Town manager Paul Jewell says clubs aren’t always prepared to take a chance on Conference level players such as Andy Drury, who joined the Blues from Luton for £150,000 yesterday. The 27-year-old, who has signed a contract until 2013, finally got his big break after previously spending his career in non-league with Sittingbourne, Gravesend and Northfleet, Lewes and Stevenage.
Jewell says that players capable of playing at higher levels sometimes stay where they are because no one is willing to take a gamble: "People might ask why he’s not moved before and it’s probably because no one’s taken a chance on him. We live in a world where people want success straight away and it’s not the sexiest thing to take a kid out of non-league.
"Maybe the big boys have had a look and thought maybe not, but I think for the money and quality of player that we’ve got, we’ve got a good deal. Only time will tell, but I’m very happy with it.
"If you go to any Conference game, there are a lot of scouts from Premier League and Championship teams there. It’s sometimes about taking the plunge and because he had a clause in his contract which meant we could get him for £150,000, it was a risk worth taking.”
The Town boss first spotted Drury when he was at Stevenage, who he helped to win the Conference - currently known as the Blue Square Bet Premier - last season before moving to Luton on a free transfer in the summer.
Jewell says he spoke with a member of the Boro staff about him: "I saw him play when he was at Stevenage and I’ve seen a bit of Luton. I was speaking to John Dreyer, who is the assistant manager at Stevenage, a while ago and mentioned him. I’ve seen him a few times and he’s always impressed me. "When I found out he had a clause in his contract which got him out for relatively low money, I thought it was a no-brainer really. "He’s 27, he’s not a kid, so he’ll turn up to training and see the facilities - the training ground, the stadium - and the potential and he’ll be excited. It might take him a while to settle in, but I think he’ll be a good addition to the squad.” The Blues boss outlined what he has seen in his first permanent Town signing: "He’s got outstanding delivery from set plays, he’s got two good feet and he’s proved himself at the level he’s playing at. "I know there were a few clubs in for him and we’re delighted to have him and he’s delighted to be here.” Drury, who was also believed to be interesting Coventry and Sheffield United, is unavailable for tonight's game at Derby as Luton failed to complete their administrative side of the deal in time. Photos: TWTD/ITFCWhat to read next:
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Have you predicted the Preston score yet? Seventy three per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this afternoon, 19 per cent a draw and eight per cent a home win. The most commonly predicted result is a 2-1 win to Town with Hirst the first scorer but what do you think?