THEY played an integral part in inflicting Town’s darkest day on them this season.

Now Paul Jewell has admitted he would be interested in signing Peterborough duo Paul Taylor and George Boyd to spearhead a promotion push next year.

The Championship pair have been placed on the transfer list by Town’s East Anglian rivals after refusing to sign a new long-term deal.

And while Jewell expects both players to have their suitors, he has given a clear indication that he would like Ipswich to be in the running.

He said: “I don’t know what their price would be but we would certainly be in the market for that type of player of that ilk and that desire and ability.

“If good players come up and they are available and we can afford them, we want to be in for them.”

Both Taylor and Boyd played an integral part in Peterborough’s 7-1 win over Ipswich in August and they have kept that form throughout the season.

Left-footed midfielder Boyd, who was reportedly offered to Roy Keane and Ipswich two seasons ago for a cut-price deal, has been one of the most consistent performers in the Championship with eight goals and 11 assists in his free-scoring team.

Taylor has been a surprise revelation, top scoring with 11 goals, after Posh boss Darren Ferguson took a chance on the striker who tested positive for cocaine while at Chester in 2008.

Both players have one year left on their current contract and their refusal to commit themselves to London Road has seen the club place them on the transfer list rather than risk losing them for nothing.

Jewell added said: “It is always nice to bring fresh players. I think Taylor is a good player, but it is not right for me to say too much.

“There will be a lot of clubs in for them – possibly in the Premiership if you listen to Barry Fry (Posh director of football). There will be a lot of suitors for the lad Taylor and they are probably out of our price range.”

Fry, Peterborough’s director of football, said: “We’re going to wait and see what offers we get. It will be up to the chairman to decide what to accept.