THE exit of Paul Jewell from the Ipswich Town hot-seat brought to an end a turbulent 21-month spell for the former Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan and Derby manager.

Tuesday night’s home defeat, ironically to Derby, signalled the conclusion the Liverpudlian’s difficult and often disappointing spell in charge.

After suffering defeat in his first game in charge, 2-1 at Millwall, Jewell led his new charges to three straight Championship wins and on an unbeaten run of six games, new loan signing Jimmy Bullard playing a pivotal role in that spell.

During that spell, he masterminded a fantastic 6-0 victory at Doncaster however, soon after, the inconsistency that dogged his spell at Portman Road reared its ugly head, the Blues losing seven and drawing two of their final 15 games of the 2010-2011 season.

Hopes were high at the start of the 2011-2012 season with the captures of several big names, including Michael Chopra, Lee Bowyer and Bullard, on a permanent deal.

However, results did not go according to plan and after a leaky defence shipped a hatful of goals in a 5-2 home defeat to Southampton and a 7-1 humbling at Peterborough, the pressure began to mount on the Blues boss.

Another dismal run proceeded soon after, in the shape of a seven-game losing streak, a spell that only came to an end after an astonishing 5-3 win at Barnsley.

Results failed to improve largely but a shock 5-1 home victory over West Ham at the end of January, was the start of a four-game winning run for the Blues.

Again, inconsistency blighted the rest of the campaign and Town ended the season in 15th, having suffered an embarassing 5-1 home defeat to bitter rivals Norwich.

Jewell changed his transfer policy over the summer, having released the likes of veterans Lee Bowyer, Ibrahima Sonko, Ivar Ingimarsson and the disappointing Bullard, and opted for a more youthful approach, stating his desire to give the club’s home-grown players a chance.

But after an encouraging 1-1 home draw against relegated Blackburn in the club’s first league game of the season, and victory at Watford, the slump began, including a thumping 6-0 defeat at Blackpool on August 21.

Since then the Blues have failed to win in the league and were knocked out of the Capital One by League One Carlisle, a run of form that ultimately cost Jewell his job and has left owner, Marcus Evans, looking for a new manager.