Assistant boss Chris Hutchings has confirmed the Blues’ interest in Luton midfielder Andy Drury. Town’s targeting of the 27-year-old former Sittingbourne, Lewes and Stevenage man first emerged last weekend.
Hutchings said: "We are interested in him, but we do not have a magic wand and there are a number of obstacles to overcome in every potential signing over personal terms, family considerations etc.”
TWTD understands that Drury was at the club yesterday and the former Stevenage man could well become Paul Jewell’s first permanent Town signing before the transfer window closes on Monday. Drury has a clause in his contract which allows him to move if the Hatters receive a £150,000 offer and the clubs are believed to have been haggling over arrangements regarding payment instalments.
Luton aren't in action today as their scheduled opponents in the Blue Square Bet Premier, Crawley Town, are involved in the FA Cup.
Hutchings explained the situation with the failed move for Charlie Austin: "Swindon Town accepted our bid for Charlie Austin but you cannot enter into an auction and the player decided to sign for Burnley, who also had their bid accepted.
"We have our scouting system operating around the country watching games and we will continue to search for players who we feel will improve the club.”
Paul Jewell’s second in command at Bradford and Wigan says the squad at Town is better than the ones they inherited at the two clubs where they won promotion to the Premier League: "The foundations and the raw materials are already here.
"We had to build teams virtually from scratch at Bradford and Wigan and in the latter case it took us four years to get where we wanted to be.”
Jewell says he and Hutchings made a great team with the Bantams, Latics and in their less successful spell at Derby: "Chris is a terrific coach, he knows how I work and we’ve always worked well together.
"We bounce ideas off one another, he thinks along the same lines as me, he knows me as a person and I have great faith in his coaching ability.
"We will do the coaching together, along with Sean McCarthy. We’re all in the mix and I think the players will enjoy what he tries to get over.”
Photo: ITFC