Town boss Paul Hurst admits it may take a little while for his signings from the lower leagues to adjust to the Championship but knows he can’t afford too many of them to take their time to find their feet.

Five of Hurst's signings - Jon Nolan, Toto Nsiala, Ellis Harrison, Gwion Edwards and Jordan Roberts - were playing in League One last season, while Kayden Jackson and Janoi Donacien helped Accrington to the League Two title.

In addition, on-loan Chelsea youngster Trevoh Chalobah made his senior debut in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Blackburn, while Tayo Edun, who netted the late equaliser having come on as a sub a day after joining on loan from Fulham, was playing in his eighth senior match.

Hurst says it’s inevitable that there will be a period of acclimatisation for the players as they step up to the Championship and also for the team to gel given the changes which have taken place over the summer.

“I think so, just in terms of getting the message across,” he said. “Sometimes you feel they’ve got it already, whether it’s in training, whether it’s like the game last Saturday. Some bits I’m thinking, ‘Yes, that’s it’ and then they kind of go away from that slightly.

“To get a team to play exactly as you want, you’re very, very fortunate if it suddenly clicks. It can happen. It probably happened last season [at Shrewsbury] where we went on an unbelievable run at the start.

“But here, a level up, against I think probably more clinical opposition, better quality opposition, it might take a bit of time.

“But while ever I feel that the players are giving everything, and that includes out on the training pitch, I’m certainly willing to give them a little bit of time - but not too much - to put on performances and take us where I want us to be.”

Hurst made the same step up as a player when Rotherham climbed from what’s now League Two to the Championship in successive seasons in the early 2000s.

“A lot of that team which got promoted started the Championship season and played quite a few games,” he recalled.

“And I know at the time the manager [Ronnie Moore] was thinking, ‘We need players’ and again maybe, particularly there due to finance, he couldn’t make too many changes and had to go with what he’d got and we managed to do OK.

“We were never going to win the league or anything like that but a lot of those players, myself included, in League Two if you’d have told fans and probably managers or even team-mates that you’re good enough to play in the Championship, you’d have been laughed out of there.

“But it just shows that with a determination, a desire what can sometimes be achieved. And these players, like I said, don’t write them off just yet, let’s give them an opportunity.

"Chances are one or two might struggle a little bit and while I want them to perform right now, sometimes it takes players a year, almost two years sometimes.

“That’s OK with one or two, providing everyone else is up to speed. Where we clearly would struggle if all of those are taking a year or two years to get up to speed and chances are I then won’t be here speaking to you. Like I said, I can’t afford for them all to take that time.”

Can he understand some people feeling it might have been too much change too soon?

“Maybe it is, but at the same time if it all goes wrong and maybe I hadn’t instigated those changes and tried to make them happen, I’d have been kicking myself thinking, ‘I’d rather have made those changes’,” he reflected.

“I’m a big believer in that, don’t have any regrets at the end of anything. Go with what you feel is right. If it doesn’t quite work out I’ll probably sit at home drown my sorrows and think and evaluate what I could have done differently. I’m hoping that that’s not for a long time.

“We’ll see. Time will tell and there’s no guarantees either way, that’s what I would say. A bit like one of those situations, hindsight is always a wonderful thing. But fingers crossed, the players that we’ve brought in, added to what was already here, can be competitive and get some good results for us.”

Hurst has taken a very different approach to recruitment from former manager Mick McCarthy which has evidently had the firm backing of owner Marcus Evans.

“You’d have to ask him, if you can get hold of him,” Hurst joked. “In terms of maybe starting with myself and Chris coming in, while it was only a league below, we clearly hadn’t managed in the Championship before.

“And maybe it’s followed suit [with recruitment]. I bring in my thoughts and views of how best to move forward with what we’ve got to work with and I know that there might be some concerns out there. I can’t say that they might not come to fruition, but I want to give it a go doing it a certain way

“And that’s what we’re doing rather than going for maybe the same old names, the tried and tested.

