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

kerryblue added 10:53 - Oct 22 Look what happened when we employed our last "rusty"manager in Jewell,Curbs has been out of the game too long and we need someone with a madern aproach,maybe time for a continental manager
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itfc94 added 10:56 - Oct 22 Everyone chatting about a modern approach.... I was always under the impression that football was a simple game in which you pass it to another blue shirt, and when you get in range you shoot. Something which Ipswich is renowned for but seems to have lost over the years. I was listening to the Hull game on the player, and when they scored their first we had a kick off from the centre spot, but some how straight away Hull magically got the ball back. Stuff the modern approach, bring in someone that wants to pass it and not lump it from Cresswell to Murphy

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blues1 added 10:57 - Oct 22 while im not sure whether this would be a good choice or not, i would certainly not be gutted if he was the next manager. some people make me laugh tho. they saying hes been out of the game too long, then in the next breath say mick mills is the man they want. how long has he been out of management? yes, being out of the game may be a prob, but not necessarily, and it may also be the case that this club fits curbs & vice versa. a very similar club to charlton. but then, lets face it eeryone. whoever it would be should pj go, would be an improvement on the current management team.

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Tractorog added 10:57 - Oct 22 This is painful. I feel sorry for everyone involved. Especially us fans. Isn't the human rights act supposed to outlaw torture?
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cobbold_fanatic added 11:00 - Oct 22 err hello anyone would be better then Jewell and especially someone with the pedigree of curbishley!
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Bananaman added 11:00 - Oct 22 I agree JimBaxter - I am not quite sure what everyone is expecting here and the response to a proven manager (who was being tipped for England at one stage) does suprise me. It strikes me that there are pros and cons with this. Yes, he has been out of the game for a while but I do think that he would bring stability to the club, which I think is what we need at the moment. It would be a real risk bringing in a young manager unproven at this level. I also think that Curbs would be able to attract players to the club more than an unheard of manager. I would be happy either way and would get behind whoever was appointted. However, for everyone that does want an unproven, young manager at the helm, I would urge that you give him at least two/three years grace before calling for their head if his impact is not immediate (even if this means dropping down a division for a season or two).

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Warkys_Tash added 11:04 - Oct 22 No thanks, been out of the game too long. Billy Davies would be my first choice. Tenacious,knowledgeable, tactically aware and a born winner.
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Blue_Meanie added 11:04 - Oct 22 Another manager who has sat on the Sky sofa for too long. If he's that good why isn't he in a job?
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SouperJim added 11:30 - Oct 22 Great, another yesterdays man. Would give him my full backing, but think it would be a mistake. Somebody with very recent success please.
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Warkys_Tash added 11:32 - Oct 22 As for Mick Mills, great player for us. However, he has hardly set the management world alight. At Stoke City where in 4 years his win ratio was a measley 34% before being sacked. Got the sack at Col Utd, after 5months & their relegation to the conference & was caretaker manager at Brum. Thanks, but No thanks.
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Wickford_ITFC added 11:55 - Oct 22 Curbs has been out of the game for far too long to be of any use. Anubody remember PJ comments when he came in saying he'd been scouting lower leagues during his year out of work. Well that led to nothing and Curbs will be the same or worse after 5 years out of the game. Also at WHU his style was constantly being questioned yes they had some results but from what mates are telling me in worse style to what Alladyce has done. There is only one man for this job and ME needs to go and get in Billy Davis as he'll turn this club around instantly. Lets stop pussy footing about with has beens or maybe's and start looking at realistic targets that can do the job, the squad is good and could be quickly turned around one Billy D gets appointed.

