x

Jewell Praise for Scout McCall - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Paul Jewell has praised chief scout Steve McCall for the extensive scouting network he has created at Portman Road over the last few years. The Blues boss himself has been spotted watching a number of lower league games in recent weeks, with Barnet and Huddersfield both having been eyed more than once.

Jewell, who added his former Wigan and Derby scout David Hamilton to the staff earlier in the year, said: "I think Steve McCall has boxed it off really well and I’ve brought a couple of scouts in that I’ve added to the group.

"We’re watching games, we’ve got quite an extensive scouting network that we want to spread as far as we possibly can to add the best quality as possible.

"But I also want myself and the staff to get out and get to games. It’s OK people recommending players to us, I want to be able to see them myself then you can put your name to them with greater confidence.

"If you’ve got a chance to watch players a couple of times, then you should. The only problem here is that every journey is at least a two-hour trip!”

The Blues boss has said he is looking for targets not just for this season but for future campaigns, seeing his time in charge at Town as very much a long-term project: "I want to be sat here in five years’ time in the Premier League, if not before. I don’t see this as a job which goes from game to game.

"I’ve got a good relationship with the owner and we’ve got a vision and a long-term plan but people don’t want to hear about that, they want results straight away. I understand that, it’s just trying to marry the two together to move forward.”

What to read next:

U18s Host West Brom in First U18 Premier League Fixture
Town’s U18s will start their first ever U18 Premier League South campaign with a home game against West Bromwich Albion at Playford Road on Saturday 16th August (KO 11am).
Ndaba Completes Lecce Move
Former Town defender Corrie Ndaba has completed his move from Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock to Serie A Lecce.
McKenna: Hirst Primed For Good Season
Town boss Kieran McKenna believes striker George Hirst is “primed to have a good season” for the Blues, the frontman having netted three times in the Blues’ two public friendlies.
Hirst: Scotland Call-Up Has Made Me a Better Player
Town striker George Hirst says he has taken a lot from being in the Scotland squad and feels the international recognition has made him a better player.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town 'Willing to Pay Hackney £35,000-a-Week'
Town are reportedly willing to pay Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney £35,000-a-week, TWTD having revealed that the Blues had made an approach for the 23-year-old almost a fortnight ago.
U21s Defeated By Luton
A strong Blues U21s side was beaten 2-1 by Luton Town at Bent Lane in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon with Tommy Taylor's first-half strike cancelled out after the break by a much-improved Hatters side.
U19s Draw and Lose Final Games at Czech Tournament
Town’s U19s finished lost one and drew one of today’s place play-off matches at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia.
Hirst: Early Confrontation Sign of Morsy's High Standards
George Hirst has revealed he almost came to blows with departed captain Sam Morsy early in his Town career, but believes the incident was illustrative of the high standards maintained by the former Blues skipper.
Former Town Defender Ndaba Set For Serie A
Former Town defender Corrie Ndaba is set to join Serie A Lecce from Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock, according to reports in Italy.