IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell is already planning for next season with a ‘Fox in the box’ type striker his main target.

The Blues manager has not given up on this season by any means and says that he loves to see supporters still talking about the play-offs.

“This means we must be moving in the right direction,” he said. “And it’s great to give fans something to hang on to.

“But from where the team was when we took over it would be a huge ask.

“I like to be optimistic, but you also have to be realistic and if we managed 45 points from our remaining 15 games yes we could go up.

“But if we get no more points we will go down.

“It’s best to look beyond the current situation and at the bigger picture. Whatever happens this season it is all towards building for next season.”

Jewell admitted that he can now see Jason Scotland staying for the rest of the season after Swansea showed definite interest, and that he is pleased with the striker’s return of two goals in the last three games.

He also says that Tamas Priskin can count himself a little unlucky to have been left out in recent matches.

But he hinted that he is searching for a new front runner in 2011/12 when he added:

“Both QPR and Nottingham Forest have goal scorers but Ipswich have not anybody for a while who can get you 25 goals a season.

“They do not grow on trees and are not easy to find.

“It is an area that we need strengthen with a guaranteed striker at any level and certainly at Championship level giving you half a chance, and that is often the difference.

“A fox in the box type is what we are looking for and that is unlikely to happen during the season.”

Jewell was close to bringing young hot shot Charlie Austin to Portman Road, but the player decided to swap Swindon for Burnley after a fee had been agreed with the League One club.

The Town manager also hinted that he has squad players he will be taking a good look at over the next couple of months or so.

He explained: “Sometimes players need a fair run in the team so that we can have a wider look at what works and what doesn’t, and who can do what and who can’t do what.

“It’s what this season is about while we continue to scour to bring in decent players to complement the talent we have.”

Jewell, who thinks it unlikely that Hull Cuity’s Jay Simpson will ever score a backward header like he did to equalise late on Saturday, is moving into a house tomorrow after living in a hotel since taking over from Roy Keane.