Icelandic signing Ivar Ingimarsson says the prospect of a promotion challenge with the Blues was amongst the reasons he chose to agree a one-year deal at Portman Road earlier this month. The 33-year-old, who was released by Reading at the end of the season, is currently back at home in Iceland and is due to meet up with his new squad for the start of pre-season training on June 29th.
Ingimarsson, who was speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, says he was impressed with what he had to hear from Jewell when the pair spoke during holidays in Spain earlier in the summer: "They contacted my agent and I met the manager and he told me about what they're trying to achieve.
"They want to bring in a couple of players and try to go for it. That sold it to me. I've played at Ipswich on many occasions and it's a nice stadium with a good fanbase as well, and it's a club that has a good chance, as probably six or eight clubs have every season, of getting promoted."
Meanwhile, former Town striker David Lowe has joined the staff at Blackburn Rovers having left his job as first team coach at Tranmere. Blues boss Paul Jewell was understood to be interested in bringing the 45-year-old back to Portman Road to join his coaching team, having worked with him at Wigan and Derby.
Tranmere boss Les Parry said: "I'd like to wish Dave all the best in his new role. I'm sorry to see him leave but this is a great opportunity for him to work at a Premier League club.”
Elsewhere, Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of former Porto manager and Sir Bobby Robson protégé Andre Villas-Boas, who once spent a short spell observing Town training sessions during George Burley’s time in charge at Portman Road.