Assistant boss Chris Hutchings has confirmed the Blues’ interest in Luton midfielder Andy Drury. Town’s targeting of the 27-year-old former Sittingbourne, Lewes and Stevenage man first emerged last weekend.

Hutchings said: “We are interested in him, but we do not have a magic wand and there are a number of obstacles to overcome in every potential signing over personal terms, family considerations etc.”

TWTD understands that Drury was at the club yesterday and the former Stevenage man could well become Paul Jewell’s first permanent Town signing before the transfer window closes on Monday. Drury has a clause in his contract which allows him to move if the Hatters receive a £150,000 offer and the clubs are believed to have been haggling over arrangements regarding payment instalments.

Luton aren't in action today as their scheduled opponents in the Blue Square Bet Premier, Crawley Town, are involved in the FA Cup.

Hutchings explained the situation with the failed move for Charlie Austin: “Swindon Town accepted our bid for Charlie Austin but you cannot enter into an auction and the player decided to sign for Burnley, who also had their bid accepted.

“We have our scouting system operating around the country watching games and we will continue to search for players who we feel will improve the club.”

Paul Jewell’s second in command at Bradford and Wigan says the squad at Town is better than the ones they inherited at the two clubs where they won promotion to the Premier League: “The foundations and the raw materials are already here.

“We had to build teams virtually from scratch at Bradford and Wigan and in the latter case it took us four years to get where we wanted to be.”

Jewell says he and Hutchings made a great team with the Bantams, Latics and in their less successful spell at Derby: “Chris is a terrific coach, he knows how I work and we’ve always worked well together.

“We bounce ideas off one another, he thinks along the same lines as me, he knows me as a person and I have great faith in his coaching ability.

“We will do the coaching together, along with Sean McCarthy. We’re all in the mix and I think the players will enjoy what he tries to get over.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

Bowls1e added 16:47 - Jan 29 Got a feeling he & Bullard will be our only signings.. We seriously need some permanent signings but I trust Jewell & Hutchings.
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OnlyOneSirBobby added 16:58 - Jan 29 theres not exactly an explanation of why we didnt get him in there....more stating the obvious
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trueblues78 added 17:04 - Jan 29 I wish people wouldn't talk about other peoples player. Don't get me wrong he is being a steve Cotterill. Just a pet hate of mine
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hollywoodginge added 17:04 - Jan 29 I will not be too disappointed if no more signings are made, the best part of the window jewell had to take stock so I realise he had little time to operate in, happy with Bullard and with the attempt to get Austin, I think jewell is a motivator of men, he is astute and I believe he could get the quality out of our squad that is already there, I think priskin could be a revation under jewell, I just got a feeling. A few things recently, the performances of Kennedy against arsenal, Healy in general, Edwards (who in astounded people have slated) at right back, all refreshing surprises. The tools are most definitely here to build with, I trust jewell and co to do this. My only concern is it now looks highly likely we will lose millions on Norris and big mac as they will leave on a free, unless sold within 2 days, I would have liked to have thought both would have done the proffesional thing in telling jewell they wanted out to let us get some cash in for them, although this could indicate that deals are there to be done, we shall see. Coyb

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bluelady added 17:05 - Jan 29 Yes he was after the most money and we werent going to be played off like that its Crystal clear from what he says!
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tractorblue99 added 17:09 - Jan 29 Do we need any more midfielders???
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bluelady added 17:16 - Jan 29 We do if Norris or leadbitter off!
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:17 - Jan 29 a number of obstacles to get over, Clegg and Evans to name just two , plus he aint a forward which we need, dont think i'll be sitting up all night for this one ,yaaaaawn .
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Worcester added 17:25 - Jan 29 Don't count your chickens Mr Hutchings, Captain F***up will be doing the negociations and Drury will probably end up at Colchester United
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JayITFC added 17:31 - Jan 29 "Drury has a clause in his contract which allows him to move if the Hatters receive a £150,000 offer and the clubs are believed to have been haggling over arrangements regarding payment instalments." If it's only 150k surely we can afford to pay it all up front!?
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moomoosereni added 17:49 - Jan 29 Been trying to find stuff on the web about this lad. From reading a Stevenage Borough forum about when he left them for Luton (Not disimilar to moving from Town to Scum). Many of their fans thought he was the player of the season and instrumental in getting them promoted. Hence, they were all very surprised when he wouldn't agree a new contract and moved to Luton, who of course were still non-league. He apparently players out wide for the most part and is a good set piece taker. For £150,000, he isn't an enormous risk, but unfortunately isn't quite what many Town fans were expecting in the transfer window. But having said this who knew a lot about David Johnson when he came here? Who knew anything of Taricco who of course signed alongside Paz who was supposed to be the main signing. Any signing is a good one for me until proven otherwise!!!

