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Trust Disappointed With Club's Academy Decision
Trust Disappointed With Club's Academy Decision
Friday, 30th Mar 2012 16:00

Ipswich Town Ist, the Supporters Trust, has expressed its disappointment that the Blues have opted for a Category Two academy in the reorganisation of youth football which takes place this summer. The Trust collected 5,000 signatures on a petition calling on the club to choose Category One.

A statement on their website in part reads: “The Trust is very disappointed that today Simon Clegg, the chief executive of our football club, has confirmed that Ipswich Town FC will not be applying for Academy Category One status for next season.

“Town have opted for Category Two in the Elite Player Performance Programme (EPPP) reorganisation of youth football which comes into effect this summer.

“The Trust campaigned for the club to proceed with Category One and feel that this is a short-sighted step to make.

“We understand that going for Category One would be an extra financial burden on the club but we believe that in the long term, producing the majority of our own players is the way forward for this club.”


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tractorblue99 added 16:04 - Mar 30
I hate the supporters trust. They obviously have no idea about just how much it would cost.
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itfcjoe added 16:13 - Mar 30
@tractorblue99

I'm sure they have more idea than you do. I think they have a copy of the document that Clegg has.

Whether it's right or wrong stance to take, only time will tell. But I'd much rather have a Trust focus on issues that actually matter for the club than listen to Liz Edwards act as Simon Clegg's mouthpiece through the 'Official' (*cough* *splutter*) Supporters Club
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mightytown added 16:29 - Mar 30
stuff the trust, the club has made a difficult decision in the best interests of our club. marcus evans has invested generously in our club for a while now and who knows where we'd be without him. however, he does not have an endless stream of money and when you consider the alternatives then we should all count ourselves lucky to support this fine club. we as fans may bare the brunt in terms of high ticket prices but things could be worse, much worse, look at pompey for christs sake. we have enjoyed periods of success in the past and we can do so again. we have always had a good academy because of the way WE have run it, that is specific to us, our competitive advantage, our secret recipe. we cant compete financially with others so we have to be creative and innovative but we have a proven track record of success in this vain. it will be tough but nothing comes easy, thats why we support the club cos we want them to succeed. WE ARE THE FINEST FOOTBALL TEAM THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN
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BillBlue added 16:32 - Mar 30
Yes I too think this is short sighted policy. I am fully aware of the cost of establishing and running a Category One Academy but if we are to have a future then we must produce our own players. Look at our past success's and they were plainly down to just that. When I read some of the comments from my fellow supporters about running a business and cost calculations, etc. I fully understand why so many businesses are currently experiencing problems. This is an enormous misstatement of intent by Messrs Evans & Clegg and when one considers the vast amounts of money they have squandered by appointing the previous Manager and allowing him to buy several useless players at a great cost the mind boggles. No matter how well Paul Jewell and the team are currently doing on the field this club is at rock bottom and, in my opinion, there we shall remain while the current management structure exists. COYB
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RetroBlue added 16:37 - Mar 30
I agree Town will now have to be VERY creative and innotive in their attempts to lure young talent to the Club. However I am more than a little concerned with Cleggs recent track record in "selling" ITFC to the numerous young players that Jewell has targeted, only to see them go to other Clubs who are certainly no better than Town.

So , can Clegg effectively sell ITFC to future young talent and beat off competition? I'd say unlikely. Which means we are effectively a End tier Club and very much in the slow lane ! Sad times indeed .
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itfc1981 added 16:39 - Mar 30
A Category one Academy would began to pay for itself in a few years. Either though promotion or player sales.

What is the point of having a rich owner if he does not put enough money into the clubs key foundation its Academy.

Evans will soon be saving millions through the Financial Fair Play policy, this should have been diverted to the Academy.

Short sighted in the extreme.
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jas0999 added 16:41 - Mar 30
Disappointing decision. One thing is for sure, ME and Clegg really do not care about what the fans think. Some will agree with them, some won't.
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AndyUK61873 added 17:16 - Mar 30
This is a good decision, millions gets spent over the years on youth players that don't make the grade and get released....I don't know the stats but have to think for every 1 success story there must be 50 failures you have invested in....just going over rcently recollection can only really think of Keiron, Wrighty, Bent, Bramble and Wickham that have gone on to the bigger arena...so 5 in what 12years???
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wideblue added 17:44 - Mar 30
Perhaps those claiming that Category 1 status would pay for itself within a few years would be prepared to fund the shortfall until the stream of transfer fees flows back into the club? Or would you prefer not to take the risk?
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TractorRoyNo1 added 17:46 - Mar 30
if you aim for the top you might get there, if you are satisfied with 2nd best you might nowhere
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:22 - Mar 30
TractorRoy: that sounds like one of those nauseating 'motivational' posters you stare at in the gym whilst willing the treadmill to stop.

