Ipswich Town

UPDATED: Transfer attempts are hanging by a thread

By Stuart Watson
Monday, January 30, 2012
3:36 PM

IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell admits his attempts to strengthen his relegation-battling squad ahead of tomorrow’s 11pm deadline could go either way.

The Blues boss has made a bid for three Portsmouth players – believed to be keeper Stephen Henderson, centre-back Jason Pearce and the versatile Joel Ward. That situation continues to be complicated by the unsure financial situation at the south coast club though.

A fee has also been agreed with Scottish second tier side Falkirk for 19-year-old centre-back Murray Wallace in a move which would see the teenager loaned straight back for the rest of this campaign.

However, the youngster has also spoken to Brighton and – having been to look around Ipswich Town’s facilities this morning – is due to hold talks with some more clubs today.

“I’ve just spoken to the owner (Marcus Evans) after training,” said Jewell this lunchtime.

“It’s difficult because we are not sure who we should be talking to at Portsmouth) – the administrator or the chief exec.

“We’ve made an offer for three Portsmouth players last week – the names I don’t want to divulge because I don’t think that’s right – that was rejected and the clubs are still talking.

“Whether we get one player, whether we get two players or whether we get three players is still up in the air.

“Complicated is not the word. It’s unbelievable – it’s complicated to the nth degree.”

Speaking of Wallace – a fee of around £300,000 understood to have been agreed – Jewell added: “He’s been up here this morning, but he’s got a few clubs to talk to.

“He’s a young lad and it’s a big decision for him. I know he’s been to Brighton and he’s going to a couple of places after us.

“He’s probably not ready to go into a Championship side just yet, but he will be in the future. We’d like him here, but whether that happens is down to a lot of factors.”

Jewell admitted he was happy for Wallace to take some time weighing up the club’s bid against rival offers and confirmed that the defender would return to Falkirk on loan until the rest of the season, if he signed for Town.

He said: “I think that is what’s going to happen, wherever he goes. I think that will be beneficial to the player. He is not quite ready to play Championship football, but I think he will be.

“I think he will develop more playing against men in a tough league that he is playing in. He played yesterday against Celtic, which was probably the toughest game he has ever played in, and he will learn more.

“There is a few in for him and whether we get him is debatable. We have shown him round and it is now up to the lad. But we don’t want to rush him – he is only a young boy. He wants to make the right decision and I respect that.”

And of the transfer deadline day falling at the same time as an important Championship match, Jewell added: “It’s ridiculous that we are playing tomorrow night (home versus West Ham) when the deadline is 11 o’clock. The transfer window just forces everything into a bottle neck really.

“I think it’s important that you try for the players you want and not just sign players because we are in the situation that we find ourselves in.

“We do have alternatives for the loan market, but I want to bring in players that can be here for the long run.”

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15 comments

You're all pathetic! Like children crying for new toys. Do you really think three players will really make a lot of difference to the current performances. Answer NO!

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SirAlf

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I spot a previous comment from "Whymarkmariner"... Sorry players with those names and of that quality are not on Jewells radar...

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Al K Hall

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
In all seriousness, all I can see is that the only people thinking Clegg is doing a good job, are Jewell and Evans, the only people thinking Jewell is doing a good job, are Evans and Clegg, and the only people telling Evans everything he wants to hear, are Jewell and Clegg. Cozy, sickening and ineffective, as we are fourth from bottom, conceding two goals a game, and currently have 7 players in contract for next season. It may suit Clegg and Jewell to blame Keane, yet 2010 was the best calendar year since 2004. We have managed to sign one player, for £50K to try and get us in a better position, and he is leaving one of the few clubs in a worse position than us. Looking at this evidence, is there anyone out there who would like to tell me why Clegg or Jewell is doing a good job? Is there anyone who felt in any way re-assured by the interview with Evans? Just in case I am missing something.

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Kevin Bailey

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Jewell seems keen to sign young Wallace even if he is not yet ready to play against men in a tough league despite the fact that he has already played against Celtic. IF he signs for ITFC how tough will he find it in Div.1 ?

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Brian Betts

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Mike, you really shouldn't be too hard on CEO Clegg since, as Kevin says, Evans stated that he (Clegg) works very hard and is doing an oustanding job. Besides, Evans claim that he and CEO Clegg talk frequently day and night !!!!! Well you can't expect a man to do a good job without a good night's sleep !!!!! You couldn't make it up could you ?

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Brian Betts

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Mike, I have read the comments, and Evans says Clegg is doing an outstanding job

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Kevin Bailey

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Kevin , they claim that they don't know who to talk to because it suits them and they hope their statement of 'ambitious plans' to raid Pompey will appease supporters. Well it won't !!!!!! Really, for a club that is in the state Pompey is in it should not take a brain surgeon or a Simon Clegg to find out who to talk to. Whatever happened to Evan's legal team or Jewell's deep knowledge?

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Brian Betts

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Jewell you are the most useless manager ever at town, you have had all of January to sign players and now you say its hanging by a thread if any are signed. Your incompetence seems to have no ending, as you make blunder after blunder and by that sinking town into the abyss and relegation.

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ged scott

Monday, January 30, 2012
The suspense is killing me.

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Mellow_Yellow

Monday, January 30, 2012
Am I being too harsh in saying that if they can;t find out who they should be speaking to, then it isn't likely to get very far. Why does he keep saying this stuff?

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Kevin Bailey

Monday, January 30, 2012
I see Billy Sharpe's going to Southampton, at least they have the ambition and the wherewithall to sort out contracts. Why bother with a club like Portsmouth when if as stated it's so complicated. Also if a player is going to talk to other clubs his only interest is how much he can wring out of you, rather than being interested in signing for Town. If I was Jewell and they said I need to speak to other clubs then I would put a size 10 up his backside and say either sign or sod off. Players these days are so interested in what they can get, rather than what they can give. Fans are supposed to follow the side through thick and thin, sit in the freezing cold and rain whilst paying through the nose for a warm beer or a cold cup of tea and are then told, if they should moan or comment about the players or manager that they are disloyal. What a joke.

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whymarkmariner

Monday, January 30, 2012
If we don;t sign anyone else, then people will remain restless, and the same old same old will continue

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Kevin Bailey

Monday, January 30, 2012
you are not going to get anyone because evans wont let youi waste anymore money and noone wants to play for a club in the mess were in you need to just walk

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gutted

Monday, January 30, 2012
What makes me think that the softening up process to appease 'deluded' supporters is well underway? Looks like we are going to be left with a mid-fielder and a loaned-in disaster, sorry, gk. Ah, but, says Paul, there's always the emergency loan window. On another matter, I can't get the Ipstar where I live so will not be able to read Mr Evans' pearls of wisdom. Having posted the questions on this site, is it too much to ask to have the response reported here too? I know, I can buy the online edition, but let's have some consistnecy, please! I would really like to know why he values Mr Clegg so much when it is clear that his appointment represents 4 wasted and debilitating years.

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Mike Wyatt

Monday, January 30, 2012
How exciting.... alternatives in the loan market.

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Rob Steroo

Monday, January 30, 2012

UPDATED: Transfer attempts are hanging by a thread

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