Football Season Guide

Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell has switched his summer recruitment focus to that of youth after a largely frustrating 2011/12 campaign. Last term Jewell placed his faith in a number of experienced campaigners in the form of Lee Bowyer, Jimmy Bullard and Ibrahima Sonko, all of which were culpable over the course of the season and looked to be off the pace at second tier level despite all of their top flight experience. A longer term plan has been put in place by the Portman Road hierarchy and signings such as promising full back Elliott Hewitt, former England U21 keeper Scott Loach and Nottingham Forest skipper, Luke Chambers suggest Jewell is trying hard to build a strong core for long term success. The departure of captain Grant Leadbitter in the summer provides an opportunity for the likes of Andy Drury, Luke Hyam and new Spurs loanee Massimo Luongo to stake a claim as the side's new playmaker. Supporter expectation is almost at an all-time low, but there is also a belief that the team and the club is finally heading in the right direction with a positive plan of action