TWTD understands that Town have renewed their interest in bringing former Academy manager Bryan Klug back to Playford Road as exiting chief Sammy Morgan’s replacement. In February, we revealed that the Blues had approached the 51-year-old about a possible return, Klug at that point deciding against leaving his current role as assistant director and head of player development at Tottenham’s Academy.

More recently Klug is believed to have softened to the idea of going back to the job he vacated in 2006 to become Jim Magilton’s assistant manager.

Klug was Magilton’s second in command until John Gorman’s appointment in 2008, when he moved into a head of football development role and was taking charge of the reserves when he was controversially axed by former boss Roy Keane in January 2010.

Current Academy manager Morgan yesterday announced his intention to stand down at the end of the month, with the Academy undergoing a restructuring as part of the EPPP shake-up of youth football. Town’s decision to opt for Category Two will see overall staff numbers increase by up to eight.

Asked to comment on Town's targeting of Klug in February, chief executive Simon Clegg wouldn't comment one way or the other: “It would be wrong for me to speculate on any member of staff, past or present.”

Klug, who still lives in Suffolk, was a youth player with the Blues between 1977 and 1983 but failed to make a senior appearance, moving on to Wimbledon (loan), Chesterfield and Peterborough United and then into non-league football.

He returned to Portman Road in 1987, joining the coaching staff and in 1998 became the director of the newly formed Academy in an era during which Kieron Dyer, Richard Wright, James Scowcroft, Titus Bramble and others emerged.

In 2005 Klug, who has also had spells as caretaker-manager of the Blues, led the Academy to the club’s third FA Youth Cup before becoming Magilton’s assistant a year later, shortly after Newcastle United had approached him to run their Academy.

Photo: Action Images

cwb91 added 15:27 - May 31 The clown that was in charge before should never have got rid before. Seemed a strange decision. Although most of that man's decisions were strange
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itfchorry added 15:27 - May 31 Klug In Clegg Out
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idrinkbeer added 15:27 - May 31 Would love Klug to return, the way he was axed by Keane was disgraceful
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WeirdFishes added 15:28 - May 31 This is one of the best signings we could make this summer
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spanish_archer added 15:28 - May 31 Great news, hope it comes off.
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unknownicr added 15:30 - May 31 The one (and only?) person who doesn't want to see this happen is Paul Jewell. If Town are not in or around the playoff places come Christmas I think we could a lot worse then give Klug a promotion to first team boss. Embarrassed that we ever got rid of him.
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ArnieMsBigToe added 15:36 - May 31 ITFChorry: Claggy in?
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itfc1981 added 15:39 - May 31 Klug in! Clegg out!
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ArnieMsBigToe added 15:41 - May 31 The more I think about it, and the more I am reminded of decisions made by the dark lord, the more sympathy I have with PJ. The list is endless Jonathan Walters, Tamas Priskin, Jordan Rhodes, Bryan Klug . . . . . . And I'm sure that I have forgot loads. . .
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Surco72 added 15:47 - May 31 Still we are trying to recover from Keanes cock ups ,would be a very good move by the club again learning from mistakes ,good step forward
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Marshalls_Mullet added 15:48 - May 31 As we have seen through Keanes punditry, he hates to see anyone other than himself given praise. He will have resented Klugs reputation at the club.
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itfchorry added 15:53 - May 31 Itfc1981 - I am a huge fan of your work - Poor old Guam Arnie - you dont make sense !
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whittonite added 16:01 - May 31 brian klug most probably wanted to leave when he discovered that we were going to be using the long ball system for the next three years !,after bringing through youngsters who were taught to play on the ground he probably thought whats the point. get him back for goodness sake and stop wasting time...
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bluey123 added 16:40 - May 31 The best news for years at last ITFC have got something right
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algarvefan added 16:52 - May 31 OK I've been a Town supporter for nearly 50 years, was the 'Dark Lord' the worst person in Town's history....can't think of anyone worse....Can you??? PS Come back Kluggy :)
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Sindre94 added 16:56 - May 31 Watch the clegg interview on Ipswich Player (itfc.co.uk) Hes not as clueless as many of you think, stop blaming him everything
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Mark added 16:57 - May 31 Bit by bit we are undoing the damage done by Keane to this club. The signings (Fulop, Edwards, Leadbitter, Priskin...), the sales/releases (Rhodes, Stead, Walters, D.Wright...), plus the damage to the coaching and scouting network...Keane has to be the worst manager we have had in terms of money and opportunity cost. We were 9th in 2008/9 and that should have been built on to take us to the Premier League with the millions he spent.

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irishtim added 17:57 - May 31 Have to agree with Sindre. Not cleggs fault but my fellow Corkman & Traitor in my eyes. The day i heard he was itfc manager my first words wer F..k no.Bryan please return.
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MichaelRockyLavelle added 18:07 - May 31 Get him back :)))))))))) YAaaaaaaaaaaaaay
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StowTractorBoy added 18:21 - May 31 This is very refreshing news and really hope Klug comes back to where he was so successful. I am beginning to think there is a real chance of the feelgood factor returning to our beloved Club. Roy Keane without doubt has put this Club back beyond belief and has much to answer for. The signing of Elliott Hewitt is another step forward and Klugs appointment will help even more. Hope this comes off.

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Lightningboy added 18:29 - May 31 Yes...come back Bryan.
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harlingblue added 18:52 - May 31 Would be fabulous to have Brian Klug back to run The Academy and perhaps even more. He would become the important link between the youth and the 1st team, with experience second to none IMO
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clive_baker added 19:35 - May 31 Would love to see him back, he's great with youngsters and really knows his football. Would be a fantastic figure to have back around the place.
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BillBlue added 19:53 - May 31 I agree Algarvefan. If we pull this one off it will be our biggest signing of the summer and, yes, I do know we need a good keeper RCB and striker but Kluggy is a must. COYB
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Tractorcookie added 20:06 - May 31 Arnie - your list is good apart from Priskin (???!) - he did nothing apart the wonder goal versus Arsenal. Mark Your analysis is spot on. Rather like Irishtim I thought "what the.....!" when Keano was appointed but i was also prepad to give him the benefit of the doubt as I felt we had a soft underbelly and hoped he would introduce some steel. I tried to stick with him as a loyal fan but it became clear that he was tactically inept/naive, a disastrous leader and he made some mind bogglingly bad decisions such as selling Rhodes. The last of these I will never understand and it has taken me a huge effort to forgive - he clearly had no idea what he was doing.

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