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alfromcol added 11:55 - Oct 22 Doesn't seem to matter who gets the job he won't be universally popular on this site!!!! At the end of the day it doesn't matter who he is, the team has to win games, simple as that.
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JimBaxter added 12:06 - Oct 22 I think Curbs' record would hold up better than Jewells' especially taking into account the past 20 months. To me the problems run a lot deeper than the manager - as I have posted before the club seems to have lost it's way and it's soul - I am an adopted town fan since moving to the area some 20 years or so ago - so maybe can take a more realistic look rather than through blue tinted glasses - but the harsh reality is that ITFC have been for the past few years a very mediocre 2nd tier club and have no divine right to be in the Premier league and I don't see a short term solution - however, winning games changes everything and I think it is time for PJ to go - the next managerial appointment is crucial - ME has to get this one right and to me Curbs is as good a call as any - but then everyone has a view...

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TownOnTheUp added 12:14 - Oct 22 If we could convince Karl Robinson to come, then he'd be my first choice, followed by Billy Davies. Curbs has just been out of the game too long, and smacks of a Paul Jewell mark 2. Full backing to whoever comes in, though.
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Help added 12:17 - Oct 22 Osman, you want an ex ipswich man, you are all overlooking who's already here. Osman moves up from coaching set up to take control and Bob's your uncle its a win win ;-)
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Warkys_Tash added 12:52 - Oct 22 Osman, would be a fans favourite but does he have the know-how? Maybe he could be paired with Mariner, who is currently in management. We need someone with experience who can hit the ground running and knows what it takes to turn this horrible mess around - otherwise we might be in a 'Bryan Gunn' situation!
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Lightningboy added 13:34 - Oct 22 Can't for the life of me understand the current poll results - baffling?! I for one would be ecstatic if Curbs came in to sort this shambles out.
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TimmyH added 14:09 - Oct 22 Was my choice when Keane was sacked nearly 2 years ago, he has I believe been out of the game since 2008 - not sure if that is too long but you have to credit him with getting a good passing style of football at Charlton and West Ham. Not sure where these rumours come from about us looking at him if we do sack Jewell or he leaves on his own pretenses (which unfortunately can't see happening anytime soon) but Curbishley would defo do a better job than both Keane and Jewell!

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martinpotter1 added 15:27 - Oct 22 I will continue to support Jewell whilst he is in charge of the team but if he were to leave I would not be convinced that curbs is the man for the job. I would question his current knowledge of the sport and his hunger for the game having been out of management for a while. I would like to think we would go for a current manager with good recent experience at this level. Although Mick McCarthy has said he wants to manage in the premier league it is worth having a look in. I would also like to see Billy Davies get a chance.

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Ipswich24 added 16:50 - Oct 22 My top five 1, Ian Holloway 2, Maurico Tarrico 3, Gus Poyet 4, Billy Davis 5, Karl Robinson I think Curbs has been out of the game too long need someone with fresh ideas, someone who is even in work now, so what if have to pay compo to another team. We have gone down the out of work managers route with no sucsess.
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northernblues added 17:34 - Oct 22 I thought about a curbs and holland combo a few years back, if i had evans money they would of been my choice, curbs record is better than anyones we have had in years, and he knows how to recognise decent players, matty holland, darren bent, herman, did he not sign ambrose too?
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runaround added 20:34 - Oct 22 Right now I think anyone would be better than Jewell! Curbs for me has been out of management too long but he was my choice following Jim's and Keane's sacking so I'd take him at a push. For those mentioning Klug, his best role is with the youths, dont think he would want to be with the first team
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Michael11 added 21:52 - Oct 22 Terry Butcher with Matty Holland as his learning assistant would be brilliant!
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:45 - Oct 23 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PLEEEEEEAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Elizabeth added 07:38 - Oct 24 This now must be the end of the road for Paul Jewell. He is clearly lacking in the technical side of the game. To give us any realistic chance of recovery this season, we must appoint a successor as soon as!!! I do believe however that certain players are not giving their all and will now not play for him. Reports earlier this week mention Alan Curbishley. I hope this does materialise and hopefully gives us some kind of chance for the remainder of the season. This is proving to be the clubs most depressing time and the Board must now do the right thing for the club and supporters of I.T.F.C.

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