Boss Paul Jewell says he has his eye on four or five players ahead of the start of next season with new strikers very much in his thoughts. The Town manager says he is looking to build a squad of 22 players competing for places in his side.

Jewell said: “I have a two-and-a-half-year contract and success is not going to happen overnight. It is a long-term job.

“Before the start of next season I have four or five players in mind that would come in and bring us something extra, and the current players are looking for me to do that.”

The Blues boss, who was spotted at Derby watching his former side lose to Doncaster last night, is looking to replicate the fire power at one of his other previous clubs and at the current top Championship sides: “When I was at Wigan and got promoted to the Premier League we had Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts and one or two others scoring a lot of goals.

“And if you look at Cardiff, Nottingham Forest and QPR this term, they all have players who can get you 15 to 20 goals. If we can get that, we have got half a chance.

Jewell, who is understood to have made unsuccessful loan moves for West Brom's Simon Cox and Aston Villa's Nathan Delfouneso, is looking to build on the players currently at the club: “I think there’s quality here but we need to add more quality, let’s not kid ourselves. And the players would want that. If I was a player I would want the manager to bring in good players.

“There are two ways of going about it, you can fight even harder to make sure he doesn’t take your place or it’s going to improve you as a group. It’s a squad game now and, although I’m not one for making massive changes, we need 22 quality players.

“Every manager will tell you that you need 20 outfield players, quality players, so that if they go into the team it doesn’t get weakened too much. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

The Town boss has also reiterated that he will look to secure the out of contract players he wants to keep once the Blues' Championship status is secure.

Photo: Action Images

riley26 added 00:00 - Mar 3 I can definitely see us going for St.Ledger although I'm sure he will have plenty of options. Should have a look at a couple of the Preston lads, Billy Jones looks decent. Going over old ground I know but Darren Ambrose is clearly still quality.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 01:41 - Mar 3 wait till May, 3 teams go up, but often sell players who got them there, the others in the top six often sell their players, and the teams that come down often have to sell their players i hate the b@stard, but i'd have Holt without hesitation at the end of the season
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bobble added 04:29 - Mar 3 does he have thousands of little bulls eyes floating around in his brain ?
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brian_a_mul added 10:57 - Mar 3 I wouldnt go for Ambrose again. We had him back recently and he failed to live up to expectation whens loaned a few seasons back, dito Counago. Maybe too much pressure and hype surrounds returning players. As for Holt, well thats a no go Im afraid. The Norwich fans would hate him and the town fans wouldnt probably tear him to pieces if he doesnt score in every game. No win situation for him. How about Boyd and Mackail-Smith from Posh? Sharpe is as good as any striker at this level. Maynard is a class act. Shane Long is destined for the Premier League next season. I cant see Conor Sammon making much of an impact at Wigan so he could be a possibility if they decide to offload in the summer.

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DJ_Kesgrave added 11:05 - Mar 3 It's season ticket renewal time so I don't blame the club for talking up our prospects for next year but it's pretty pointless. Everyone has targets and if you are stupid enough to name them you are shooting yourself in the foot. I think we we would all prefer some proper signings in the summer. It all seems a bit like "Marketing for Dummies". Clegg your are the weakest link...

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Karlosfandangal added 11:10 - Mar 3 I have targets in mind Rooney Gerrard Young. Its alright having them in mind but are the targets one which will come to town or ones we can afford. This 25 a season man we want will come at a price, we ran scared at the price they placed on Chopra, We paid 1.7 million for Priskin and he has got us 9 in 50 games, Mackil-Smith is valued at 3 million and is still like Austin not proven at this level. Big step from League one to Championship. It seems to much like last season with Keane wanting 4 or 5 players, feel its town way of drumming up business for season tickets. If we will not secure the contract of the players we want to keep because we are not safe yet. Do the borad and PJ really believe we will not get 3 wins from the last 13 matches. 11 points clear yet we are in a relegation battle, yet 12 points off play off's and we have no hope of achiving the play offs, so surely the same applies to relegation.

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Bergholtblue added 11:11 - Mar 3 You can also read a lot between the lines of this. ............."I have four or five players in mind that would come in and bring us something extra, and the current players are looking for me to do that.......” One wonders whether Norris and Macca are 'the current players' that are holding out on a new deal to see how or if the the squad is to be strengthened.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 11:31 - Mar 3 "Jewell has targets in mind"...... He's been talking to Ashley Cole too much!!!!
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meekreech added 11:57 - Mar 3 With PJ's targets in mind let me raise these questions :- 1 Will their present clubs wish to release them 2 Will they be priced at what our owner is prepared to pay 3 Will our wage offer be acceptable 4 Will they want to come to us 5 Will the deals get done in time for us to blend them in to our side If we can say yes to all of these then PJ has a chance of getting us forward , if not same old problems !

