IPSWICH Town fans will be heartened to hear that manager Paul Jewell is looking to sign some big hitters before the start of next season.

Town badly need a influx of talented new blood having failed to move forward since the last time they travelled to Turf Moor.

They won 3-0 after hanging around in the dressing room for an hour while a parachutist was removed from the roof of a stand.

This was in August 2008, and the ball was set to arrive at the ground via the Red Devils aerobatic team.

However, the last member of the troupe misjudged the wind and landed on the stand behind one of the goals where Town fans were congregated.

Health and safety issues meant that the match was not allowed to start until the Fire Brigade arrived with an extendable ladder to eventually remove an embarrassed parachutist.

Those fortunate enough to see behind the stand were able to watch Burnley cricket club in action on the adjoining ground where England Ashes hero Jimmy Anderson learnt his trade.

The delay did not fluster Jim Magilton’s side and Liam Trotter had a lengthy doze in the dressing room before finding the net along with Kevin Lisbie and an own goal by Stephen Jordan set Town up for a successful season.

This did not materialise and it was Owen Coyle’s Burnley that made a full recovery to gain promotion and spend last season in the rarefied atmosphere of the Premier League.

Magilton departed Portman Road eight months later and since then the Roy Keane era has been and gone.

And Town are no better off than they were the last time they ran out – belatedly – at Turf Moor two and a half years ago.

Jewell is setting about putting this right, but he knows the importance of bringing a Town squad up to the standard it last was when Joe Royle took the Blues to consecutive Championship play-off semi-finals in the early part of the last decade.

Only Gareth McAuley survives in the squad from the team that won at Burnley although Lisbie and Pablo Counago are still on the books but on loan and set to depart when their Town contracts end in June.

Jewell said: “I’m searching for three or four players in the right positions. We need big hitters who will score us goals to go with the good players that we have already got.”

Jewell has revealed that his scouts have watched both Dundee United and Motherwell in action a few times as he spreads his net for new talent.

ARE Ipswich are better club now than they were they last time they visited Burnley? Let us know – e-mail starsport@eveningstar.co.uk

THE Ipswich that played Burnley in August 2008 was: Wright, Bruce, Naylor, McAuley, Thatcher, Trotter (Garvan 70), Miller, Shumulikoski, Walters (Counago 89), Lee, Lisbie (Haynes 77). Subs: Supple, Balkestein.