SOUL-SEARCHING Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell admits he will go away and ask himself whether he is the right man to take the club forward following his side’s 2-1 defeat at Hull City.

The Blues are now without a win in 10 consecutive games having let 1-0 leads slip in their last four matches.

Injury-hit Hull dominated Town for large periods this afternoon and fully deserved their stoppage-time winner through substitute Nick Proschwitz.

“It’s a very worrying situation,” said Jewell. “It’s 11 games gone now, that’s nearly a quarter of the season gone and we’ve got seven points – that’s relegation form.

“You can dress it up how you want, but that’s the way it is. We haven’t come here and played them off the park and been done late on, we’ve been second best all afternoon.”

With a ‘Jewell Out’ banner once again unfurled by angry Blues fans, the under-pressure Blues boss continued: “Fans of this football club, this one more than most, travel in numbers every week. They’re not happy and I can fully understand that. I accept the criticism that comes my way.

“I want to do what’s right for this club. I don’t want to quit, but at the same time I have to realise what’s the best thing for Ipswich – not just Ipswich, but me as well.

“I have a lot of thinking to do over the weekend – we’ll see where that takes us.”

He added: “I think about what more I could do after every game, whether we are winning or losing – but this hasn’t just been one game. I have to think of the bigger picture. Am I the man to take them forward?

“If I decide when I speak to Marcus (Evans) and one or two other people that are close to me that I feel that the best thing for Ipswich is for me not to be here, then I’ll do that.

“I hope the answers I come up with are positive answers, but I’ve got to be honest with myself and honest with the people close to me.”

Asked about his counterpart, Hull City manager Steve Bruce said: “It was only this time last year that I was there (under pressure at Sunderland). We all know what he’s going through. He’s a resilient git and I hope he sticks with it.

“He’s a good man and a real football man. He needs to dig deep like he’s always done. If there is anyone who can turn it around it’s Paul. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”

– For all the latest, keep an eye on this website and see Monday’s EADT and Ipswich Star