‘LET’S do it with a smile’ is the message today from Chris Hutchings Ipswich Town’s assistant manager.

Hutchings has linked up again with manager Paul Jewell with all Town supporters hoping against hope that the pair can work their magic again.

The pair led Bradford City and then Wigan Athletic to the Premier League and then managed to stay there.

And 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, who followed Jewell into the manager’s chair at Bradford, Wigan and Derby County, confirmed that there will be plenty of work going on this weekend as the quest goes on to bring one or two players in before the transfer deadline on Monday evening.

He 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.

“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.

“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.”