Former Charlton and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is understood to be the man the Blues are looking to bring to Portman Road if and when Paul Jewell’s time at the club comes to an end.

The incumbent manager currently still has the backing of owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg, but with Town 23rd in the Championship and having picked up only one league win so far this season, that situation could quickly change.

Over the weekend, Jewell said he would consider his Town future but is set to remain in charge for Tuesday’s game against his former club Derby County.

Curbishley has long been a manager admired by club owner Evans with the 54-year-old understood to have been on the short-list of candidates to succeed Roy Keane before Jewell’s appointment.

Former midfielder Curbishley played for West Ham, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Charlton (twice), Brighton and Hove Albion and the England U21s in a career which ran from 1975 until 1993.

In 1991, while he was still playing, he and Steve Gritt were appointed joint-managers at the Valley, Forest Gate-born Curbishley taking lone charge in 1995.

In 1997/98, having beaten Town in the semi-final, the Addicks reached the Premier League after defeating Sunderland 7-6 on penalties after a 4-4- draw in the play-off final at Wembley.

They were relegated in their first season back in the top flight, but returned after just one season as winners of the First Division. Curbishley subsequently signed several members of George Burley’s Town side — Matt Holland, Hermann Hreidarsson, Darren Bent, Darren Ambrose and Marcus Bent.

Having been linked with plenty of bigger jobs during his time at Charlton, Curbishley eventually left the Valley at the end of the 2005/06 campaign.

He took over at West Ham, his boyhood club, in December 2006 and in his first season saved their Premier League status on the final day via a 1-0 win at Manchester United.

Having fallen out with the Hammers’ directors after Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney were sold without his say-so, he resigned in September 2008, winning a case for constructive dismissal in November of the following year.

More recently Curbishley, who is based in Abridge near Chelmsford, was reported to have rejected approaches from Wolves and Bolton.

Given the Blues’ current position, it would be a surprise if owner Evans hadn’t sounded out Curbishley and other potential new managers, Roy Keane having been lined up prior to Jim Magilton’s sacking and Jewell’s appointment coming only a couple of days after Keane’s exit.

Photo: Action Images

shenfieldblue added 09:17 - Oct 22 Please God no, he has been away from the game to long. Need a managerwith his finger on he pulse
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levington added 09:20 - Oct 22 Sammy Lee, he's extremely hungry.
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Bergholtblue added 09:23 - Oct 22 An existing number 2 who is itching to manage a team of his (or her) own is what we need. Whoever suggested Tim Sherwood gave a good shout there. No sure about Curbs for the reasons already mentioned. Any one doing OK at the moment will want to stay where they are. Personally I would love for Poyet and Tarrico to come but there is no way they would want to leave Brighton to join the mess we are in.

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Bluewelshman added 09:30 - Oct 22 Well Bananaman, two up and coming managers spring to mind Mark Yates (42) from Cheltenham and Micky Mellon (40) from Fleetwood, both solid managers with a hunger and love for the game. As for Keane, I never wanted him anyway he was not what the team wanted, a dictator in the dressing room and a bully on the training pitch (from what I heard.
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mrmann22 added 09:32 - Oct 22 There's only one man that can save us and that's mr George burley !! Bring back burley !!!!!!
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Daleyitfc added 09:38 - Oct 22 That would signal another 2-3 years in the wilderness. We need somebody young and on the way up.
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cats_whiskers added 09:47 - Oct 22 Nick Barmby done a very good job at Hull and seems capable enough at this level, I would rather see him here than Curbishley with Mervyn Day who he always has as his assistant.
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meekreech added 09:55 - Oct 22 For all that is ITFC NO!!!! Too long out and was carried a lot of the time by Steve Gritt .
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buryblue77 added 09:57 - Oct 22 I really want to swear and shout out something really rather rude but for the sake of getting myself told off by Phillip/comments deleted I shall remain calm........ Another manager who has been out of work a long time, ask yourself why Mr Evans, stop being a tight ar$e and pay a more recently employed manager or actually accept you may have to pay another club compensation to get someone currently proving themselves. IF this happens and goes well I shall admit to being wrong but I feel this club is going from one disaster to another!

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matthewharley added 10:01 - Oct 22 WTF you all say no so come on who????????
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blueherts added 10:05 - Oct 22 Well we have a good 'Coach' at the club in Bryan Klug - I think an experienced 'Manager' but a qualified Coach - Not sure Jewell ( and certainly not keane) was a real motivator - Great Managers always had a stronger coaching right hand man Also think we need 'an Ipswich connection' at the club so Klug as Coach with an experienced motivator ??!!!- Not Curbishley
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Lukeybluey added 10:06 - Oct 22 MK dons' Karl Robinson would be my pick.
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TheHighwayman added 10:09 - Oct 22 http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/article/12-10-17-half-season-tickets-430148.as
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Norwichbeater added 10:10 - Oct 22 George Burley with Klug and Holland.
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Guthrum added 10:20 - Oct 22 Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
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Urchin added 10:23 - Oct 22 if he does go ( who knows now) I would like to see Coyle. Is Graham Jones ( assit mngr at Wigan) still unsettled - Burnley were after him) . Curbishly once but not now - Mick Mills absolutely not, no way, not ever !
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matthewharley added 10:27 - Oct 22 at least ME is trying to bring in a previous prooven ok AC HAS FAULTS BUT he is prooven the same as kean and jewell so wouldnt be my choice but i would choose JOE JORDAN from the ever prooven rednapp camp
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JimBaxter added 10:27 - Oct 22 You have to despair reading the comments on this board about Curbs - looks like 60% don't think he would do a good job!! Here is a man with a proven managerial track record being dismissed out of hand...I don't understand such a negative initial response....!!
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itfc94 added 10:42 - Oct 22 A few years ago I thought to myself Curbishley and Holland, no word of a liie! I would back them both, and defo better than Jewell!
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vodkaboy added 10:43 - Oct 22 Said before Keane appointed that he was the right manager for us - played good football and understood a family club (Charlton). My opinion however had changed as been out of game too long and it has moved on since he was last managing - so not sure it would work now
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MickMillsTash added 10:44 - Oct 22 Not sure that we are in a position to go with the up and coming and untested Candidate needs to be able to demonstrate that he can build a team showing a clear vision in his playing style. Good orgainsational abilities- defence especially, good communicator, knowledge of lower league players, ability to bring through youth, good coaching staff. Also needs to be able to manage and motivate directors into spending money when absolutely needed. We are probably number 30 on the list of the top jobs in the UK so we should not set our sites low.

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stevebluey added 10:45 - Oct 22 Yes please..we should of got him ages ago
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Tractamatt added 10:48 - Oct 22 Alan Curbishley could be the next manager of Ipswich and Paul Jewell could still get us promoted as champions. Both s likely as each other.
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Guthrum added 10:49 - Oct 22 - JimBaxter Paul Jewell is a man with a "proven managerial track record" and that has been no guarantee of success. Curbishley's record is of taking eight years - and two attempts - to get Charlton promoted, then just about saving West Ham from relegation, followed by several years of punditry. Not exactly sparkling. Mick McCarthy is a better option than Curbishley.
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greenkingtone added 10:50 - Oct 22 No, No for God's sake no!
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