have a plan that doesnt include Irish Passport holders or Sunderland rejects.

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Pessimistic added 13:31 - Mar 22 The problem is I never trust a single word Clegg says. With his sound-bites and almost total detachment from football, he often sounds more like a politian than a politian!
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blue_beats_yellow added 13:35 - Mar 22 I rekon PJ will be given a fair budget to spend. Keane was given quite a bit. He spent over a million on the likes of Leadbitter, Edwards, Martin and Priskin, so surely PJ will be given some decent money too. I'd rather we sign lower league players that are proven at this level, not premiership rejects.
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Dorsetblue added 13:42 - Mar 22 Start signing players or watch the season ticket numbers go through the floor... We have been told to many times the good times are just around the corner. Go get the players who can get us there.... Also ME many thanks for the money, your money and trust hopefully will get us up, but after years of believe, we just need something to perk us up...
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Jim added 13:49 - Mar 22 Been here before. We don't need to go out and spend stupid money, but there is no doubt good quality signings are needed. Whether the club can get the deals done remains to be seen!
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mark1969 added 14:01 - Mar 22 At the end of last season R.K. stated on radio that the new season began then . We then heard no news from the club at all signed no one until a few days before kick off . Action speaks louder than words , we the supporters of this club are not stupid and renewels should not even be considered until we have a clearer indication of whats going on , you would not visit the cinema unless you knew there was a film worth watching . If we all wait the offers will come , unfortunately the wealthy have probably already put their cheques in the post and it will be the same old story . After 40 years i have lost the faith , it will take alot for me and my family to return as a season ticket holders , i hope i am wrong but i feel the pre-season ticket marketing campaign is under way again , i cannot trust the club anymore .

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OldClactonBlue added 14:01 - Mar 22 Actions speak louder than words Mr Clegg. And so far your actions are to completely ignore what most fans think, offer (at least implied) plenty, and deliver little. Personally I won't believe anyhthing until I see someone at a (signing) press conference. And what's with increasing prices as a reward for the awesome entertainment that we've had since Mr Clegg arrived!

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GeorgiDoundarov added 14:01 - Mar 22 This is all because of the season ticket campaign. But for sure Jewell will have money to spend in the summer. I can't believe he would join us without having that confirmed before he signed himself. The question is then whether he will manage to get the RIGHT players because Jim and Roy Keane did not do very well in this field, especially Jim who had 12M to spend. Jewell should keep the good players we already have and fill the gaps around and he MUST FIND A GOALSCORER! This should be his No1 priority. Without a good striker we can't go up even if we have the perfect defense... So another exciting summer ahead but for me personally I don't expect miracles from Jewell and Clegg... Hope I am wrong. Up the Town

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itfc1981 added 14:12 - Mar 22 All eyes on you Cleggy, dont forget your pen this time!
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DiamondGezzer added 14:19 - Mar 22 Markeyboy :- If only, and Cox ? BotesdaleBlue :- Totally agree Mac, DD and Chuck ! But think Jimmy B will be looking for a contract to finish his career. Matteo Sereni :- Thinking of the Clegg comment, IS - it possible that a career in corporate hospitality after ending his playing days with us could be on the cards. By the sound of it, it could be his thing and he'd still be around football and not to far from his family in London. On the other hand, it could be a load of old tosh !

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mickeyjb added 14:33 - Mar 22 Clegg should stand for president of FIFA..... He also spouts the same sh1te constantly too
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Bluetone added 14:38 - Mar 22 “I'm certainly not ruling out big money signings. I'm very excited from the conversations that the three of us had in Dublin last week.” says the man with a shed load of season tickets to shift.
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VanIsleBlue added 14:46 - Mar 22 I have a funny feeling that Bullard is going to sign. Then we need pace in wide midfield, a goal scorer to play with Connor a centre back to play with McAuley and maybe a goal keeper because I am not convinced with any of ours, although funnily enough ALB is my top pick at the moment
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:54 - Mar 22 I'll believe it when I see it. That way I will be pleasantly surprised, not (yet again) disappointed. However, while we do need to invest, we also have to realise that getting in the right people must be damned hard. It's not as is we are the only ones chasing the limited number of targets. But as I am neither a corporate guest nor a season-ticket holder, my opinion probably doesn't count for much anyway!

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