THE concern is growing.

Most supporters accept that new signings would not happen overnight.

But Blues fans are becoming worried at their club missing out on transfer targets to divisional rivals.

Jason Pearce, Joel Ward and, most recently, Tomasz Kuszczak have opted for other Championship clubs – raising the question why players are turning their back on Ipswich Town?

Money will always be a factor as will the persuasive powers of manager and chairman alike, while the former Manchester United keeper insisted he joined Brighton because he felt they gave him the best chance of an instant return to the Premier League.

With Town currently the 15th best side in the Championship, and the longest-serving club in the second tier, the triumvirate of Paul Jewell, Simon Clegg and Marcus Evans face a difficult job convincing players that Portman Road is the right place to ply their trade.

While completing the impressive signing of promising teenager Elliott Hewitt, Town have already missed out on two top targets – after Ward opted for Crystal Palace over Ipswich and then Kuszczak joined Gus Poyet’s men – while Pearce wasted no time in joining Neil Warnock’s revolution at Leeds United after Jewell had pursued the centre-back in January.

Heading his list of priorities remains a new number one with Brad Guzan tipped to be high on Town’s list.

But Jewell is likely to have to lock horns with Steve Bruce with the new Hull City boss looking to bring the free agent US keeper to the KC Stadium.

Whoever Jewell goes for to challenge Arran Lee-Barrett, and in all positions for that matter, he is sure to face serious rivalry from other Championship bosses.

Never has the Town boss’s undeniable experience in the game been more important as he looks to secure a string of new faces before the big kick off on August 18.