Town manager Paul Jewell says he needs to be sure he’s got the right man as he continues his search for central defensive additions to his squad. The Blues boss admits that when he’s signed players he hasn’t been entirely certain about in the past, they haven’t always worked out.

Jewell says that aside from ex-Bolton and West Brom man Abdoulaye Meite joining on trial, there was no new progress as of yesterday’s pre-match press conference: “There’s nothing to report. That doesn’t mean I’ve been doing nothing, just that there’s nothing new.

“The window opened again last Monday and even before the window opened I was more aware than anybody that we need to strengthen, and certainly at the centre of the defence we need some competition in there. And there are one or two other areas where we’d like to bring players in as well.”

Despite Tommy Smith and Luke Chambers being the only two senior out and out centre-halves at the club at present, the Liverpudlian insists he’s not going to rush into a panic signing: “I know everyone is clamouring for us to make signings, but I’ve made signings before in the past when I haven’t been sure and they’ve maybe turned out not to be the right ones.

“It’s easy for me, I’ve got to try and be brave and strong and say ‘I want the right one’. The right one might not be available at the moment, I understand that.

“Some that we’ve gone for don’t want to come or we can’t afford them or people that were being offered aren’t what we need.

“We’re not playing Championship Manager here. We’re playing it for real. When you bring players in they’re on wages and on contracts and even if it’s only until January, I still want to try and do the right things, even if people think we should be signing Tom, Dick and Harry.”

The likes of Stoke’s Matthew Upson and Danny Higginbotham, QPR’s Clint Hill and Swansea’s Alan Tate are understood to be on his wish list but so far none of his targets have been available, however, he says that may not always remain the case: “I’m going to try and be strong and say ‘look, I think the right one will come along’.

"We know who we’d like but at the moment we can’t get them, but that might change.”

Photo: Action Images

eaii added 09:54 - Sep 19 Rushing to sign players? we are in the emergency loan window and still only have 2 out and out CB's so 'rushing' LOL as for panic well talk about the pot calling the kettle..... Paul Jewell be a man and tell us that your transfer activity is being paralysed by a goon?
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AndyStannard added 10:14 - Sep 19 Better bring in a CB then run on empty for game after game!! Those 2 are doing their job but they cant do it for the whole season!!! Starting to lose faith in PJ!! Why when at home play one upfront????? he's got no back up plan and has such a negative attitude!! When we lose he avoids the obvious like saying were rubbish and says stuff like Edwards did well!!
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HARRY10 added 10:54 - Sep 19 "“Some that we've gone for don't want to come or we can't afford them or people that were being offered aren't what we need." I think that pretty much sums up the sorry plight we are in There is no way we can build a team (nevermind a squad) that will challenge for promotion while those conditions exist - something I suggest is why so many 'don't want to come ' here. Something has to change, and change soon. Jewell is sat in a boat with no oars and the club is drifting. I can only hope that the threat of relegation might shake things up a bit - but if Jewell goes and the same conditions exist, what decent manager is going to want to come here either ?

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Lightningboy added 11:14 - Sep 19 Err PJ..last season finished nearly 5 months ago..in that time you've brought in 1 centre back..i'm not laying the blame entirely at your door but from what you've done managerial-wise over the last 6 or 7 seasons ,you're not filling me or others with much confidence,are you? Sorry but it's simply not good enough and if this is the best that we can do then maybe it's time PJ,Clegg & Evans packed their bags because let's face it,we've gone rapidly backwards since ME took over 4 years ago.

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Sospiri added 11:35 - Sep 19 I'm totally in agreement with Jewell on this one. No point in just getting anybody - we want talent, and sometimes you have to wait for that.
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HARRY10 added 12:24 - Sep 19 Wait for what ? The transfer window is closed for another 3 months, plus. Any player coming in now would be either an out of contract player (unwanted elsewhere) or a loanee. How on earth does signing loanees on a temporary basis equate with PJ's talk of building for the long term. It is papering over the cracks, that's all. What should be asked is why there are cracks ? Because as long as they exist and their cause remain these problems will continue - and we will continue to drift aimlessly.

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Warkys_Tash added 12:31 - Sep 19 Keanish, I couldn't agree more... two years down the line and he still has signed only one centre half.. its more than embarassing. And whoever he does sign next will be a panick signing as all the best centre halfs are playing for teams already.. the only ones that will be available will be the rubbish left on the heap that no-one wants!!! Change the record PJ 'cos we are all sick of it..

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dawoolah added 13:13 - Sep 19 Palace (who are supposed to be skint!) have signed Danny Gabidon on a free. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19649848 to add their earlier signing of former Town target Darcy Blake http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/21219/town-again-linked-with-cardiffs-bl Starting to lose patience with PJ now
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Michael11 added 13:26 - Sep 19 Why would Harry Redknapp go from a top 4 premier league team linked with the top job in English football to a 2nd bottom championship club. Plus, hes never actually achieved anything without spending millions and millions on players which he wouldn't get here.
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thebeat added 16:42 - Sep 19 take your time Paul, after all you have only had 20 months to sort it out, 6 months of those being summer breaks.no rush ay..........
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Shauny78 added 17:30 - Sep 19 i know we absolutly need a decent CB,but why dont we get a top ex prem defender in as a coach,we could do with one,been saying it for years.....+ magilton acheived more than keane & jewell,at least we got into the top half of the table..!!
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h32 added 18:48 - Sep 19 ....... plenty of perfectly capable established CB's have been signed by other Clubs - this man Jewell is just one excuse after another, after another, after another. When / if he leaves this Club he will never get another job as a Manager anywhere else - BECAUSE HE ISN'T ONE. Only the Clubs resident deluded would think otherwise.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:03 - Sep 20 Hopefully you are in no rush because you are too busy packing PJ .How about a bit of gardening .
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:13 - Sep 20 dont think he do's rushing full stop.Looked like he was sitting on the bog throughout the game last night, Move over Mr Bumble .Lets get a manager who can be seen to be motivated, not in suspended animation .
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