Boss Paul Jewell says he’s already working on his targets for next season with the priority adding one or perhaps two strikers. The Town manager says other clubs in the Championship — including Norwich City — have the type of predatory frontmen he is looking for.

Jewell said: “It’s fair to say that we’ve started the process of improving the squad for next season now. We’re putting some feelers out and getting lists together of players that we would like to bring in. It isn’t like it’s a bottomless pit but everyone knows that we need to improve.

“We desperately need a goalscorer and we will improve that situation in the coming months. We’re actively trying to do that now for next season.

“So, without trying it make too many empty promises, once we’ve made sure we stay in this league, which I’m sure we will, we’ve got to get at least one goalscorer, if not two.”

The Blues boss knows the type of player he wants, citing a Canary and a Doncaster frontman he recently watched in action as examples: “There’s one down the road, Grant Holt, who gets on the end of things. There’s Billy Sharp, there’s Danny Graham at Watford. If we had someone who could get 20 goals, we’d be somewhere close to the play-offs.

“We need some players for next season to help what we’ve got. Goalscorers make a lot of difference. Look at Leeds, they’ve scored 68 goals, they’ve conceded goals but they score goals and that takes the pressure off the lads at the back.

“When we concede a goal, especially in the manner we’ve conceded the goals we have in the last two home games from corners, it’s really disappointing and it makes it hard mentally for the players - they’ve got to score two goals at least to get a win. We’ve got to make sure next season that we turn possession and chances into goals.”

Jewell says Tuesday’s defeat to Watford was a case in point: “Sometimes when you look at the difference between two teams [it’s interesting].

“They scored in the third minute and in the 90th minute. They won 3-0 and I think they’ve had two shots on target in the second half and scored two goals.

“We had all the possession and huffed and puffed, but never really looked like blowing their house down, being brutally honest with you.

“We hit the post and the bar in the first half and sent in plenty of crosses but there weren’t too many people prepared to go in there and get hurt - and that’s what we need.”

Photo: Action Images

itfc1981 added 06:29 - Mar 19 bye bye, Priskin
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DiamondGezzer added 07:14 - Mar 19 I just wonder what our conversions to shot ratio is, pretty poor I imagine. Let's hope we convert a few today.
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tractorblue99 added 07:52 - Mar 19 Sharp and mackail-smith please mr jewell. Not sure if holt would want to play for us.
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trueblue1970 added 07:58 - Mar 19 Would love to see Sharp here
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Ipswich24 added 08:27 - Mar 19 Would love Mackail-Smith and Billy Sharp totallly agree tractorblue99 and want pace in the team my team today would be: Lee-Barrett Edwards Mcaulay Delaney O'Connor Norris Bullard Leadbitter Peters Dyer Wickham Subs Fulop Kennedy Martin Scotland Priskin Hyam Brown Comments!
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tractaboy added 08:45 - Mar 19 Anyone else see that Norwich already have a deal for Mackail Smith done?
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Karlosfandangal added 08:47 - Mar 19 Forget Makil Smith, live next door to a Posh player and he told me that its 2 million plus 1million of garenteed add ons and Norwich are close, Makil-Smith has had 2 moves blocked and Posh have Tomlin to replace him and knows he will go so are cashing in, and use the money to build for the Championship if they go up. Looks like the season ticket spin is on again, already working on the summer targets, home form will be better next year etc. Dyer will opt for Everton as they will offer far higher wages than we can and have the feeling he is a PR stunt for the season ticket sales as I am not sure why we have brought him back just for a few games unless to cover Norris. 1 win in 7 and still Keanes fault sorry but Jewell has to take some of the blame as Bullard Dyer and Martin and the tactics used are not Keane's. Dont get me wrong Jewell has made big improvememnts and yes still a work in progress but still at a lose to why Peters and O'Connor have not been given a chance, still feel that Jewell will do a good job for us over time. However Wigan and Bradford he did wonders for yet Derby and Sheff Wed were not good at all. Need to keep our feet on the ground as I can see expectations for next season similair to this and what a let down this year has been. (again)

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broomfield123 added 08:55 - Mar 19 Carlton cole any body or zamora
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RetroBlue added 09:16 - Mar 19 Id say its bye , bye Priskin, & Scotland - neither one can hit an elephants bum with a banjo !
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apm_77 added 09:30 - Mar 19 In - Sharp, Shane Long? Out - Priskin, Scotland, Delaney. New Contracts please - Norris, McAuley.
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JayITFC added 09:37 - Mar 19 Sharp and/or Graham would do nicely!!!
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strikalite added 10:06 - Mar 19 Mackail-Smith and Billy Sharpe for me, two players who have pace, awareness and will chase every ball....watched CMS a few times now as i live in PBoro, works his socks off and please don't say he didn't 'make it' in the Championship last time, in a half decent side who create chance he WILL score goals, that doesn't leave you.. One striker won't be enough, injuries happen and you need cover especially upfront where we are weak anyway...two new strikers and two creative midfielders please, the latter for me actually come first..

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rolly added 10:07 - Mar 19 I have said it before and I will say it again, three words.... Gio dos santos haha
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onlyone added 11:21 - Mar 19 You have a goal scorer PJ but your playing him on the left wing!!! Give the strikers a chance and play 442 ! But I am sure we will not see 442 today when we need it ! Whoever plays up front is going to have a difficult time without another striker to Play with!
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IP3 added 11:36 - Mar 19 Craig Mackail Smith Adam Le Fondre Joe Lewis Craig Dawson (West Brom signed him from Rochdale in the summer, and is back on loan there, would like us to take him on loan) any creative midfielder's in the lower leagues anyone know of... defensive/attacking suggestions? no need for full-backs, would love to see Peters & O'Connor given a run in the side.
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arc added 11:53 - Mar 19 I am worried about Jewell talking so much about new strikers. Keep Scotland and Priskin focused for the next couple of months--we still need points. We can have these conversations in May, hopefully still in this division. Crucial match this afternoon.
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LostBumpkin added 13:44 - Mar 19 Time to sign big John Utaka, or his brother Peter :) KOYB!!!
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tom_the_blue added 14:06 - Mar 19 Get a new winger, who can take players on, and a striker or two, depending on whether Wickham goes.
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CanadianBlue added 14:50 - Mar 19 Wouldn't mind Ricky Lambert from Southampton, although somewhat doubtful.
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bedsitfc added 15:45 - Mar 19 Sharp, cms, davies from chesterfield, long but still think priskin can do well for us
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StowTractorBoy added 19:27 - Mar 19 Makes me laugh some of the names being branded about for our new strike force. There is no way we will pay 3.5m for Makail-Smith and as for Le Fondre he is two stone overweight and if you saw him v. Chesterfield he would not get in Bury Towns team. Sharp is the most realistic possibilty but not just ITFC will want him so I won't hold my breath. Don't envy Jewells task but hope Mr Evans will dig deep although he will think too much money has been wasted already.

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mikewright2 added 21:56 - Mar 19 Danny graham, billy sharp or shane long :)
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rolly added 01:52 - Mar 20 It makes m laugh how someone comes and has a good game at pr means that we should sign him
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peachyboy added 15:41 - Mar 20 What about jordan rhodes back he has had time away to polish his game and now banging them in for a few seasons now.
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