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Bluetone added 17:51 - Jan 29 Exactly what I thought JayITFC. I am not holding my breath on this one. Do you worst Captain Calamity.
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Kieran_Knows added 17:56 - Jan 29 I watch alot of non league football whenever I have the chance, and this guy is quality. Good passer of the ball, puts in a good tackle and he can score. Would be happy to have him here.
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bluelady added 17:57 - Jan 29 Depends how much we want him but assume if has come down here now we have agreed terms with luton now, its down to personal terms and it seems from above if he wants to uproot family from the pleasures of luton!
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WadzillaBhoy added 17:58 - Jan 29 Target le Fondre as well...
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robdaful added 17:59 - Jan 29 I reckon we just need to keep up this season and build the team in the summer. Jewell seems to be intersted in the right players unlike Keane. could next year finally be our year?
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blueherts added 18:09 - Jan 29 people why should we enter into an Auction - We pay x they pasy x+++ he has a relationship with Eddie Howe - end of!!! I live near Stevo and have seen this guy - he is a good player ... worth a £150k punt i say - whereas £1,5 or £2m plus a BIG WEDGE for an untested kid aint - oh and I can tell you his agent is a prize ,,b
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OrkneyBlue added 18:11 - Jan 29 £150,00 isn't a risk so why not, as someone else said we didn't know much about David Johnson, or for that matter Matt Holland or Marcus Stewart. The best bit of that piece for me was “We have our scouting system operating around the country watching games and we will continue to search for players who we feel will improve the club.” Far more positive than the last regime for some reason you just trust PJ more.

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Worcester added 18:12 - Jan 29 Bluetone - We could call himm Calamity Clegg that has more of a ring to it?
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paulm3paw added 18:18 - Jan 29 We can have the best players in the world come to Ipswich town but with clegg sorting it out ! I have NO faith. PJ is DOOMED
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Worcester added 18:28 - Jan 29 It is a worry. It seems that we have not been able to sign the players our manager(s) have wanted for too long. People point to the wage structure. Yes I agree we have to have one. However is ours realistic. Has ME run short of solvent Cash to pay the bills? Is he not as well of in these trying times as his investments aren't paying big enough dividends? If so he would clearly cut the pay down a bit. We have all seen the club player vasset stripped to a degree in the last year (thank god in the case of Pablo). Are the likes of Norris and Mac going to play out their contracts as they have already been tapped up, not because the deals are ready to be signed? Can you really Trust Captain Calamity to finish those deals off? I can foresee him whining to the press about player not wanting to come to East anglis or Ipswich soon. Thats just a bag of S*** as it is an hour from london. The Carrot crunching Budgies don't seem to have a problem? Calamity had better get PJ and duncan what they want or it may be the shortest tenure in their careers as they lose patience

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Blackbirdblue added 18:29 - Jan 29 Drury may well prove to be a useful contribution to the squad---- let's hope we get chance to find out !! Like Hutchings comment--- the foundations and raw materials are already here--- some of them not so raw! Lets keep the likes of Hyam,Lambe,Brown,and Murray inthe picture---- along with Wickham, O'Dea,O'Connor,and Smith---- we need to make all these lads feel an important part of PJ's plans--- with the right motivation they have tremendous potential. Just think of the people we have let go--- Rhodes for example, looking forward to seeing how he copes with Arsenal tomorrow!!

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JimmyBullard added 18:32 - Jan 29 Am I not the only person who still thinks we desperately need a RB! I mean Edwards is doing a job there but beyond that .......
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Worcester added 18:34 - Jan 29 Agreed Jimmy
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Garv added 18:39 - Jan 29 Stop blaming Clegg you brainless fools
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