SIMON Clegg has defended Ipswich Town’s transfer policy – claiming recent acquisitions prove the club remains behind manager Paul Jewell.

After a summer of bargain buys and free transfers, the �1.5million signing of Paul Taylor raised some eyebrows on the final days of the summer transfer window.

Jewell had constantly said the club had one eye on the Financial Fair Play Rules before making Taylor his most expensive signing to date.

And Town chief executive Clegg believes Taylor, and the one-month loan signing of Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham, shows there is still faith in Jewell.

Clegg said: “I struggle with the concept of people saying there is no money as we bought Paul Taylor in.

“He was one of our number one targets throughout the close season. I think he is a fantastic signing and I am very excited about what he can do for us upfront.

“I am bitterly disappointed he is out injured and out of the scene for a number of weeks.

“Danny Higginbotham coming in on loan also demonstrates the manager still has the financial support of the owner.”

Just days after Jewell revealed that Town’s wage bill was �6million compared to Wolves’ �22million, Clegg admitted the gap was widening in the second tier.

He said: “There is a plan and that is to get us promoted at the earliest opportunity.

“It is becoming increasingly hard – not least because of the number of clubs benefiting from parachute payments (from the Premier League).

“That has made it even harder for the clubs that don’t enjoy that benefit to get up. We have to be smarter than other clubs and more efficient off-the-field.”