Boss Paul Jewell has admitted he made mistakes in his approach to Town’s summer transfer business. The Blues manager says that having initially viewed the job as a long-term venture when he took over from Roy Keane a year ago, his thoughts turned much more towards a quick-fix during a close season in which he signed predominantly experienced veterans.

Jewell concedes that errors were made in relation to that transfer policy: “I think the biggest thing is that when I first came here I was talking about it being a bit of a project.

“Then, all of a sudden, it turned into ‘I think we’ve got to try and get promotion in one year and let’s go with tried and trusted people who have been there, seen it and done it’.

“And really, when you think about it, it’s more of a long-term job, let’s be honest about it. We signed too many players on one-year contracts and loan players, which is not ideal," said the Liverpudlian.

“It’s been a sticky period for the club for the last few years really,” he explained. “I thought maybe the way to get out of it quickly was to try and get players who have been there, seen it and done it and I think we all know we’ve probably signed too many of them.”

The 47-year-old says he accepts the blame for his side’s failings but still believes he’s the man to take the club forward: “I’ll take responsibility for it. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I know I can do this job, I know I’m decent at it.

“I’ve had a tough time so far this season, but nothing in life comes easily, it’s tough. I hope to be here for a long time.

“I speak to the owner every day and it’s a big five-year plan for him, that’s what he said to me after we got beaten by Burnley, and hopefully I’m going to be here to see that out. I’ve made a few mistakes but I want to learn from them.”

He admits that some signings, such as 34-year-old Ivar Ingimarsson’s addition on a free transfer from Reading, haven’t worked out as yet: “Hindsight is the best word in football, the best word in life.

“He played 20-odd games for Reading last season and when they went on a run of 12 games unbeaten he played in every one of them.

“I’ve made mistakes but if you look at my record, I’ve got two clubs up into the Premier League, I’ve stayed there three times and I’ve got to a Carling Cup final, so don’t throw me to the wolves yet.”

Jewell is now targeting younger players — including Leicester’s Sean St Ledger and another mystery man he hopes to sign before Wednesday’s game at Birmingham - for the years ahead to add to the more experienced campaigners: “You can’t get all 16-year-olds in, but we’ve got to start planning now for longer term players. Getting the balance right between experience and youth is something which we’ve got wrong.

“We want to make some signings on a permanent basis, not out of panic but because we need to get some younger players down and try and build for the future, that’s key.”

Despite the Blues currently sitting in 20th, he says he hasn’t yet written the season off: “You never ever know what happens, but the team hasn’t worked out anywhere near how I hoped or anyone had hoped. There are 20-odd games left yet and we’re in a fight at the minute, we understand that.

“The league table doesn’t lie at the moment, but I still believe that we’ve got enough in the squad to finish well away from where we are now, and with a few additions, who knows?

“We’re not giving up on this season because it’s such a crazy league that two or three back-to-back wins and things will look completely different and people’s attitudes will be different.

“I know that the width of a goalpost or a good opportunity missed or a mistake from a goalkeeper or a defender changes people’s whole perception on the season, never mind the game.”

Photo: Action Images

BROTHERBLUE1974 added 07:17 - Jan 6 Why not use some of the youngster's already at the club u clown....
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WeWereZombies added 07:23 - Jan 6 agree with 'victory will happen' - true Bobby Robson took a while to form his FA and UEFA cup winning teams but it was built from within (and we have Jackie Milburn to thank for laying the foundation stone of our youth policy). It seems these visionaries are still years ahead of the game even today, but the youth teams still perform better than most clubs even with the relative neglect - and the limited opportunities. Robson did make key transfers, Arnold Muhren and Paul Mariner springs to mind as the best, but Beattie and Butcher came up through the youth system. Butcher seemed to take about three games to bed in as a top flight player! Those were the days

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blrmy added 07:28 - Jan 6 Oh God, awaiting jas's obvious comment !!!
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itfc1981 added 07:29 - Jan 6 Better Jewell, but you had no real option but to say this. Actions speak louder than words. You have my deepest sympathies trying to achive your goals with Clegg.
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Blue_75 added 07:30 - Jan 6 An honest and fair assessment which, personally, I find encouraging! I was just starting to lose faith in PJ but I'd my much rather see him get it right than have yet another change of manager and players. Apart from not getting relegated this season I'd just like to see us bring in 3 or 4 young(ish) players (from outside of the Premiership) and bed them in ready for the start of next season! In terms of our out-of-contract players, I would make it a priority to sign up Sonko, Carson and Scotland. Time for Leadbitter and Edwards to move on. Still don't know why Hyam doesn't get a look in? Up the Town!

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AndyStannard added 07:33 - Jan 6 Oh you only just noticed PJ! after 9 defeats in 11 yeah you can say i've made a few poor desisions!!
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Mark added 07:35 - Jan 6 To be fair, Jewell has been badly let down by some proven players such as Bowyer, Bullard and Chopra, players the fans were happy to see sign but who have not produced the goods. Another mistake I would add is signing players from Premier League and Championship clubs who always come with big wages. As well as younger players, I'd like to see us sign the best of Leagues One and Two, and get some overseas talent in. Our latest link, St. Ledger, is another big wage earner it seems to me. Let's see some signings from the lower leagues please, just as Norwich kept doing. Finally about our own youngsters, for whatever reason I don't think most of them are good enough. Carson maybe, and Whight may have been unlucky due to Cresswell taking the left-back slot, but other than that the likes of Hyam, Murray etc. are not really the standard we want I think. Youth is the way forward though so we need to invest in the adadamy - grade one please!

