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

Rambert added 20:57 - Jan 10 Going to be tough, Arsenal first game in Ipswich management, good luck to him !!!
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devontractorboy added 21:20 - Jan 10 COYB!!!!!!
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Tractorog added 21:45 - Jan 10 "The only way is up... for the Jewell army, now" sung to the song of the same name by Yazz
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jamesmostevens added 22:06 - Jan 10 5ft 8, overweight and a socialist - it would be rather ironic if I didn't at least try to like him! Not sure how a Trotskyite gets into bondage but still...
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