Town chief executive Simon Clegg says far too much has been made of his involvement in club owner Marcus Evans’s Olympics-related business. Clegg joined the Blues in April 2009 after leaving a similar role at the British Olympics Association a year earlier, having been with the organisation since 1989.

The Marcus Evans Group is the official Olympic ticketing agency for three nations at 2012 and Clegg admits some involvement in the early stages of those deals, but says his overall role has been vastly exaggerated: “I’ve pointed him in the right direction and facilitated introductions to the president of the Irish Olympic Committee, the Maltese Committee and the Hellenic Olympic Committee.

"They are the three contracts that he’s got. The presidents of those NOCs are people that I know very well.

“My involvement within Marcus’s Olympics-related business is very much overstated. I’ve read a couple of things which are just complete rubbish.

“It’s as if I haven’t got a full-time job. It’s a 7am to 9pm job. People are quite surprised that they come for the tour of the stadium on a Monday evening and still see the chief executive’s lights on at 9pm at night. That’s what goes with job.”

Having played an integral part in helping to bring the Olympics to London, Clegg’s only current direct involvement is a role on the Athletes’ Commission with whom he spends a day every other month.

Clegg is still holding discussions regarding one of the football teams possibly using Portman Road's facilities as a base, although even if that doesn’t happen he still hopes for some participation by Town: “Recently I was speaking to someone about how we may involve the club in the wider celebrations of London staging the Games in 2012.”

He would also love to see Town represented at a competitive level: “Tommy Smith could be involved with New Zealand and an ex-Ipswich player, Connor Wickham, could be involved with England.”

Photo: Action Images

ozzydog added 14:00 - Sep 2 Strange he felt the need to comment
0

itfc1981 added 14:00 - Sep 2 Another reason for Evans to be disappointed in his performance the.
0

PhilTWTD added 14:01 - Sep 2 He commented because I asked him the question!
0

Matteo_Sereni added 14:02 - Sep 2 Oh lets all feel sorry for Clegg...he works a 14 hour day....poor man!
0

colchesterchris added 14:07 - Sep 2 When did he ask for anyone to feel sorry for him? Blimey, out of a reasonably interesting story where Clegg's given an account, that's all that stands out?
0

UsualSuspect added 14:11 - Sep 2 Linchpin.
0

old_and_blue added 14:20 - Sep 2 A reasonable response to the enquiry and we have to take what he says at face value, at least for the time being. Pity he didn't speak on this issue earlier but well done TWTD for putting the question.
0

nearly50yearsblue added 14:50 - Sep 2 Not bad hours for £218,000 per year.
0

exeterblu added 15:02 - Sep 2 Interesting to note that he mentioned that the club may host one of the Olympic football teams - would no doubt mean a fee, even if its only nominal. A minor, yet also perhaps shrewd, piece of business behind the scenes!
0

Matteo_Sereni added 15:25 - Sep 2 Im sorry....the man just annoys me...yes....i know you will say i dont know him, which i dont, but from what i've heard and read i dont like. Yes, this is one of those irrational things and is just my opinion! On other more light hearted matters, does anyone else think he looks like Keith Chegwin?
0

UsualSuspect added 15:45 - Sep 2 I'd say he looks like the b'stard love child of Keith Chegwin and Jimmy Cranky. No offence.
0

pegasus added 15:50 - Sep 2 Hmmmm. Did anyone else hear the interview with Clegg on BBC Radio's 'Today' programme last season, after the home loss against Norwich? After a question about the defeat, virtually ALL of the questions were about the Olympics...and Mr C answered them at length, never deflecting them and showing that his priority was Ipswich Town.......
0

onlybluesandhorses added 16:51 - Sep 2 Well the first question is why was Clegg employed initially (as someone with no experience in football and who did not even know that the transfer window existed) if not because of his 2012 links and ME's use for them? Clegg's reason given on another Today interview (in 2009) was that "elite sport was in his DNA" (the sort of management speak nonsense that most footy fans can see through) but even he has admitted since then that he has been "on a steep learning curve" i.e. he knew nothing. With ME and R** K**** also having little previous experience they made a trio of the "blind leading the blind" that left us with 21 players out of contract this summer. One wonders whether Clegg will be with ITFC after 2012? We can only wait and see. Another negative point is that dealings with the fans e.g. the pricing plan for the pre-season friendly demonstrate the sort of hamfisted lack of insight that the 2012 ticketing mess seems to have reproduced along with the decision to exclude fans from the finish to the cycling roadrace, one of the few things left for those without tickets. "Empathy" does not seem to be in the BOC DNA. On the positive front, K**** was sacked and an experienced replacement appointed and we have done a lot of business early in this year's window - before pre-season- and then landed Jimmy B late on.

0

campowasgod added 17:59 - Sep 2 @onlybluesandhorses , I agree but I think you can also ask will ME be around after 2012 . The Olympics will be very rewarding for him. ITFC , Keane and Clegg have increased his exposure so he can get these Olympic deals. I think he will sell the club as soon as 2012 is over.
0

broomfield123 added 22:37 - Sep 2 If i am correct but Marcus Evans main line of buissnes is corparate hospatality. Would it make sense if Evans asked/enquired with Clegg about the olympics and any possible contacts regarding the games.After all you dont get rich by sitting on your arse and doing nothing. Personally i wouldnt blame Evans
0

h32 added 23:51 - Sep 2 Be intriguing to see how interested either of them are in the Football Club after the Olympics are over ............ !!!
0

Tractamatt added 01:27 - Sep 3 if people on here are right and he sells up after the 2012 games we might just get brought buy an abramovich type or oil baron, so might not be to bad.
0

jas0999 added 09:41 - Sep 3 Clegg is hopeless. He agreed just ONE fee for a player all Summer. Admits he got the pricing for friendlies wrong and is generally hopeless. There is no doubt that RK and now PJ have been frustrated re bringing players in - Clegg has to take full and frank responsibility for this.
0

BlueVelvet added 17:24 - Sep 5 Well lets hope that ME has finished with Oly(mpics) Clegg and can now release him on a free transfer
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls