Former England striker Mick Harford is set to join Paul Jewell’s Town staff. Harford, 53, has recently been scouting for the England U21 set-up and appears likely to take on a similar role with the Blues.

Jewell has been looking to add to his scouting staff with former Everton midfielder Andy King leaving the club in December only a month after being appointed.

Much-travelled Harford played for Lincoln, Newcastle, Bristol City, Birmingham, Luton, Derby, Chelsea, hometown club Sunderland, Coventry and Wimbledon, in addition to winning two full England caps.

Since retiring, Harford, who lives in Harpenden in Hertfordshire, has had spells as manager at Rotherham, Luton, Nottingham Forest (caretaker) and QPR (caretaker), as well as spending time on the coaching staff at Wimbledon, Luton, Forest, Millwall, Colchester and QPR.

Meanwhile, Norwich City are reported to have watched Portsmouth pair Joel Ward and Jason Pearce, both long-time Town targets. The Blues held talks with Ward before the March loan deadline, while Pearce, who is understood to be close to moving to Leeds, was the subject of a rebuffed bid in January.

Elsewhere, Hull City are said to have joined the Blues and Leeds in showing interest in exiting Derby midfielder Paul Green.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

SouperJim added 10:42 - Apr 26 Great stuff, lets hope he has some targets in mind already, Jewell needs all the help he can get.
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AlanMahon2011 added 10:45 - Apr 26 Hope he knows how to help Jewell fight relegation next year!
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CornardBlue added 10:55 - Apr 26 Good luck to Mick hope he has some gems in mind. Remember him as a player, he was a real hard nut centre forward great in the air, just the type of centre forward we need.
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brian_a_mul added 11:05 - Apr 26 This is a great signing for the club. An U-21 scout international scout will have good knowlegde of all the league clubs and their respective youth systems. Plus with one foot in the international set up ITFC may be able to tap indirectly into their resources. Plus Mick is a gentleman and has a great reputation in the game. Win-Win. Well done Town.
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BrightBlue added 11:21 - Apr 26 The man hasn't even arrived yet and already some are questioning his appointment. It's no wonder we have trouble signing players, they're capable of accessing ITFC forums/twitter etc. with so much negativity from fans it's hardly surprising!!
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casanovacrow added 11:53 - Apr 26 with any luck he knows a fair few decent young players we can get in seeing as Jewell seems be stuck for ideas of anyone who wasnt playing at the time he was managing Derby all them years ago. Hoping for a "Jewell sacked" story by the start of next season else we gonna be stuck with same old clueless rubbish as this year :-(
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fourth added 11:54 - Apr 26 Well his address book will be full of great names. Can we hope for 3 to 4 new young players?
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newboy added 12:02 - Apr 26 While you all keep banging on about how he will be able to target youth players you are forgetting one crucual point PJ neither values youth nor will he play, progress or develop youth what we need is a scout for those at the other end facing retirement
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elmswellblue added 12:03 - Apr 26 2 big screens in the Britannia/North and Churchmans corner would help, but cannot see Marcus Evans putting his hand in his pocket for that. It has taken 2 years to get Sky in the lower Britannia. Lowering the price of season tickets will not help, but it is worth looking at the prices you have to pay if paying on the day. The club desperately needs a song for the fans to be associated with, The Supporters Forum tried very hard to come up with a song but they were all very samey. Reason the club would not use a popular song everytime the team scored is that the club has to pay a royalty. But there again you will not please everyone on this board

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PauloJulio added 12:24 - Apr 26 good addition to the coaching/scouting staff who should have a good knowledge of the lower leagues
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HARRY10 added 12:59 - Apr 26 "we don't want to cripple the club" In the same way as stepping on Douglas Bader's toes might cripple him
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ITFCsince67 added 13:02 - Apr 26 Another old school dinosaur. Harford, Jewell, Hutchings and McCarthy. While this lot are at our club we will go nowhere. There is nothing to suggest that next season or the season after will be anything other than mid table rubbish. We have no real exciting young players coming through. The club is rotten to the core. So sad :(
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jas0999 added 13:04 - Apr 26 Best of luck to him. Tough job - hopefully he is banned from loking at players over 30.
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Surco72 added 13:24 - Apr 26 People slam Jewell for not signing youth ,he appoints someone Pearce obviously rates who has been working with ,knowledge of and scouting the best young players in the country and he is moaned at again !! This could lead to who knows how many signings at this stage and as always he is written off before anything has happened .Some so called supporters really need to have a look a themselves . Good luck Mick welcome to Ipswich

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Lightningboy added 13:35 - Apr 26 Would've been nice if an ex-town player had been given the role.
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Special_A added 14:00 - Apr 26 Lightningboy- Who gives a sh*t if it is an old player, sentiment doesn't win you anything. Get the right person in, with the best skill set. His involvement as a manager and recently scouting for the U21's can only be a positive!
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