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ipswichm8 added 07:46 - Jan 6 just realised u have made major mistakes loads of mistakes u should go
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Keaneish added 07:57 - Jan 6 St.Ledger and James Henry of tge players linked for me. Love to see Henry and Cresswell link up. Desperately need a right back to come with and soon. Edwards has to play right side mid. Honest assessment from Jewell, nothing more than we all knew though!
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WarkyWonderLand added 08:00 - Jan 6 Actions are stronger than words Mr jewell. In your opening press conference last year you said that what you learned after the Derby job was to take your time and not rush into things. You appear to have done exactly the same thing here. You knew macauley was going and we didn't have a right back and you did nothing. It is with all these words patience is wearing thin cos even with the players we have a manager should still be able to create a team to at least compete in this league. Don't rely on your wigan and bradford days. They are long gone and there has also been Sheffield Wednesday and Derby after then. Also agree that its not a great message when the manager doesn't move here. At least rk did do that and get to know the area. Coyb

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Surco72 added 08:05 - Jan 6 Time to stop talking about it mr Jewell and to start getting a settled team of your best eleven and start getting results and the best out of your players you already have . Least he is accepting his mistakes rather than blame everybody and their dog like our last manager though
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irishtim added 08:20 - Jan 6 still dont know why you didnt do a better job with our cbs&rb. Get it right this time or goodbye. Your in the last chance saloon.......................................could be the case of this is where the cowboy rides away.
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walberswick added 08:24 - Jan 6 The biggest mistake is to allow PJ to remain as manager. This is the moment to sack him. He's proven this season that his judgement is shot to pieces and that his style of management is make it up as you go along. Now in the transfer window, names are being thrown around to put out the waves of criticism. Don't give him the money, he doesn't know what he's doing. All he will do is open the club up to financial liabilities for the next few years with yet more over paid players that the next manager will want to get rid of. PJ is a spent force, he''s psychologically unstable and what's worst is the biggest wind bag in the football league. He has the keys to a great club and is systematically vandalizing it. Sack him and get someone in who has a plan and can stick to it. not someone who has another plan for every press conference.

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eaii added 08:29 - Jan 6 NO SH<T SHERLOCK! Now you are going to correct your mistakes and sign loads of cheapy youngsters bearing in mind relegation is a real threat! You have done it the wrong way round, should have been the younsters first and if it did not work then bring in the loan mercenaries to rescue the day. WHAT A NUMPTY!
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kevlowestoft added 08:38 - Jan 6 Yes Mr Jewell ...You have made mistakes Lots of Mistakes We knew that months ago BIG EXPENSIVE Mistakes too. I'd rather us try and play football from the back and go down than see a long hump upfield too. What is the saying.....while weve got the ball at our feet the other team cant score???
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mwhitfc added 08:45 - Jan 6 Now that he has spoken out and held his hands up, maybe people can stop getting on his back and get behind him and the team for once! He tried things and they didn't work, so he is going to rectify it. As soon as things start going right, all the doubters and haters will be praising Jewell as if they have supported him the whole time - everyone needs to have a bit of faith! Jewell is the main to take this club forward, and he will :)

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KenDubZ added 08:49 - Jan 6 You lot he knew he made mistakes so if he knew why would he have to tell all you, you seem to forgett what happends behind closed doors! He's professional he knows what he's doing... If we got him out we would be back at sqaure 1 so shut it you Muppets!!
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brittaniaman added 08:51 - Jan 6 You certainly did make mistakes !!! I would love to see Marcus Evans wage Bill at the moment paying for all these overpriced Has Beens !!!! Take a leaf out of McKay of Cardiffs book, He done a little tinkering and now see where they are sitting in the division, and he has been there a shorter time than you !!!!!!!!!!!
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buryblue77 added 09:02 - Jan 6 Hold on.....it's about a five year plan, then it turned into we have to get promoted within a year so the transfer policy changed to experienced players and loanees, who made that call? Evans? Clegg? Whoever switched the empahsis is responsible for what's currently happening.
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SomershamBlue added 09:03 - Jan 6 Mistakes - we all make them. The trick is to learn from them and not repeat them - especially at a cost to others - i.e. we fans. COYB!!!
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Punchless added 09:16 - Jan 6 Poor signings...................... its so much more than that Paul, have you got a few hours spare?
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Sindre94 added 09:17 - Jan 6 I forgive you, I honestly do believe you are the right man for the job. Seriously. Get some youngsters in and some players in Leadbitter's age, but better... We can do this PJBA!!!! COYB!!! IJWT!!!!
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Sindre94 added 09:17 - Jan 6 I forgive you, I honestly do believe you are the right man for the job. Seriously. Get some youngsters in and some players in Leadbitter's age, but better... We can do this PJBA!!!! COYB!!! IJWT!!!!
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MrCool added 09:24 - Jan 6 Plan? No, I doubt that. What ME probably had was a target to get into the Premiership within 5 years of taking charge. Every time a new manager is appointed or a new owner takes charge of a football club they talk about a 3-5 year 'plan'.... ..when they are still talking about it 2-3 years later, you do start to wonder...
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MickMillsTash added 09:25 - Jan 6 Not sure about this statement Ingimarsson - plays 20 games last year in play off side Bowyer plays 30 odd games in Premier league Collins plays 20 games last year in the Premier League Is the common thread really not about their age - perhaps it is more about the organisation and motivation at the club. Big Sam got the best out similar aged players at Bolton
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