Town have confirmed that Chris Hutchings has joined the club as Paul Jewell’s number two. The 53-year-old was Jewell’s assistant at Bradford, Derby and Wigan and was always expected to take a similar role at Portman Road, having been sacked as manager at Walsall early this month.

The new Blues boss all but confirmed the appointment last week: “I’m going to bring in a senior coach to work alongside me. That will happen next week.

“Chris is a terrific coach and we’ve enjoyed success both at Bradford and at Wigan. Chris is most certainly well in the frame.

“I’ve got a couple of people to speak to and hopefully I want to get it nailed down no later than Tuesday if I can.”

During his playing days Hutchings was a defender with Chelsea, Brighton, Huddersfield, Walsall and Rotherham, where he started his coaching career.

In addition to his roles working under Jewell, Winchester-born Hutchings also succeeded him as manager at Bradford and Wigan where he failed to match the former boss's success and briefly as caretaker-manager at Derby. He had been at Walsall for two years prior to his recent dismissal.

Last week Jewell added his former Bradford strike partner Sean McCarthy to his coaching staff.

Photo: Action Images

big_gaz67 added 15:39 - Jan 17 Plus if you owe a bank £ 30 million and haven't got it - they are in trouble - not you!
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pennblue added 15:44 - Jan 17 This is great news, the same team that has had success twice before
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WickedBlue added 15:55 - Jan 17 "As a club is it better to owe the bank £ 30 million or an individual £ 30 million. " First off the £30 million pound debt is a paper debt only and kept on for tax purposes. ME can not at anytime turn around and demand payment of that money HE had that written on to the deal to show fans that he was in this for the club and not make a quick profit and run. Also if he sales the club that debt goes to the new owners for the price ME paid. Forget what it was 20p on the pound or something like that. So it is far better to owe ME that debt than a bank. This has been stated so many times since ME took over and still people think we are held hostage over it. If we had owed a bank that money we would have probably gone the way of Chester by now.....So ME has saved the club and I for one am grateful to him for that. And if he likes staying in the background not showing his face I am fine with that. Finally welcome to ITFC Mr. Hutchings I hope our association is a long and happy one.......

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Lennyboy added 16:24 - Jan 17 garv & alex1234 oh & 5, nearly missed it, have got it right. PJ has made a decision based on events that have already occured in football; and are less of a gamble appointing someone good but unknown to him. Secondly, some people are always going to be Managers and some are always going to be good at being a deputy, it's only when they try to be Managers where they find their true vocation in football, good at helping but not at decision making. This I believe, is what happened to Hutchings. I'm please with this progress already, shows determination and good decision makings skills; an absolute must for a good manager and tactician. Keep it coming PJ....COYB.

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bluelady added 16:26 - Jan 17 yes Lennyboy i agree, Katmoss he has a proven record as a coach under PJ, but just hasnt cut it as a manager does not make him a failure.......
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sonian_blue added 16:59 - Jan 17 Why does it matter if we see the owner or not? Do we want a publicity hungry egomaniac in charge of the club, not in my opinion, there are ennough of those clowns out there. Lets just be grateful ME stepped in with the wedgde when he did and respect his wishes for anonymity. That suits me fine, I would rather hear of the club not the man.
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chripswich added 17:12 - Jan 17 woopee!! some of you lot make me laugh with your blue tinted glasses.. I got slated on another news item for moaning I am not moaning..moaning is when you expect something and it doesnt happen.. i expect nothing from these totally underwhelming appointments.. Nothing... i said Burley would be gone from Palace before the new year and got slated.. jewell wont see out his contract..and will take this old boys club hanger on with him... we had the chance to do something special a fortnight ago.. Hughton or a couple of others.. we did something average.. we did something special against arsenal but he was in the stands...hes just a chancer.. we didnt even speak to anyone else...FACT! and that is the most dissapointing thing of all..

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Back_The_Boss added 17:13 - Jan 17 Ok, COYB!
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chripswich added 17:19 - Jan 17 like burley hes yesterdays man..had success in another time..Championship football has changed totally in the years since he was at wigan..and he walked out on them.. since then hes done nothing of note and most recently a soundbites man.. simply an entertaining(ish) presenter with a cocky scouse way about him.. Evans seems to be taking on people that the media want to point cameras at... hmmm? i wonder why???

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imalwayswrong added 17:51 - Jan 17 Big_gaz67, Your missing the point, the bank were and still are in financial limbo, in what's happened over last 4 years with banks and say no ME to buy the debt then banks would have taken active control club to repay the monies, sold players, downsized until risk is recouped. Town would be relegated for sure from championship and have empty big stadium , below average players.... Thinking about this shows how serious ME purchase was and is. Any playing players or coaching changes under RK , these were down to him, his influence. I get the feeling you think ME makes all the decisions, I can't see him approving cheques for the plastic cups and napkins for the north stand. Got to get behind pj, no too ways about it. Expect slot of new faces after sonny game.

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blue_em_away added 18:09 - Jan 17 WickedBlue.... Well said and you are 100% correct. chripswich..... Jog on fella.
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BlueJewells added 18:11 - Jan 17 good luck to him
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runaround added 18:52 - Jan 17 Welcome Chris, hope you provide the perfect foil for Paul
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katemoss added 19:04 - Jan 17 Walsall are bottom of League 1, 5 points from safety, with a goal difference of minus 22. Hutchings is definitely the man to take us into League 1 to join them.
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h32 added 19:06 - Jan 17 Let the show commence - time for some action, not words, I think. Assessment in MAY.
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h32 added 19:08 - Jan 17 chripswich - nice one.
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bobble added 21:02 - Jan 17 chris whats that short for ?
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adtr2012 added 21:24 - Jan 17 Anyone want arsenal tickets I have 2 for sale x_image_of_the_invisible_x@yahoo.co.uk email me for details.
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Keaneish added 22:11 - Jan 17 Ssshh Kate Moss, stick to snorting drugs and looking pretty!
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bluelady added 22:16 - Jan 17 Keanish I love you!!!!!!!!
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