Town boss was once again left bemoaning his side's lack of a cutting edge and poor defending as they ended the season with a 4-2 defeat at Leicester. The Blues manager confirmed that keeper Brian Murphy has left the club having turned down his contract.

Jewell said: “I think we’ve had three gilt-edged opportunities and don’t score a goal. Then we went a goal down and then it was like the house of cards and we were three down.

“We were looking for a response in the second half and their keeper’s pulled off a couple of great saves. We get back to 3-2 and then there's the usual soft underbelly, two minutes later they score — 4-2.

“If that had been the other way around I think we would probably have lost that game. That’s the mentality that we’ve got to get into this team.

“It’s a big task, but one that I’m relishing. Today didn’t show me anything I didn’t know, I’ve been saying it almost since I’ve been here.

“The players deserve a lot of credit for making us safe, but it isn’t enough to take us forward next season. Everyone knows that, players know that, I’ve told them that. We’ll have debrief on Monday.

“The reason we are where we are is we don’t score goals when we should and when we come under pressure we concede, it’s dead simple.”

On-loan midfielder Jimmy Bullard missed out because his knee flared up at training on Thursday.

The Town boss confirmed that Irish keeper Brian Murphy was left out having turned down his new deal at Portman Road: “Brian’s refused his contract and he’s left the club.

"Colin Healy’s accepted a year’s contract and I think Arran Lee-Barrett’s accepted as well.”

Jewell refused to comment on goalkeeper-coach James Hollman, who wasn’t warming up with the keepers prior to kick-off and who TWTD understands is set to leave the club.

One-time Town loanee and Jewell's ex-Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt, who was recently linked with the Blues, may well be seen as the man to take on the role next season.

Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was happy to end with a victory but felt his side's weaknesses were also evident: “It was nice to finish with a win. It was important for the home fans, the owners, the players themselves and even for me.

“As usual, part of it we were brilliant, we pass the ball around, create chances and score fantastic goals, then suddenly we switch off and, after the penalty, which maybe was or wasn’t, allow Ipswich to score a typical Leicester City goal-against, which we have done all season.

“That has cost us at least a place in the play-offs. It’s important that we change that and make it right for next season.”

The former England boss was happier with the playing conditions than he had been in his side's 3-0 defeat in the snow at Portman Road earlier in the season: “The weather was a little bit better today! That was a crazy game. Much better today.”

Photo: Action Images

Lay added 15:49 - May 7 Has jewell not realised that When its carson Right wing wickham Up front in middle and martin Left wing we are so much better! They have played a total of 65 minutes together and during that time have scored goals! Isnt it Obvious enough?
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canveyblue added 15:52 - May 7 Come on PJ ship out the players who don't want to be here and bring in some good quality players, Westwood would be a good start.
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loudnproud added 15:54 - May 7 This is a summer that many a Town supporter is relishing. We are not restricted with administration (under Royle). We have not appointed inexperienced managers(aka Magic and Keane)....This has to be the summer that Town must get it right. They have started it so by appointing the right man. Now all i ask is that ME and Clegg supports him and allow him to get on with it. PJ KNOWS what is required and can deliver providing he is allowed to do so.

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arc added 15:56 - May 7 I'm perfectly happy to see Murphy leaving; he adds nothing. Good luck to him elsewhere. Let the clean-out begin. New RB, CB (assuming Macauley leaves), Midfielders (defensive holding midfielder, creative one–assuming Bullard leaves), and strikers. Possibly a GK too. Pretty much a whole team then. Go to work, PJ.
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Sindre94 added 16:02 - May 7 good luck Brian! :)
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Suffolk_n_Proud added 16:02 - May 7 He's only the right man if he gets us promoted! Which just like every other previous manager thats come in i really think they will, but has not proven so. Hindsight is a wonderful thing
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bluearmy4life added 16:02 - May 7 Time for Marcus Evans to give PJ Some proper money between now and next season. We need it more than ever before. We are a club who have declined massively over the past few years I want are ITFC Back. For all the players who don't want to be here we thank you for your contribution but it's time to PEE OFF. If Murphy thinks he will play for a better club then Town then good luck to ya. Time to start a fresh I have faith in PJ. We as supporters need to get behind the team next season more than ever before, have to say the atomsphere this year has been like a libary dull and boring.Time for good postive changes up the town!!!!

