IPSWICH Town assistant manager Chris Hutchings insists that it is not of paramount importance to bring in players by the time the January transfer window closes this evening.

There will be a host of ‘desperation’ buys around the country with statistics proving that fees paid on January 31 are higher than at any time of the year.

Town fans were left devastated and blaming chief executive Simon Clegg for failing to secure the signature of 21-year-old Swindon Town striker Charlie Austin before he moved to Burnley after talks at Portman Road broke down on Friday.

But Hutchings said: “It’s not paramount that we bring in one or two more players to go with the capture of Jimmy Bullard on loan.

“There will be a week’s shut down but next week we’ll be able to wheel and deal in the loan market.

“If the right players become available by Monday night we will do all we can to sign them, but there is no need to react into what might be seen as panic buys.

“Swindon Town accepted our bid for Charlie Austin but you cannot enter into an auction and the player decided to sign for Burnley who also had their bid accepted.”

Hutchings says that he does not know why his partnership with manager Paul Jewell works with the pair having led Bradford City and Wigan Athletic to the Premier League.

“I can’t put my finger on it,” added Hutchings. “I can’t tell why it’s special, but what I do know is that it works.

“With Paul white is white and black is black and this helps greatly in getting the best out of players.

Hutchings, who was manager of Walsall until the turn of the year, confirmed that it’s all systems go to point Ipswich in the right direction again.

He said: “Circumstances have brought us back together again after Paul decided to take a break.

“We have enjoyed success and the aim is to replicate this at Portman Road.

“And we want to do it with a smile.

“There will be plenty of hard work involved, but if there are smiles around the place – not just football staff and players – you can go that bit further.

“I’m sure the players will buy into it as they are an excellent bunch and know the benefits of wanting to improve.”

Hutchings confirmed that he and Jewell are starting out on their Ipswich project with the Blues in better shape than Bradford City and Wigan were when they first joined.

“The foundations and the raw materials are already here,” he added.

“We had to build teams virtually from scratch at Bradford and Wigan and in the latter case it took us four years to get where we wanted to be.

“We are talking about a massive club here – a Premier League club that is currently in the Championship.”

Hutchings confirmed that Luton Town’s Andy Drury is a target adding: “We are interested in him, but we do not have a magic wand and there are a number of obstacles to overcome in every potential signing over personal terms, family considerations etc.

“We have our scouting system operating around the country watching games and we will continue to search for players who we feel will improve the club.”