Whatever the rights or wrongs, it's not our money to invest so end of. I agree withbwideblue and I don't think this is the end of the world by any means as almost all non-prem clubs will be cat 2 or lower.
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hunty21 added 19:29 - Mar 30
so 1.5 million a year is the difference, so what would we rather use that money on buying another player or investing in 2 or 3, surely norwich will be poaching our players now cos there more funding
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rosseden added 20:04 - Mar 30
£1.5m is the additional funds to run it day to day, you also need to build it, buy the space, the properties, and numerous other costs on top..... I would be very surprised if anyone in Champ, with the exception of Southampton, WestHam and maybe Reading for the Cat one.... We already have some of the best facilities in this league and were having to redevelop..... imagine how much cost this could bring to other clubs... some may even stay in Cat 3?
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rosseden added 20:08 - Mar 30
This is worth a read....... interesting to see him say this.....

The top two categories will have a minimum of 17 full-time staff and will be beyond the reach of most Football League clubs, who will have category three or four status. Most will end up in category three - and it is here that there is a major sticking point.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2011/02/football_league_fears_over_pla.h
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itfcsmithlarr added 20:13 - Mar 30
The supporters trust just seems to aggrevate the majority of supporters. Bit stupid, that.
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walberswick added 20:15 - Mar 30
What hae the club been investing in our current Academy setup? It seems it is just a couple of old pro's, a pitch and some changing rooms at the moment. We are presently catergory three which just about sums up ITFC and ME's approach to rhe club's future.
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walberswick added 20:17 - Mar 30
"Clubs that gain Category One status will only play against teams of the same status so it is really important."

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h32 added 20:18 - Mar 30
Well this well and truly 'nails the ambition of the Club to the mast' - DISCRACEFUL DECISION.
Now we can genuinely be looked upon as the second class football citizens of Norfolk / Suffolk.
A decision made by people who do not genuinely care about the future of this Club - or indeed the history of it.

This was the acid test - the current 'powers that be' - failed the Club and us, not unexpectedly either is my view.

All SENSIBLE, GENUINE, and CARING Supporters of this Club should react to this decision accordingly.
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countrygirl added 21:00 - Mar 30
What teams will we be playing now??????
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h32 added 21:27 - Mar 30
mightytown - Deluded - or what ? - don't know what it is you're suffering from, but you can certainly keep it.
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AndyUK61873 added 21:37 - Mar 30
well to me this actually suggests it is not a step down with Cat 2 based on current academy models....

Category two is based broadly on the current academy model, while category three is similar to the centres of excellence at most Football League clubs
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JustSpivvyChops added 21:47 - Mar 30
The bottom line, is that this scheme, is intended to benefit the premier league sides, in hope that these are the sides that will produce an England team capable of winning the world cup. Bear that in mind, before moaning and whining about ME and SC's decision, which by the way, is perfectly reasonable and absolutely in keeping with our current status. The cost of category one, is beyond our means.

At first glance, it would seem that this new youth scheme will simply create a greater divide between the premier league and the rest of the football league, which would obviously be detrimental to the game overall. This may well be the case, but I also think it will greatly enhance the Championship.

I believe that the Championship will actually strengthen significantly and the divide may actually start developing between the Championship and League's 1 and 2, as those teams will struggle financially, to maintain any youth set up at all. In this eventuality (which the FA claims is not the intention, but I have my doubts about) there would be a glut of young talent available for those in a financial position to accommodate them (certainly under ME, we would be one of those).

Fundamentally, the amount of players who "make it" isn't going to change from today, BUT, the one's who don't, should be significantly better players than previous generations of youth player's, as they would have now benefitted from 3 to 4 times the development than youth players currently receive, which should produce greater individual ability, ie skill levels, fitness, professionalism, etc etc. In turn, this production line of more highly trained individuals, should present a greater opportunity of success, to the likes of ITFC.

Obviously, nothing is written in stone, but that's the way I see things shaping up and I think the decision for Category 2, is not only perfectly in line with our current status, but presents us with the perfect opportunity to pick up some great talent in 5+ years time, without absorbing a huge financial burden.

Well done ME and SC, correct decision made.

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JustSpivvyChops added 21:53 - Mar 30
I forgot to mention the financial fair play rules and weighing up cost of development v likely future return on sales..............you get the message
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mightytown added 20:24 - Mar 31
h32 - kiss my arse, you sanctimonious old fool
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