PAUL Jewell already has a firm grasp of his new audience.

His first words about Andy Drury during yesterday’s Press conference was that his new signing “might not get people jumping off their seat”.

A fair analysis regarding a 27-year-old midfielder who cost �150,000 from Luton Town – and has never played League football.

But the Town boss is equally right in saying lower league talent is out there, he pointed to Millwall striker Steve Morison as a case in point.

Drury won’t get a chance to impress in tonight’s trip to Derby after administration problems at Luton’s end means he was not signed in time to play.

But after his predecessor was accused of only scouring the reserve teams of the Premier League, Jewell’s purchase of the highly-rated Drury should be welcomed as the new order.

The manager was certainly pleased with his first permanent signing, saying: “There are plenty of players who have made the transition and we are hoping Andy can do that as well.

“Andy is a good football player, he can play out wide or in the centre, and he has a good delivery. He had a clause in his contract so I got him for relatively little money. It was a bit of a no-brainer really.”

Jewell revealed that Drury had first come to his attention during the manager’s hiatus away from football with the midfielder impressing at Stevenage last season and then Luton where he has scored eight times in 26 appearances in the Blue Square Premier this term.

Jewell said: “It is important that as part of our scouting that we don’t just look at the top end. There are players down there who are hungry, and sometimes it is taking a bit of a chance and gamble on them.

“Because he had a clause in his contract so we could get him for �150,000, I thought he was a risk – if that’s the right word – worth taking.”

Drury, who yesterday signed a two-and-a-half year contract, said: “There were a couple of clubs interested, but as soon as I knew Ipswich wanted me, my mind was made up instantly. It’s a great opportunity for me to come here and show what I can do at a top football club.”