FORMER Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell says he regrets not pushing owner Marcus Evans for more money to spend last summer.

The Blues boss left the club by ‘mutual consent’ in October following a 2-1 home defeat to Derby County. It was the fifth successive game that a lead had been lost, with Town slipping to the bottom of the Championship table following just one win in their opening 12 league games.

“It just didn’t happen for me, but I couldn’t have worked any harder that’s for sure,” said Jewell, speaking on TalkSPORT at lunchtime today.

“When people say ‘I haven’t got any regrets’, I don’t believe them because we all have regrets and things we would have done differently.

“Looking back, I think I should have pushed it a bit more in the summer for some more money to spend.

“We ended up with too many loan players because of that. It was a mistake and that was down to me.

“It was my job to push the owner (Marcus Evans) harder because I think, if I had pushed him, he would have backed me.

“I was looking at clubs like Portsmouth and Rangers though (both of whom went into administration) and was conscious of not putting the club in a similar position.”

Jewell also confirmed that he played a part in Mick McCarthy getting the manager’s job at Portman Road following his departure, adding: “I have got so much feeling for the club and I do believe it’s in good hands with Mick (McCarthy) and the owner.

“The relationship I have with Marcus Evans meant that, when I left, he wanted me to have a say.

“I won’t say who the two candidates were, but I thought Mick was the stand-out one. He was out of work, is dead straight and he’s gone in there and given the players a lift.

“I do think they’ll have to spend a bit of money in the summer to improve the squad though if they’re going to stand a chance.”