Town have confirmed former Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan and Derby boss Paul Jewell as their new manager. The 46-year-old has signed a two-and-a half-year contract.

Chief executive Simon Clegg welcomed the new Town boss at a lunchtime press conference at Portman Road: “I’m absolutely delighted to confirm Paul Jewell as our new Ipswich Town manager. The last few days have been long and eventful and we have considered and spoken to a number of people who were interested in the job.

“However, the owner Marcus Evans and I, including being one of only three managers to achieve promotion to the Premier League with two different clubs [along with Steve Coppell and Mick McCarthy], will ensure that we can achieve the goals we have set for this club.

“It’s interesting that on these two occasions promotion to the Premier League cost Ipswich Town automatic promotion and we look forward to Paul giving us automatic promotion in years to come.

“Paul respects the traditions and history of this great club, but we as a club need to be looking forwards and not backwards and I’m sure under Paul under his regime the club will achieve his own history.

“He also recognises the huge importance of the community links that we as a club enjoy, and the owner and I will fully support Paul to ensure that he can achieve the objectives that we have set for this club.”

Owner Marcus Evans added his reasons for employing his new manager: "I wanted to appoint a manager with several years of experience behind them who also had a history of promotion and then staying up.

"I have been lucky enough to find a manager in Paul who has done that twice and pertinently with two clubs who had never been in the Premier League.

"It was also important to bring someone to the club who could play the way Ipswich expect the game to be played and who will embrace the club's role in the community."

Jewell signed his contract with the Blues last night having met with Evans at his company's offices in Dublin on Friday, after he says he was contacted by the Town owner and chairman in the wake of Roy Keane's sacking on Thursday.

The new boss says current coaches Ian McParland and Tony Loughlan will pick the team for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal with the Jewell years starting in earnest from Thursday.

Photo: Action Images

cromwellblue added 13:24 - Jan 10 OK, now we know. Lets do the decent thing and give him our full support.
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imalwayswrong added 13:24 - Jan 10 Goodluck to Jewell. Just please play passing football.
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s6blue added 13:24 - Jan 10 good luck Paul - you are going to need it
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MAVERICK added 13:25 - Jan 10 All the best Paul !
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LincsBluebelly added 13:25 - Jan 10 Welcome to Town PJ. Good luck, you'll need it!
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Carrotblue added 13:26 - Jan 10 Welcome to Portman Road, may your stay be long and successful. Looking forward to seeing some football at Portman Road from the home side, something that has been lacking since the days of Magilton
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sherborneblue added 13:26 - Jan 10 New Song... Paul Jewell and we still won't sing
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poringlandblue added 13:27 - Jan 10 god help him , all supporters should get behind him to get this great club on an upward curve starting wed night,
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sherborneblue added 13:27 - Jan 10 New Song... Paul Jewell and we still won't sing
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J45 added 13:27 - Jan 10 Big Fat jewells Blue and White army. Could be a good appointment but we must give him time to settle the club again and get us playing the way we all want to the town playing. COME ON THE TOWN!!!!!
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blockb_steward added 13:27 - Jan 10 COYB! Please bring some pride back to Portman Road Good luck PJ
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dobbie73 added 13:27 - Jan 10 Welcome aboard Paul! Best of luck, and let's hope that our recovery starts here and now. COYB! BFPBA!
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whoppit added 13:27 - Jan 10 Is that right that Jewwll has ordered our kit to be changed to rubber shorts and fishnets??
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Paulc added 13:27 - Jan 10 Not in my top 10 choices, however ignore the Derby spell and he deserves full support. I can't be doing with all the negativity around managers that we have seen over the last 20 months. Either support or go to Sparrow rd!
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kipper added 13:28 - Jan 10 Welcome to Portman Road Paul. Please please please everyone regardless of if you agree with him being appointed or not lets all get behind him 100% Big fat Paul's blue and white army
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Edinburgh_Blue added 13:28 - Jan 10 Excellect headline Phil! I see what you did there :) Good luck Paul! Welcome to Portman Road.
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BwoodBlue added 13:28 - Jan 10 Good Luck Mr Jewell. Let's restore a bit of pride into our club. COYB!
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exeterblu added 13:28 - Jan 10 Well played ME & SC - a good manager who needs to be given the time and funds to turn things round - two things that ITFC can supply!!
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GeorgiDoundarov added 13:28 - Jan 10 Well I would give Jewell full support but I just don't think he is the right man for the job. I still think Curbishley is the only available right now who can do what we want. I believe we need more experienced manager to be able to get us in the Premiership. But anyways I really hope Jewell proves me wrong. Good Luck Paul and welcome a board!!!
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bluesman added 13:29 - Jan 10 I'm a lifelong Town fan who voted with his feet halfway through last season. I'm sorry but I am not going to Portman Road to watch 11 cloggers kick lumps out of people. Me and about 12,000 other regulars. So here's to sweet passing football, Mr Jewell.
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Blandford added 13:29 - Jan 10 Welcome to the club and best of luck. Lets hope the players start justifying their salaries now we have a new manager - let's face it whatever people think of our recent managers, they have all been sorely let down by the players.
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Umros added 13:29 - Jan 10 OK, onward, get Etherington and Roberts in, shift the chaff strikeforce out!
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JewellinDenial added 13:29 - Jan 10 Regardless of whether like me you are excited by this appointment or underwhelmed and fear for the worst I am certain that backing the manager will do us more good than not doing so. Hopefully those that want to support him will and the doubters will keep quiet for a period and let him do the business. We are 3 points off the drop zone, have a few loanees, vital players out of contract and the clubs a mess. He will need time and encouragement to get it right so let's give him that and see where it takes us.

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Blue4life added 13:30 - Jan 10 This Is what im getting started at the asrenal game!! BIG FAT JEWELLS BARMY ARMY!!!
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Bluroo added 13:30 - Jan 10 I don't really care who our manager is as long as he does the business! If its true that he won't be in charge on Wednesday, he is weak.
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