Town owner and chairman Marcus Evans has revealed that he drew up a shortlist of 12 managers before finally deciding that Paul Jewell was the man to take over from Roy Keane. Evans was speaking in an extensive interview in the programme for tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal.

Evans said: "My shortlist started with as many as 12 managers and before picking up the phone to any of the potential targets, I went through a process of elimination including talking with people that were close to each person and comparing their records of success.

“I have also been lucky enough to have had the benefit of some detailed and impartial advice from some of the most respected names in the English game."

Aside from Jewell, Doncaster’s Sean O’Driscoll, Gary Megson and Alan Curbishley are all believed to have been amongst those in Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg’s thoughts.

Evans says that the midway point in the season was the right time to assess Roy Keane’s progress as boss: "A half-season always seemed a fair period to reflect upon and is long enough to ensure bad luck and good fortune evens itself out, and once I had decided on a change I felt that it was important to allow a new manager time to focus on the transfer window in January."

Evans, who has reiterated his commitment to the club, is clear that Jewell's initial task will be to steer the club away from the lower reaches of the Championship: "To stabilise the squad and take us away from the relegation places is the first target.

"And yes, he will be backed in this and other transfer windows as I have done with the past two managers."

The Blues' owner says he has learnt a lot since taking over at Portman Road in December 2007: "I am definitely a little football wiser than I was three years ago and the criteria I have put in place for appointing our new manager has been reached by taking on board what I have learnt since I bought the club. This experience will also be used in working with the manager in the years ahead."

Photo: Action Images

petermorris added 14:13 - Jan 12 Paulc I started 'whinging' about RK after 2 hours (not 2 months) - first time I've 'whinged' about anything ITFC for 35 years, and I'm glad I did. Glad ME is learning; hopefully more than RK did: "Listen... you learn a lot about a player when he's injured/playing in the reserves/playing out of position/out on loan/sold for no apparent reason/slagged off to the press/wears a snood/makes a mistake on 55 mins/watches a flip chart get karate kicked/doesn't choose the long ball option/takes a bollocking after trying to play 1-4-1-4-1 etc...." Delete where applicable.

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brian_a_mul added 14:57 - Jan 12 Hey MyBlueHeavan, Im sure Mr Evans got references from respected footballing people. Who would he ask, hmmm, Alex Fergusson would have given him a glowing reference Im sure. Niall Quinn (Keanes former boss) at Sunderland would also have been complimentary after taking Sunderland up to PL. It looked like a good choice at the time. Unfortunately Evans diddnt seem to give himself any other alternatives. At least Marcus Evans has done his homework this time round. He is a football fan and it sounds like he is serious about getting to PL.

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MBG added 16:21 - Jan 12 Marcus Evans. Opportunist. Mickey Mouse business empire. Football ignoramus. Fool.
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trueblue added 16:35 - Jan 12 Poor M.E. buys the club, never done it before, puts good money in and is still slatted, he leaves it upto the manager and Cleggy to run the club and thats the right way it should be done, Good luck to PJ and heres to the future
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Berts_chin added 17:04 - Jan 12 I can reveal that Paolo Sousa was one of the 12, but he didn't make it onto the shortlist of 5.
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jas0999 added 17:23 - Jan 12 I suspect the Jewell deal was done some time ago - the bookies rarely get it wrong. Even before Roy was sacked, Paddy Power closed their book on Jewell as a replacement. I am afraid I don't believe the story about how he was appointed. That said a tabloid today reports that Megson rejected a £500K a year deal! Who knows what happened. Perhaps several other managers rejected the role. Point is Jewell is here and although I am not overly impressed, he's the man and I'll support him. Just hope he turns us around. First job: Entertaining football!!

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truckertractorboy added 18:17 - Jan 12 Hopefully this will b a new good chapter in town history lets face it bluey the horse could have done a better job then keane hoping the players will step up there game 2nite knowing pj is in the crowd watching
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Marcus added 06:02 - Jan 13 12 Drummers Drumming 11 Pipers Piping 10 Lords-a-Leaping 9 Ladies Dancing 8 Maids-a-Milking 7 Swans-a-Swimming 6 Geese-a-Laying 5 Gold Rings 4 Colly Birds 3 French Hens 2 Turtle Doves And a Paul Jewell with his team of assistants and coaches
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