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BotesdaleBlue added 12:24 - Mar 3 Last Close Season Norwich signed six, possibly seven new players permanantly and on loans, before we got our first (Hourihan). They were ready and swung into action while we made little or no progress thoughout the summer break. That suggests they were signing thier initial targets while Town as usual seem to miss out and have to go back to scratch. This has got to change this year, and with Jewell, I trust it will - subject to the help of Clegg and Evans.

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simonsays added 13:04 - Mar 3 It doesn't matter Paul. Clegg will mess it up when it comes to the negotiations.
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devontractorboy added 13:04 - Mar 3 It doesn't seem to matter who the players are, the sticking point will continue to be wages and transfer fees, that's why Keane was second best on most of his deals. PJ needs the support of ME and the board if they are serious about promotion!!
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GerryCreaney added 13:43 - Mar 3 i hear Rooney and Tevez are top of his list.
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blue_em_away added 14:07 - Mar 3 Overall I'm happy with the way we are progressing now.... 2 steps forward and the odd step back. Right direction!! Under FORK we was 1 step sideways with a hint of forwardness and 2 steps back
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fourth added 14:08 - Mar 3 Son of Frank Stapleton? Measure their foreheads as they come in for interview (Preferably wide and flat)
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BlueBadger added 14:11 - Mar 3 he may hav targets but cleg wil stop him singing them
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bluelady added 14:19 - Mar 3 my my what a happy bunch we all are this week! personally id like to keep my glass well and truely full and come the summer if it all goes wrong i at least have a full glass to drown my sorrows in or celebrate with! Having a half empty glass at this point gives me no hope :0)
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StowTractorBoy added 14:21 - Mar 3 The reason Norwich signed players successfully is because they aim low and bring players they sign through their ranks. Keane aimed far too high on almost every occasion Healy apart and he has turned out to be a useful player. Drury is a good example of what Norwich usually do and I think we should keep to this ploy. AFC Chester although playing at a low level have a whizz kid on their books who scores for fun. Charlie Austin came from Poole Town and although he is not yet proving it at Championship level, there are gems to be found in the lower leagues. As for St. Ledger no thanks - too slow and not big enough. I can see why Jewell wants him as he passes the ball out rather than the Delaney hoof but there must be better than that out there and he is very injury prone now. In Jewell I trust and I am sure we will be in good shame come next August.

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Ipswich24 added 15:19 - Mar 3 Karlosfandangal- Mackail- Smith is proven at this level scored plenty of goals in a relegated team last year he can cut it because he has quality sign him up with Billy jones from preston and Billy Sharp and let get Andros back on loan
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brian_a_mul added 15:43 - Mar 3 Rory Fallon could be the missing piece of the jigsaw. Only messing!
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brian_a_mul added 15:54 - Mar 3 RB Greg Halford is from Colchester. He could be a possible transfer from Wolves. He is currently on loan to Pompy and could be available for £1-1.5mil.
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tractorboy2434 added 16:05 - Mar 3 Unless jewell has some cash to spend its all pointless, we have not managed to sign a decent midfielder or striker in 5 seasons and I don't expect thi summer to be any different, it will be interesting to see just how they are going to entice people to renew tickets, spoke to some near me on Sat and suprised that many said they will not renew, but just buy memberships, I must admit I am tempted to do the same, I cannot see how this squad will challenge for anything.

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h32 added 18:08 - Mar 3 tractorboy2434 - be careful, you'll be accused of being negative by the 'blue tinted specs' brigade. You're spot on in my opinion - but some will rabble on with nothing but the normal drivel. These people will never be able to see beyond their own nose's.
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bluelady added 19:58 - Mar 3 h32 nope "these people" just have a far happier outlook on life and live it to the full rather than depressing over things before they even happen! if you wanna call that blue tinted feel free but at least we are happy!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 21:33 - Mar 3 h32. Maybe blue lady is right, i happen to like wearing " blue tinted specs" & strange though it may seem, i can see far beyond my average sized nose. Having been a supporter for 43 years (2 less than your good self), i,ve seen some utter dross & some magical moments in between a fair bit of mediocrity, but one thing will never change, i am always optomistic our club will be successful & try to have a "full glass" outlook. Hopefully bluelady, all of us happier Town fans will be drinking with you come the end of next season. COYB.

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