FRANCIS Jeffers' future will not be decided until after the end of the season.Ipswich Town have confirmed they would like to sign the 26-year-old former England striker on a permanent transfer from Blackburn Rovers.

By Elvin King

FRANCIS Jeffers' future will not be decided until after the end of the season.

Ipswich Town have confirmed they would like to sign the 26-year-old former England striker on a permanent transfer from Blackburn Rovers.

But Rovers' chairman John Williams today ruled out any decision within three weeks.

“We will make a decision as to whether we want to keep Franny Jeffers at the end of the season, once we've asses-sed our own requirements,” said Williams.

“At the moment we haven't made a decision as to whether he's available or not.”

Blackburn play their final league game on May 13 at home to Reading - and a decision on Jeffers is expected the following week.

Jeffers is on loan at Ipswich for the final two games against Leeds away and Cardiff at home.

He has proved a revelation since his arrival, scoring three goals in seven appearances for the Blues and expressing a desire to play for Ipswich in 2007/08 if released early from his Blackburn contract.

At the time of the original deal Hughes said he would not allow the move to be made permanent so it remains to be seen if he has changed his mind.

“I think Franny has got all the quality needed if we want to get out of the Championship,” said Town manager Magilton.

“We will certainly do our best to get him and see how the land lies when the season ends.”

The financial side of any permanent move is one that Ipswich have indicated they can cope with - and much will depend on whether Black-burn feel that a re-juvenated Jeffers can benefit them next season. They signed him on a free transfer from Charlton last summer.

Hughes has South African international striker Benni McCarthy at his disposal plus other front men Jason Roberts, David Bentley, emerging youngsters Matt Derby-shire and Paul Gallagher and 30-year-old Demo-cratic Republic of Congo international Shabani Nonda, who is on loan from Roma.

Derby County are one other club showing an interest since Jeffers - believed to be on a pay-as-you-play deal at Black-burn - started making the headlines again with Ipswich.