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Lightningboy added 16:10 - May 7 For god's sake let's hope this Westwood story has some truth in it..we need a good new keeper... As for Murphy,glad he's off the wage bill..injury prone and very average at best..another who won't be missed..you've done us all a favour there mate.
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jas0999 added 16:38 - May 7 Disappointing end to the season. Not sure what to make of the contract news. Murphy is better than ALB - so can't get too excited about that. Healy signs a deal ... probably a decent squad player, but possibly wouldn't be wanted by any other Championship club. I fail to understand the tactics again today. It's obvious to all but PJ that Wickham is a striker and Scotland is less effective as loan forward. It hasn't been working! So much for PJ to do. Good luck - I hope he is successful in signing some decent players. All the best to Murphy.

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Breedonblue added 16:58 - May 7 Great atmosphere at the game made all the more entertaining by the young Lady in the Leicester supporters, if you were there you'll know what I mean! Well done the town fans particularly enjoyed the Congo out of one exit and back in the other and they sang throughout. The result was fairly meaningless but if Scotland could score goals it could and should have been a draw, two gilt edge chances in the first half. I work in Leicester so I'm going to get some stick on Monday morning but I don't care, bring on next season!

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BongoSponglemeister added 17:08 - May 7 I think working on not conceding a hat-full of goals a game might be a good idea in the run up to next season. Really couldn't give a flying proverbial what players go or stay, with the exception of a couple.
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whoppit added 17:16 - May 7 Another crap season finished. Thank god !!!!
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WeirdFishes added 17:25 - May 7 glad to see the back of murph, never really rated him :/
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reuser90 added 17:40 - May 7 well, yet another mediocre season finished!! thank god!! we all know where we need to strenghen, and i have every faith in PJ , but two words fill me with dread..........SIMON CLEGG!!!!!!!!! please M.E., BACK PJ WITH SOME SERIOUS MONEY!!! can't face another summer of broken promises!!
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Mark added 17:42 - May 7 A disappointing end to the season, but at least it is over now and we can enjoy the summer of rebuilding. Murphy was a decent back-up, but it's fair enough if he wants first team football elsewhere as don't think he'd be our number one. Lee-Barrett is no doubt much cheaper than Murphy so don't mind having him on the books as a number three goalkeeper, despite his recent poor displays. Healy is another decent backup, but not more than that. James Hollman doesn't seem to have inspired our goalkeepers, from Richard Wright to Marton Fulop so it might make sense to change him. Mike Pollitt as a player-coach could be ideal, providing back-up to a new number one.

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SouthernBlueLady added 18:13 - May 7 Just got back from Leicester. Great atmosphere - well done all. So far I have a lot of time for PJ - he seems to talk a lot of sense and he brought Bullard in to entertain us. However, why didn't we start with Connor upfront and Carson on the wing? We looked so much better after Scotland went off. Let's see what the summer brings.
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h32 added 18:16 - May 7 Pollitt has been a sound keeper, and I feel would be a good signing with Coaching in mind. Sensible, accepting words from Jewell - but why no mention of the reason for playing the loan striker / - yet again to no avail.
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SouperJim added 18:32 - May 7 We haven't got a loan striker
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AlexanderFields added 18:46 - May 7 Good point, SouperJim!
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Lay added 20:40 - May 7 Sadler good point! We could do with a couple more strikers...... BUT if........ which is a MASSIVE if we can manage to keep wickham we could probably get promotion with playing 4 3 3 With Fulop/Westtwood Vincelot-St.ledger-Smith-Kennedy Bullard-Cane ferdinand-leadbitter Lee martin-Wickham-Carson Subs: Fulop/Westwood billly sharp O'connor Delaney Mckail-smith Peters Hyam
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werringtonblue added 21:06 - May 7 @ Lay - Errrr - if we did buy Sharp and Mackail-Smith (which we will not), they would both be in the starting lineup - and Leadbitter and Martin will never make us promotion candidates, I'm afraid
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robdaful added 21:08 - May 7 B. Murphy to coventry and Westwood to us? That would be intresting to see who does better.
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Lamby95 added 21:29 - May 7 Anyone know why we didn't stick with 4-4-2 with wickham up top instead of Murray with Scotland. Get the best out of both of them.
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EatonBlue added 23:41 - May 7 Oh no ! Murphy can't leave - I've named my kitten after him ! (Murph, not Brian).
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bobble added 00:53 - May 8 THE SHINY ONE HAS SAVED US FROM THE DARK LORDS DESTRUCTION ALL HAIL THE SHINY ONE. and now the servants of the dark lord must be expelled before the empire can be rebuilt
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