PAUL Jewell has made no apologies if Ipswich Town fans have been bored by the club’s pre-season friendlies.

Despite the plethora of new signings, the Blues have stuttered against lower league sides before putting in their best shift of the summer against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday – but going down 2-1.

In keeping with the type of match, Jewell has used games against Cambridge, Colchester and Southend – not to mention a short tour of the Netherlands – as fitness exercises and a chance to look at his entire squad.

This has often meant a second half, blighted by a succession of substitutes, has failed to stimulate Town’s die-hard Blue Army.

Sympathising with the situation, Jewell said: “Pre-season is one of those times. You don’t want to get too excited or too down about it. The games are pretty boring as there is no edge to them.

“There is a lot of training and a lot of hard work, but we don’t apologise for that as that is what needs to be done.”

In his first pre-season at Ipswich, Jewell, and his coaching staff Chris Hutchings and Sean McCarthy, have certainly made an impression on the playing staff.

Icelandic international Ivar Ingimarsson said: “Overall it has been a tough pre-season. The gaffer wants people to be physically fit and be able to deal with the stress that comes with a lot of games and we should be in good nick when the season starts.”