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Clegg Reiterates Backing for Jewell - Ipswich Town News

Chief executive Simon Clegg has reiterated that he and owner Marcus Evans continue to back manager Paul Jewell, despite the Blues' continuing poor form. The Town chief also restated that Jewell will be given money to spend during the January transfer window.

Clegg told the BBC: "Paul enjoys the full support of the owner and myself, and that’s why we’re continuing to back him and making money available should he need to bring in additional players.

"Obviously, things are not going well on the pitch at the moment and therefore we have identified some areas of weakness and Paul is looking at those at the moment.”

However, Clegg admitted that eventually his and Evans’s patience will run out, despite Jewell’s appointment a year ago being viewed as one for the long term: "There has to be a tipping point at some point, but we are some distance from that.”

Regarding criticism aimed in his own direction, Clegg says he has no plans to move on: "I’m not walking away from this club, I’m here to fight and to ensure I can do everything that I can to support the manager in terms of achieving the goal.

"My job is to support the manager and as long as I continue to enjoy the support of the owner, I will continue to do the job.”

Clegg says Evans has been far from penny-pinching when it comes to providing Jim Magilton, Roy Keane and now Jewell with money to spend in the transfer market: "When you look at the levels of investment over the last couple of years, they are considerable when compared to other clubs in the Championship.

"No one can question the level of commitment that Marcus Evans has made to this club, we just need to make sure that we start turning things around on the pitch and if we haven’t got the right players, we’ll need to bring them in.”

Elsewhere, the Blues and Huddersfield are claimed to be amongst the clubs interested in transfer-listed Leicester central defender Sean St Ledger.

Jewell made enquiries regarding the 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international last January and again in the summer but with the Foxes signing him from Preston for £1.2 million in July.

St Ledger fell out with manager Nigel Pearson after the Boxing Day game against Town due to his frustration at his lack of opportunities at the King Power Stadium, having made only 10 starts and two sub appearances this season.

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