By TownFans.co.uk
October 24 2012

Ipswich Town have this lunchtime confirmed that manager Paul Jewell has left the club by mutual consent after 21 months in the Portman Road hotseat.

Jewell's position had come under ever increasing pressure over the past five days, after falling to late defeats against Hull City at the weekend and Derby County last night and it will come as little surprise to the majority of Ipswich Town fans that the two parties have now agreed to go their different ways.

As early as last night rumours were circulating message boards and social media websites that Jewell had stepped down from his role at the club after he failed to turn up to the post-match press conference, but it is believed that no dicussion took place regarding his future until a conversation with Town owner Marcus Evans this morning.

Ultimately it is now clear that in that conversation which took place, both parties agreed that they would be served going forward by Town looking for a new manager in order to turn around a position that leaves them bottom of the Championship and for Paul Jewell to seek new challenges.

Confirming the news, owner Marcus Evans paid tribute to Jewell's efforts: “Since he first walked through the door here, no one has worked harder to bring success to this Football Club than Paul Jewell.

"’I'm bitterly disappointed – as is Paul – that it has not worked out as we had hoped when he became our manager 21 months ago and I would like to put on record my thanks for his services to the Club and wish him every success in the future.” 

Chief executive Simon Clegg added: “I am bitterly disappointed that we have parted company with Paul, but we accept that this is in our respective best interests. 

“Paul has worked tirelessly to try and deliver the levels of success on the pitch which we all aspire to but the recent results and our position in the table required us to make a change. 

“The search for a new manager of this Football Club is well underway and I am confident that we will find the right man to get the best out of the players, both individually and collectively, and lead the team to future success.  

“The immediate focus is to ensure we secure three points on Saturday and in this regards I have asked Chris Hutchings to take over as caretaker manager.”  

Jewell served as manager of Town for a period of 21 months, with a win ratio of 34.9% which is very slightly above that of former boss Roy Keane's 34.6% and below the 37.8% that was achieved by fellow former Town boss Jim Magilton.