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Town Confirm Jeffers Back as First-Team Coach
Wednesday, 12th May 2021 12:27

Town have confirmed former loan striker Franny Jeffers’s return to Portman Road as a first-team coach.

TWTD revealed yesterday that Jeffers had been at Playford Road for the previous two days finalising his move to the Blues having previously been Everton’s U23s coach.

“It’s a great opportunity for me and one I couldn’t turn down,” Jeffers told the club site. “I’m an Evertonian so it was a difficult decision to leave but Ipswich is a massive club and I’m relishing the chance to help the club get back to where it should be.

“Obviously I was here as a player on loan and I loved my time here. I’ve seen some familiar faces around the place and it’s brought back some great memories. I should have stayed to be honest.

“The fans took to me and I took to them and now I’ve got another opportunity to be involved at this fantastic club.

“I’ve been a big admirer of Paul Cook and his work for many years and now to be part of his backroom team is very exciting and I can't wait to get going.”

Jeffers, 40, had a successful loan spell with the Blues between March and May 2007, scoring four times in seven starts and two sub appearances.

The former striker came through the ranks at hometown club Everton before moving to Arsenal for £8 million in June 2001.

While at Highbury he won one full England cap and scored before returning to Goodison Park on loan.

Spells with Charlton, Rangers (loan) and Blackburn followed before he moved to the Blues for his loan spell.

After his time with Town, Jeffers played at Sheffield Wednesday, in Australia with Newcastle Jets in two spells, Motherwell, Floriana in Malta and finally Accrington Stanley.

Having hung up his boots, Jeffers started voluntarily working at Everton's academy before formally joining the staff in October 2016. He has been their U23s coach since 2018.

Off the field, Jeffers has had a troubled last couple of years. In October 2019 he was fined after being convicted of sending menacing messages to his now-former wife following the breakdown of their relationship.

In August last year he was fined £500 and banned from driving for 17 months after refusing to take a roadside breath test.

Town boss Cook has various coaching positions to be filled over the summer among them his assistant, with his Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan deputy Leam Richardson having been named the permanent boss of the Latics.

Contenders for that role include current U23s coach Kieron Dyer, former Blues forward Noel Hunt and ex-defender John McGreal, although the latter seems less likely as he is believed to be keen to manage a club of his own.

Cook is also looking for another a goalkeeper-coach to replace Jimmy Walker.

We understand Cook's Wigan kitman Ian Craney has also been at Playford Road over the last couple of days and is set to join his backroom team.


Photo: ITFC



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SpiritOfJohn added 15:41 - May 12
Expecting "You'll Never Walk Alone" to be adopted as the pre-match song next season.
3

dirtydingusmagee added 16:41 - May 12
Theres a rumour we are interested in bringing Yosser Hughes in as Groundsman , '' i can do that, giz a job , go on giz it ''
5

HalifaxBlue added 17:19 - May 12
Not welcome at all as far as I am concerned. Not the kind of figure I'm happy to see at the club.
2

Skip73 added 17:25 - May 12
I notice a few comments on various posts regarding Cook employing alot of scousers. It's worked OK for Liverpool down the years.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 18:37 - May 12
cant please some people Skip. i wouldnt care if they all came from the planet Zog, if they can do a good job and help get us out this sh#t league .
1

Theipswich added 18:41 - May 12
What is forgotten is that 14 years ago Jeffers had apparently given his word to Magilton and the ITFC hierarchy that he would sign for Town after the loan period was up but Sheff Wed came in with more money and the promise swiftly broken and he was off. When he says now that he should have signed and made a mistake comes across as hollow so as far as i'm concerned, we weren't good enough for him then and we aren't good enough now so it's a no go for me...
3

runaround added 19:01 - May 12
Doesn't sit particularly well with me due to his conviction and way he sh*t on the club in 2007 but am willing to give him a chance
1

jas0999 added 20:35 - May 12
Great news!
-1

Portman_Pie added 21:48 - May 12
As each day goes by - and the releasing of players, and hiring of back staff goes - I'm becoming massively less convinced about Cook. Hate to say it - but the players he released vs kept is in my opinion utter crap - and Roberts and Jeffers don't do ANYTHING for me. Massive apprehension about this season already.
2

Monkey_Blue added 21:58 - May 12
Absolutely no idea if he's a good coach or not but the “troubles” potentially include two things I find abhorrent and totally unacceptable.
3

Monkey_Blue added 22:04 - May 12
Anyone who refuses a roadside breath test needs a very good reason.... he didn't have one. Anyone who sends threatening messages to someone needs a very good reason... he didn't have one.
3

Monkey_Blue added 22:07 - May 12
He gained a reputation for being a complete idiot early in his playing career.... he doesn't seem to have grown up so it's unlikely it was immaturity, it's just who he is.
3

Portman_Pie added 22:12 - May 12
Jesus..., the policy of hiring scousers goes on.... feeling a bit hurst like in the approach to recruiting buddies now. And utter crap hires.

1

Suffolkboy added 02:42 - May 13
Both Sir Bobby and MM were hot on standards ,ethics and integrity ; let's hope PC hasn't made a mistake with FJ .
Good motivated and motivational coaches are valuable ,but have themselves to both set and live by example .
Best of luck FJ , do not let us down .
COYB
1

bucket99 added 09:42 - May 13
What I loved about Jeffers when he was here was the way he was always on the shoulder of the last defender. If the passs didn't come, he cycled round and went again, and again and again. His temperament was brilliant, because he didn't let his head drop, he just kept trying to find the run that worked. If he can pass that habit onto our strikers...
0

Cheshire_Blue added 13:41 - May 13
Spanish Blue--- and of course the best of them all David Johnson !
0


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