IPSWICH Town coach Sean McCarthy today revealed that manager Paul Jewell is really excited to be in charge at Portman Road.

McCarthy played up front beside Jewell for Bradford City 20 years ago and a friendship was forged that led to McCarthy joining the Blues staff along with Chris Hutchings soon after Jewell was appointed as successor to Roy Keane.

“We kept in touch and having taken all coaching qualifications, Paul rang and asked if I wanted to join him at Ipswich.

“I know that he had a lot of other offers but he didn’t want to jump into anything.

“The Ipswich job really excites him as it is such a massive club.

“Three league games ago we were in fairly deep relegation bother but three wins have improved the situation and we’re now looking to move up the table.

“There are no guarantees but what I can tell supporters is that the manager and Chris Hutchings will leave no stone unturned and if they don’t achieve success it will not be for the want of trying.”

With Hutchings keeping tabs on players at the home countries internationals that are taking place in Dublin this week, McCarthy and Jewell will be watching tonight’s Combination fixture where top of the table Oxford entertain bottom of the table Ipswich at Didcot.

“We’ll be casting our eye over fringe players,” added McCarthy, who has been impressed with the quality of the squad the new management team inherited from Keane.

“They are a great bunch of lads and have taken everything onboard that we are working on.

“Fitness coach Antonio Gomez works with the lads for 25 minutes and then Paul, Chris and I become involved looking to work the guys hard, but also make it pleasurable.

“After the main session as a former striker I will work with Connor Wickham on occasions and he is some player.

“He was running at three quarter pace with the ball leading up to his wonderful goal – and his opponent could not catch him going at full pace.

“This shows the control the lad has, and if a Brazilian had scored that goal it would have been front page news.”

McCarthy managed progressive non-league Cornish club Truro City for 18 months, but says that he is happy with his current lot.

“I’m loving it,” he went on.

“The three of us are staying in the same hotel and Paul is virtually on the telephone 24/7 – unlike Chris and myself who can switch off.

“My playing career lasted 20 years, which was great. The next best thing to playing is coaching and we’re all looking to take this club forward.”