TONY Dable, the man who made Ipswich Town £15 million by discovering international stars Kieron Dyer, Richard Wright and James Scowcroft, has joined Chelsea as full time recruitment officer.

By Elvin King

TONY Dable, the man who made Ipswich Town £15 million by discovering international stars Kieron Dyer, Richard Wright and James Scowcroft, has joined Chelsea as full time recruitment officer.

Dable has been driving coaches and lorries since he left Portman Road in April 1995.

The former teacher at Chantry School, Ipswich, who is 61, began his new job at Stamford Bridge last week.

He was appointed youth development officer by former Ipswich manager John Duncan and successfully continued the role when John Lyall replaced Duncan. Dable was instrumental in signing the likes of Dyer, Wright and Scowcroft as well as Tony Vaughan, who left Portman Road for £1 million, and a number of current first team squad players.

Dyer was signed by Newcastle for £6 million, Wright by Arsenal for £5 million and Scowcroft by Leicester for over £3 million.

"I am delighted and it is nice to be back," said Dable, who will continue to live at Capel St Mary and will be based at both Stamford Bridge and the Chelsea training ground.

"I have had a few previous offers in the last six years but nothing materialised. I was not interested in a part time job; I wanted it to be full time.

"I applied for the vacancy at Chelsea and will be working with youth team coach Steve Clarke."

Former Ipswich Town first team coach Mick McGiven is reserve team coach at Stamford Bridge. The ex-West Ham man was with Ipswich at the same time as Lyall and was put in charge of first team affairs after Ipswich were promoted to the Premiership in 1992.

Dable, who will be working with youngsters up the age of 21 at Chelsea, continued: "When Ipswich let me go I still had a mortgage to pay and drove coaches and lorries.

"I don't think I have to say anything about my departure from Ipswich other than to point out the schoolboys who I introduced to the club while I was youth development officer.

"Boys like Kieron Dyer, Richard Wright, James Scowcroft, Titus Bramble, Richard Logan, Richard Naylor, Tony Vaughan and Wayne Brown."

Dable left Portman Road four months after George Burley took over as first team manager and after over six years in the wilderness is now back doing what he likes best.