Town chief executive Simon Clegg believes that manager Paul Jewell is still the man to take the Blues back into the Premier League despite conceding that 2011/12 was another season of “mid-table mediocrity”. Jewell, who was appointed in January 2011, has another year on his contract at Portman Road.

Clegg said: “There were a lot of people calling for the manager’s head at the back end of last year when we were going through that difficult phase.

“The owner and I discussed it and were absolutely confident that Paul could turn things round, and we continue to believe that he’s the right man with the right experience to take us back into the promised land. Only time will tell.”

He admits though that 2011/12 has been another under par campaign: “Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s mid-table mediocrity. That’s not where we want to be, that’s not where we aspire to be, so in that context we have to be disappointed.

“We were always going to play catch-up after that disastrous run at the end of last year, which really tested everyone, but I think that once we started to turn things around — Barnsley, West Ham — then we had a very reasonable run.

“Four losses in the last 19 games is not a bad way to finish the season but we didn’t play with the level of consistency throughout the season which is going to be necessary if we aspire to promotion to the Premier League.”

Jewell has admitted getting his transfer business wrong last summer but Clegg says he and owner Marcus Evans were also involved in the process which saw a number of high profile senior players brought to the club, an approach which failed to work out: “Let’s take collective responsibility. It’s not appropriate to point the finger and say that that’s one individual’s responsibility.

“I think we all have to take a degree of collective responsibility but I think it needs to be recognised that in the main the issue of player identification is down to the manager, and the owner and I feel an obligation to support him in that.

“But ultimately, the three of us have to carry some responsibility for the decisions which have been made. We tried to go up one route, invested a lot of money and it didn’t work.”

Jewell himself says going into the final year of his contract, with no discussions so far regarding a an extension, doesn’t add any additional pressure: “I know it is a year to go, but it wouldn’t have taken a lot of money to get rid of me last year, so it won’t be a money issue. And if I felt it was the right thing to do, I would walk away for free.

“I just hope I am here for a long time and I can bring success. I love working here, I love the area. It ticks all the boxes but the one at the top of the list is getting the team right.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

bahri added 08:51 - May 3 Really
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WeirdFishes added 08:53 - May 3 IPSWICH ARE BETTER THAN EVERYONE
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bluethroughnthrough added 08:54 - May 3 But are YOU the right man for the job Mr Clegg?
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 08:56 - May 3 Clegg saying he believes PJ is the right man for the job goes to show just how little he knows about football.....
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itfcjoe added 08:56 - May 3 Is he really? Is there any evidence in there that says why he is? Other than a freak result against Barnsley and this stat that keeps getting pumped out: "Four losses in the last 19 games is not a bad way to finish the season" How about the fact that we finished the season with 2 wins in 9 games, that is a bad way to finish the season and for the last 1/5th of the season we were in relegation form....

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itfc1981 added 08:58 - May 3 I like the fact that he felt the need to say this!
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ITFC_Essex added 08:59 - May 3 I think when Celtic reserve players become "beyond" a deal for Ipswich it's the people at the top who are the problem not the manager, he can only work with the resources available to him.
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itfc1981 added 09:03 - May 3 There is not a hope in hell that Jewell will be the right man, its just a matter of when he will go next season.
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Sindre94 added 09:04 - May 3 I agree. Jewell will prove JAS, h32, Itfc1981 and MANY others wrong next season, cant wait. PJS BARMY ARMY
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Kesgraveblue57 added 09:05 - May 3 From Mr Clegg;-The owner and I discussed it and were absolutely confident that Paul could turn things round, and we continue to believe that he's the right man with the right experience to take us back into the promised land. Hell I hope you are right but in my heart I know Jewell is the wrong man to take the club forward, the owner and Mr Clegg can do with club what they want! to as fans we just don't have a say in matter.

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Karlosfandangal added 09:06 - May 3 Lets hope we dont get rid of the manager again,Cant see us going up next year, but getting a new manager ever 2 years is half the problem. They get rid of player and bring in new and so far has not worked since ME we have brought in over 60 players and got worst ever year. If its a 5 year plan to go up give the manager 5 years
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JimmyJazz added 09:07 - May 3 It's not a case of how much money it would cost to sack PJ, it's that we'll probably have 2 transfer windows with not much cash to spend because they don't have faith in PJ beyond another 12 months. It's the same scenario as 2 years ago with RK all over again
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itfcluke95 added 09:12 - May 3 not going to lie i wanted Jewell out half way through that season when we were on a bad run, but it looks like we have turned a corner, four losses in the last 19 games is play off form, if it wernt for silly results like doncaster, watford and even reading because to be honest i wernt really impressed with them at home or at there place, if we had actually beaten them then you never know what could of happend ..

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pennblue added 09:14 - May 3 Simon, I agree and I don't think you can assume last season was a complete disaster bringing in a lot of experienced players. It has allowed some of the younger players to 'bed in', and we will hopefully benefit from this, this season. Be careful not to go too far the other way, throwing loads of youngsters is not the right way either, it is about a balance still.
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righty added 09:14 - May 3 To all you pro PJ what has he done in the last season and a half to give you all this confidence in him. I have supported the club for many seasons and will continue to do so but I do not have to agree with the way this club going please some one explain this confidence. I dont mean what he says I mean what he has achieved in16 miserable months
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MaySixth added 09:24 - May 3 Unbelievable
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righty added 09:27 - May 3 Ok to say unbelievable explain please
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JustSpivvyChops added 09:37 - May 3 "We tried to go up one route, invested a lot of money and it didn't work." Is he referring to the "experienced player" strategy, or Jimmy Bullard? lol Bullard is the difference between top 6 and mid table, lets hope he is back to best for the coming season.
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walberswick added 09:43 - May 3 4 years, 4 months, 16 days and progress is zero. Well done everyone. Make sure none of you get complacent.
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dirtyboy added 09:47 - May 3 I think PJ has brought in some good players, Cresswell, Chopra, JET, Drury and dare I say Bullard is still a quality player. He's got Martin playing exceptionally well, gave Hyam a run, and finally the defence looked a bit more solid. I think a few astute additions, namely a goalkeeper, perhaps a right back and centre back, and we'll have the core of a very good team. I think consistency at the back has cost us this season, defence and the keeper never really got a decent run, make a huge difference. I'll reserve judgement after the summer, Jewell has now had his bedding in time, has been allowed to get back into the swing of management after a break of a couple of years. Confidence. Support.

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itfc1981 added 09:57 - May 3 defence looked a bit more solid? Gave Hyam a run? dirtyboy I want to live in your world!!
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righty added 10:02 - May 3 drtyboy I agree with a lot of what you say although Chopra, Jet and Drury have to prove to do it day in day out Jet fades out of matches to often hopefully he will improve as for Chopra too many off field problems to live up to his profile. But Jewell has brought in too many awful signings
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walberswick added 10:06 - May 3 jewel is being given a second chance. why?
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Leoipswich added 10:14 - May 3 IPSWICH ARE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STANDARD!
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Mutiny added 10:22 - May 3 Not sure whether it is Clegg or Jewell (or both) who can't think further than loanees. Only way to build long term success is with contracted players who have some long term committment - forget loan players.
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