Break in sun no rest for Jewell

Last updated : 07 May 2003 By Paul Farrington
Jewell and his coaching staff are having a short sunshine break on the golf courses of the Algarve to re-charge the batteries ahead of a busy summer.

But even though the championship celebrations of the Bank Holiday weekend are only just dying down, the manager hasn't been idle in recent days.

He has been drawing up a list of possible transfer targets, while discussions about his own contract are still ongoing.

Jewell told the Evening Post: "While I might not have been sat behind the desk in my office, I've been busy at home working on a few things. Myself and the chairman have had a brief chat about how many new players we need and the type of player we want. We do need to strengthen and the players who are already here would want me to say that.

"They need competition for places, but as I've stated previously, I think all of them can hold their own in the First Division.

"I'm not going to be bringing in 10 new players or anything daft like that, I'm just looking for a few more numbers and more quality.

"I was talking to Barnsley's manager Glyn Hodges on Saturday and he was saying they had 35 professionals on their books. That's far too many, but we've only got 18, so we need a few more players.

"Tomorrow I'm going to Portugal for three days with my coaching staff and that will give us the chance to play a bit of golf and have a few cold beers.

"But being a manager is a 24/7 job and I can't turn off completely from thinking about next season."

Jewell is hoping to have done the majority of his summer shopping by the time the squad report back for pre-season training at the end of June.

He hinted that the wheels were already in motion to sign one particular target, but the boss won't rush into any deals.

"You have to do your homework when you sign players and look at everything about them," he said.

"In the end you can ask too many questions because someone eventually tells you something you don't want to hear.

"But you need to be as sure as you can be about a player and you can't afford to take too many risks."

Jewell hopes everything can be sorted out with his own contract before the trip to Portugal or shortly after his return.

So far, he and chairman Dave Whelan have agreed the length of the deal – three years – but wages and terms are still being discussed.

Jewell said: "The only thing which has been agreed so far is the length, but how much I'm going to be paid hasn't.

"I think the chairman calls it the small print but I think it's the big print!

"The last thing I want is protracted contract negotiations, but like everyone else, I want to be happy with what I'm being offered."

Article from the Wigan Evening Post.