“I want to try and add some value to this squad and I think we’ve got - again there’s never, ever a guarantee - but we’ve got a lot of players in the squad now where you could really see in time clubs being interested in them and us perhaps getting some good fees for them again.

“It’s a relatively young squad, quite fresh and a lot of them are unproven, they’ve got to prove their worth.

“But, from my point of view, it’s going to be exciting working with them and trying to help them develop, trying to give them the confidence to compete in the league against some good clubs and not be overawed by the name of the club or maybe a name that they’re directly against. And let’s have a go is all we’re going to ask of them.”

He says the players he has sought to bring in are the cream of the divisions in which he has operated prior to his move to Town.

“Yes, I think that’s fair comment,” he said. “I did something similar at my previous club, giving players an opportunity to play at the highest level that they have.

“Kayden’s slightly different [having previously had a spell at Barnsley] but I don’t think in truth he would be a player that says, ‘I’ve been a Championship player before’. He was put into the development team really

"But overall I speak about hunger, a little bit of potential but a lot of players I truly believe can make the step up. I wouldn’t have brought them here if not.

“And again, I don’t think I’m being rude to ourselves, we know we have to shop in a certain market. Some of the players that are getting moves I would love to have brought here, but it was never, ever going to happen.

“The more money you’ve got, the easier it is to get exactly what you want. But at the same time I am pleased with the players that we’ve brought in and hopefully the fans will like them as well given a bit of time and seeing them pull the Ipswich Town shirt on.”

Photo: TWTD

thechangingman added 10:17 - Aug 10 After reading Hurst's comments I was ready to write a response. Then I read what other Town fans are thinking and it looks like most of us are in exactly the same position. 1) We've very glad to have a new manager. 2) We're excited to see a new season start (which makes a change!) 3) We're excited that Paul has made the squad his own. 4) We're nervous that there are a great many 'unknowns' in regard to players stepping up to a new level. If this was a game of poker then ME, PH and us fans have gone 'all in'. As we know, this can go one of two ways... Personally, I am happy to see this new era unfold, nothing ventured and all that. If nothing else, it sure makes being a Town fan exciting. Let's face it - when was the last time we could say that?

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TractorBoyTommy added 10:19 - Aug 10 @bedsitfc are you suggesting that wolves and fulham had a team of league 1 and 2 players?? Players like neves, jota, mitrovic, bony were a class above in the championship and cant really compare them to the players hurst has signed.
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thundercat600 added 10:31 - Aug 10 As we are now in player terms a second division club playing in the championship, One thing is for sure the championship top strikers will run our defence ragged and Bart will have to be better than last year to help keep us in this division
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TimmyH added 10:36 - Aug 10 It's 2018 Paul and we've been in this league for way too long...I'm not expecting us to go up this season but certainly hoping to see players gel and a style of play come a few months time.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 10:36 - Aug 10 TractorBoyTommy the team Norwich went up with who humiliated us at Portman road was made up from Division One players, the Huddersfield team, the Ipswich team under Burley, had you heard of Matt Holland, David Johnson, Jamie Clapham etc? No probably not same as me. For every Huddersfield or Ipswich there's a Derby who have thrown money at hugely experienced Championship and Premiership players in the past and where has it got them? They're still in this division right and after using numerous experienced managers also so how about we give this guy and his team a chance over the next couple of seasons and see what happens. Would I like our owner whos worth over 800 million to invest money yes I would but its not going to happen so unless a buyer comes in or you can stump up the money give the manager a break and lets see what happens.

