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

moomoosereni added 23:02 - Jan 29 Mark my words, in the years to come have some form of wage structure now will help this club stay more afloat than others. If it means missing out on promotion in the near future, so be it. If keeping a wage structure means being a far more stable football club with no risk attached to spiralling down the divisions and having crippling debt, I think I know what I'd prefer. Again as I have said before Clegg is definately not my first choice, but I think that without full facts over the Austin deal etc, some of you should be a little more tactful than to just use him as a scapegoat to make you feel a little happier with yourselves.

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Worcester added 23:13 - Jan 29 This may have already been said but I would just like to point out that the club was stabilised by sheepshanks after we went intoadministration and we were paying the money off (although I conceed very slowly). The fat controller had us figthing for promotion for three consecutive years relying on Loans and free trensfers. Magic did a good job too by the time ME came in. Please don't try to tell me we would be in Div 2 without him because thats just silly. I am very grateful that he is here. But be under no illusions everybody all the club has done is change our banker. If/when he leaves he will recoup his cash.

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bluelady added 23:31 - Jan 29 Jas I doubt very very much if we are paying twenty k. Austin was greedy and did not let's face it want to play with us, bullard on the other hand could stay at hull and still get paid, he turned down Celtic but choose to play for us, more of that spirit please! Drury well worth a punt have young ever seen him play?
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Premiertown added 00:00 - Jan 30 Anyone got something positive to say? Thought not!
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ArnieM added 00:06 - Jan 30 so lest get this straight. The wage structure is applicable to only certain players? 1) we can it seems afford to stump up a significant % of the reported £45k per week for Bullard. A talented , yet equally very injury prone LOANEE (high risk option if ever I saw one) 2) But we cant afford , it seems the demands of the League One hot shot striker? Nor could we afford it seems, McCormack, Chopra, Derry...etc etc

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bluelady added 02:18 - Jan 30 Arnie wrong....... next
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bluelady added 03:33 - Jan 30 Arnie wrong....... next
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bobble added 06:44 - Jan 30 my backs a lot better today how long does the january transfer window last and does it have curtains or blinds ?
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blueherts added 09:34 - Jan 30 Sheepshanks 2001 - where the financial rot began - before Evans bailed us out - some people have short memories ,,Finidi , Sereni etc etc PS Steve Morisson has proved a useful buy for Millwall - came from stevo
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bluepeter added 10:23 - Jan 30 agree 100 percent pinewoodblueboy
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:28 - Jan 30 can the people who keep telling people who dont share their oppinions to go and support someone else ,please go and support someone else ,or shut the ;;;; up .
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TractorRoyNo1 added 11:33 - Jan 30 sorry he's going to sign for Crawley Town as Ipswich can't afford his wages - ummmm
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TractorRoyNo1 added 11:41 - Jan 30 Interesting view of history, Sheepy and Burley bankrupted the club by paying stupid fees for a 2nd division italian goalkeeper and a 40+ year old african ball juggler. Sheey put in diddly-squat money and took out plenty in salary and sold good players for peanuts. He p!ssed-off Greene King and screwed dozens of local small businesses. Town owed millions to Barclays and Norwich Union, and if Evans had not cut a deal with them we would now be playing Luton Town rather than trying to buy one of their players. Worcester_Worrier added 23:13 - Jan 29 This may have already been said but I would just like to point out that the club was stabilised by sheepshanks after we went intoadministration and we were paying the money off.......

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jas0999 added 13:45 - Jan 30 How do we know we are not paying £20K towards Bullard - even Celtic wouldn't pay his wages. People need to be realistic. Jewell's mate is being signed on massive terms - even though he is injury prone. Even if we are paying £10K that's far too much for a player who may miss more than he plays. Yet Austin would have been here long term.I refuse to accept we couldn't match Burnley - especially after spending big on an injury -prone 32 year old!

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crazyblue added 14:37 - Jan 30 Well said jas0999.... Could not agree more.
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bluelady added 15:03 - Jan 30 Ah yeah perfect sense paying three months wages on a low risk return if injured but very proven creative midfielder or three and a half years inflated wages on someone who is unproven and after as much money as possible yes perfect sense.
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Garv added 17:24 - Jan 30 People don't understand that Bullard is a LOAN, and would be with us for about 4 months. Then Austin, who was bargaining for a three and a half year deal...work it out.
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bluelady added 17:37 - Jan 30 thanks Garv!! not sure why it is so hard getting through!
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Skip73 added 18:00 - Jan 30 Ther are some obstacles to overcome, mainly Cleggs negotiating skills. Sorry to sound negative but I have no faith whatsoever in the fool. CLEGG OUT.
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asamink added 18:55 - Jan 30 I hate it whan other managers start talking about our players, and I hate it just as much when we do it. Just shut up talking about players, do all the deals behind closed doors and talk about it after they have signed. Grrrr.
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suffolkpoker added 08:58 - Jan 31 I was gutted when Austin didnt sign but having time to reflect on it. I would rather him go and sign for burnley, if it meant ipswich was breaking there wage struture for some 21 year old, unproven at championship and above. How would that look to Wickham and others. Anyway, i dont know what all the fuss is about, we have STILL got the BEST U21 English striker in the championship in the name of Connor Wickham who has just sgined a longer contract... Charlie who?

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Golaboots added 09:20 - Jan 31 What a terrible photograph, really needs a bit of fill flash.
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