Bejewelled

And so “Paul Jewells Ipswich”.
It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as the previous incumbent. But perhaps thats exactly what Ipswich need, as they revert to the plain and simple “Ipswich”.
After odds on Paul Jewell becoming the next Ipswich manager were suspended before Roy Keane was even removed from his position, his appointment has been a particularly poorly kept secret. Despite protestations from Chief Executive Simon Clegg that interviews of applicants continued throughout the weekend, this lunchtimes unveiling of Jewell as manager was simply confirmation of what had seemed inevitable since Keanes sacking was announced.
Perhaps equally predictable is the fact that Towns next manager represents a change in direction. In so many aspects, Paul Jewell is the opposite of Roy Keane.
Some of these aspects were instantly recognisable from the moment Jewell stepped into the press room at Portman Road today. In contrast to Keanes famed stare, Jewell beamed for the cameras. It was a theme which permeated through much of the press conference, as Jewell spoke of the need to put smiles on peoples faces, for players to enjoy themselves.
Speaking to the BBC, Jewell said “Every league game’s going to be a cup final and hopefully we can build for the future, get the confidence back with the players and get smiles back on faces.”
“As a manager, I want my players to enjoy training, to enjoy playing and if we’re doing that we’ll be doing OK.”
Coming into the club with over 500 games in management, having begun his managerial career almost thirteen years ago, he represents an alternative to Keanes raw hunger to achieve as a manager.
His background is also entirely different. In contrast to Keanes spectacularly successful playing career and similarly high-profile managerial reign, Jewell has found his way to the top level through a more circuitous route, taking in both Wigan and Bradford along the way, later guiding both to the Premiership. Ironically, on both occasions, he won promotion at the expense of his new employers.
Perhaps recognising one of the key failings of Keanes spell at the club, Jewell will look to return the club to an entertaining style of football, something which Simon Clegg had clearly made a key issue “It was also important to bring someone to the club who could play the way Ipswich expect the game to be played and who will embrace the club's role in the community”.
Keane was famously quoted in his initial press conference for claming that he would like to get Ipswich promoted within one season, if possible. Whilst the quote may have been stretched to suit agendas, Jewells approach appears to be in marked contrast, as he made efforts to reinforce the point that he is embarking on a long term plan for the club instead.
“One of the reasons this appealed to me is that it’s not a quick fix. It’s a long-term objective, trying to build the club, ultimately to the Premier League.”
“There are an awful lot of big clubs in the Championship with the same expectations as Ipswich.
“It’s a very tough league to get out of, but I think we’ve got a lot of good players here. We just need to try and get them to believe in themselves, that’s the first objective. If we can do that, hopefully in two-and-a-half years’ time we’ll be talking about moving out of this league.”
As if to emphasise this steady approach, Jewell has rejected the opportunity to take immediate charge for the League Cup Semi-Final with Arsenal, instead preferring to leave it to the existing staff and keep a watching brief over proceedings.
But perhaps the most significant difference of all was that, after the fanfare of Roy Keanes appointment some twenty months ago, Paul Jewells press conference was an altogether more low-key affair which, in the end, is all that Ipswich Town Football Club has ever been.