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SheptonMalletBlue added 10:39 - Aug 10 Pathetic swan98
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TractorBoyTommy added 10:53 - Aug 10 @BeattiesBackPocket the norwich team that tore us a new one, did they not have the experience and season to gel in league 1 before making the step up to the championship? so they already had a season behind them, something which this current ipswich team doesnt and in a higher divsion as well. Also the players you mentioned holland, clapham etc and lets not forget about the main man marcus stewart... these playeres were bedded into a team with experience not a whole new team of players. And Im not been negative, im just saying its going to be a tough season and I will be more than happy to finish 4th bottom and do the double of the scum up the road, and build for next season.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 11:20 - Aug 10 The point is noone knows how these guys will perform Johnson came in and ripped the league up it does happen I just wish people would give it a chance before jumping to the assessment that these players wont work out. Im not expecting anything this season with a change in personnel and style of play but for us to build like Burley did season on season and so the club and team look like improving year on year that hasnt happened at all last couple of seasons with over 80 players coming into the club the team under Micks reign the team was not built on.

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warktheline added 11:27 - Aug 10 So Mickite Swn predicts the Rotherham game as a win or bust game!😂....all very interesting considering his 'messiah' picked up a single point against Rotherham, courtesy of a last minute equaliser last campaign! ( a good side are Rotherham ) Some would refer to this as 'moving the goal posts'!
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Nobbysnuts added 11:36 - Aug 10 Garner should of stayed. Sears should of been out on his arse. End of.
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rdibble added 13:50 - Aug 10 All in all happy with the signings just worried who will put the ball in the net regularly come on Kayden
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therein61 added 17:44 - Aug 10 A message to all Town fans, Just ignore the previous managers(what was his name again!!??) blinkered disciples and lets get behind Paul and the boys for what will be an interesting (not boring protecting 0-0 before we get on the park set up) adventure yes it needs time for the new guys to settle in but we will be heading in the right direction, at long last there is a positivity running through our club not a stagnating stench which the previous regime(nobody rushing to employ him then I wonder why!?) reduced our great club to.

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tractorboybig added 18:37 - Aug 10 we do not have the time. its the real world. Rotherham and blackburn are the other two weak teams in this league,,,, ?
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have_a_word_with_him added 20:02 - Aug 10 geminimustang you think it takes until Christmas for a team to gel? That would mean pretty much every team would be fooked at the start of every season considering the rate of transfer dealings. I think PH is right, give em a bit of time, I'd be happy with getting used to things this year, pressing on and up next year. Don't forget the plentiful amount of “experienced pros” he's inherited and are still around, new blood was desperately needed. Give it a chance.

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micky_1560 added 21:26 - Aug 10 Can't believe people on here, so called ‘fans'. Most of these players have not kicked a ball in a competitive match yet and are already being written off! We have been rubbish to watch, stuck going no where and I for one am happy that we are taking a fresh approach! The players might have limitations, but if they gel as a team, play as the manager requests, that is what is important. The art of being a manager is getting a team to play as a team. I for one got fed up of hoof ball and hoping for a set piece to give us a chance to score. Good luck to the manager, back-room staff and players. COYB

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Fat_Boy_Tim added 00:45 - Aug 11 All the morning about how much we spend or rather how much ME invests is total nonsense. We spend exactly as much as we are allowed under FFP. Every year the club loses money and we are only allowed to lose 5 or 6 million per year. That cash comes straight out of ME's pocket and even though it's tax deductible, that only saves him 20% of it, so he loses about 4 mill every year he owns Ipswich. Any more loss than that and we'd end up with a transfer embargo or fine and god knows how much you lot would moan if that happened! Funds have been more available this season because we have simultaneously sold players and reduced our wage bill. The childish comments that we've make a sale of 5 million so can buy a player for 5 million from the Premier league or Championship are ridiculous. Championship players will want higher wages to make a sideways move and Prem players obviously more than we are paying now. The only solution to this problem, that works within FFP is to find young, talented players at a lower level for less money and wages. (Mings, Holland, Cresswell, Walters, Sears, Miller, etc etc). Hopefully we will add 3,4 or 5 from this 9 to the list. That would be fantastic business and as good a hit to miss ratio as all the Prem drop outs and Champ reserves.

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