FRANCIS Jeffers has told his Blackburn masters that if they don't want him they should let him join Ipswich Town on a permanent move.With four goals in nine appearances, including a break in between with a hamstring tear, Jeffers was well-received by Blues fans and clearly enjoyed his stint at Portman Road.

By Derek Davis

FRANCIS Jeffers has told his Blackburn masters that if they don't want him they should let him join Ipswich Town on a permanent move.

With four goals in nine appearances, including a break in between with a hamstring tear, Jeffers was well-received by Blues fans and clearly enjoyed his stint at Portman Road.

Town manager Jim Magilton last night welcomed Jeffers' directness with Rovers manager Mark Hughes, which came after Blues chairman David Sheepshanks contacted his opposite number at Ewood Park John Williams, as revealed in Monday's EADT.

Magilton last night said: “Frannie has spoken to Blackburn and told them he wants to come here if they don't want him. We will probably still not get a decision until after they have played their last couple of games, and we know other clubs will be after him, but at least we have done what we can and he likes us.

“If we can move that on quite quickly after the season ends then that will be great all round and everyone can relax”

Blackburn are likely to ask a fee for Jeffers and that could be a stumbling block if it is too high and Town are outbid by rival Championship clubs.

Until new investment is secured, the Blues' boss is operating on a limited budget, which he hopes will be bolstered by a sell-on fee if Charlton sell Darren Bent. This is expected to be around £1.5m.

Once that is secure, Magilton will be able to bring in the two or three quality players he is after, which could include free agent keeper Richard Wright as well as Jeffers.

It may be that the manager will have to push one or two more players out, but at the moment he does not have to sell.

Magilton said: “Of course we will listen to offers for players, but I'm under absolutely no pressure to sell at all. We are all open to a bit of wheeling and dealing if it means bringing in the right people.”

Magilton has spent the past three-days going through all his players and telling those who are not going to be kept on. Scott Barron, Martin Brittain, James Krause, Daryl Knights and Darren Currie (with the last two still involved in play-off action at Yeovil and Derby) and Sito Castro have all been transfer-listed.

Jaime Peters has been handed a three-year deal, subject to a work permit, and Ian Miller, and Fabian Wilnis have received new one-year offers.

Magilton will today go through his staff's appraisals, but he has no plans to make any changes to his backroom team.

Assistant manager Bryan Klug and first-team coach Steve Foley are today going over to Valencia to see how their operation works and will take in Sunday's La Liga match against Real Zaragoza.