Simon Clegg says taking flak during the tough times comes with the territory of being the chief executive or owner of a football club. Like former boss Paul Jewell, Clegg was on the end of calls for him to go after last night’s 2-1 home defeat to Derby County.

Clegg said: “I accept that people aren’t happy, they want to vent their frustration and I accept in situations like this that the chief executive and owner of the football club have to take some responsibility and expect to take some flak.

“It happens at other clubs around the country and it’s happened at this club before. That goes with the territory. All I can tell our loyal fans is that we’re determined to get the next manager in here as quickly as possible and we’re going to get the right individual to take us forward.”

He says he and Marcus Evans know the type of manager they want but wasn’t keen to discuss the parameters within which they were working publicly at this afternoon's press conference: “With the benefit of hindsight, the last two appointments didn’t work.

“There are lessons we can learn from those appointments, I don’t want to go into too many specifics because I don’t want the media to narrow down the field in terms of where we’re likely to focus.

“But the owner and I are very clear in terms of how we want to take this forward and the type of individual that we want to bring into the club.

“I’m not going to narrow it down through the media so you can speculate as to who is likely to succeed Paul Jewell.

“All I can tell you is that the owner and I are clear in terms of going forward and we need to bring someone into this club as soon as possible who will be able to take us forward.”

The chief executive says owner Evans has trusted advisors, managers and ex-managers amongst them — with ex-Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp understood to be one along with former Blues coach and scout Charlie Woods — who he liaises with but wouldn’t go into detail regarding their identities: “I think that that would be inappropriate. The owner is a very private person but he has extensive contacts across football.

“I’m not going to get into the specifics in terms of who Marcus is taking advice from over this particular appointment.

“All I can tell you is that he does take soundings from the highest levels within the football industry and he gets advice that he values, but ultimately he will make the decisions because he is the owner of this great football club.”

He says those advising him - “a relatively small circle of trust” - won’t all be those who have been spoken to when the previous two appointments were being made: “I didn’t talk about the same advisors advising again, I said advice is being taken. I’m saying that soundings will be taken from different places as well.”

Clegg, who says the club would be prepared to pay compensation to another club if the man they want is currently employed, says he has a long-list of 34 names — 39 by the time of this evening’s Supporters Club AGM - which will now be reduced: “When you start this process it’s important to look at everyone who is available or might be available and who you think might be able to contribute to giving us the success we aspire to.

“[The list of names is] where we started off. That long-list is now being driven down to a short-list and interviews will take place shortly.”

Clegg has ruled out involving respected Blues stars of the past in the selection process: “No, because ultimately the decision comes down to the owner and myself.

"We need to find someone who we passionately believe has the right background, the right experience, the right drive, the right motivation and someone we can work with.”

He also dismissed suggestions that the club might look at appointing a director of football between himself and the new manager: “I think that you’ll find that Marcus has a lot of advisors from the game that he knows on a personal basis that he takes advice from and I don’t think that a director of football — and I’ve listened to the arguments — would be a route that he would want to go down at this moment in time. I think that he feels he gets enough advice as it is.”

Clegg says he’s confident that he and Evans can get the appointment right this time despite Jewell and Roy Keane not working out: “Everyone’s talking about the last two appointments with the benefit of hindsight.

"When I was sat here three and a half years ago with Roy Keane and 21 months ago with Paul Jewell, a lot of people felt that they were the right people to take this club forward.

“There are a lot of people with the benefit of hindsight now speaking slightly differently. I’ve admitted that it’s been a steep learning curve over the last couple of years, but I feel very confident in terms of our ability to make the right decision for this appointment going forward.”

Photo: Action Images

Chris_ITFC added 22:55 - Oct 24 The use of the phrase "Clegg Out" is banned on this thread. None of us know how the club operates within and, although he appears to be a bit of a plonker, it is too simplistic to blame all our problems on him. So please, put some thought into any comments!
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wrightyblue added 23:01 - Oct 24 Clegg out!!!
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lTFC added 23:02 - Oct 24 'Get' Clegg Out
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Michael11 added 23:04 - Oct 24 At least Jewell had the decency to leave. I can only wish PJ the best of luck for the future, he gave his all for this club and even though he didn't do a very good job here i still respect him for his effort. Please do the same and leave Clegg! P.s Terry Butcher is the man for me!!
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1972Blue added 23:09 - Oct 24 @chris_itfc... Spot on with your comment. I feel the same as you on this, ultimately none of us understand the ins and outs of running a football club, especially one that we all love. ME and SG are both business men who I feel have been poorly advised on the appointment of Keane (far to bullish) and Jewell (safe but too soft). I honestly feel that they have truly learnt from these past 2 appointments and that the next manager will be exactly what we need in these torrid times. Upwards on onwards, the good times will return...

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Maverick_Mitch added 23:10 - Oct 24 Be interesting to see who gets picked on Saturday and what the tactics are - that might help knock one name off the long list! The players lost the game last night not PJ.
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MooseJuice added 23:16 - Oct 24 It's not the amount of advice that's the problem... clearly it's who that advice is coming from! "but I feel very confident in terms of our ability to make the right decision for this appointment going forward.” Unfortuantely, judged on your past efforts, I'm sure I share your optimism Simon.
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Karlosfandangal added 23:19 - Oct 24 See most so called fans on here want ex great Ipswich players, Just because they were great players don't mean they will be good managers. We need a Alidice or McCarthy type manager who can get the best out of the players and knows what is needed to get Ipswich out of this division
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Mark added 23:20 - Oct 24 It's true that none of us know the ins and outs, but we can see that Keane and Jewell paid with their jobs while Clegg is still there. How do we know that Jewell is to blame totally, as perhaps the club just didn't do deals for the players he wanted from Austin when he first came here to Davies recently. Maybe it would have been different if the Portsmouth three joined? Who is to say why these deals fell though, but I doubt the blame for everything is 100% Jewell. Clearly it was time for Paul to go in the end, but I do wish him well for the future.

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AFCC added 23:22 - Oct 24 BREAKING NEWS: Terry Butcher was in the lighting section of Glasswells last Saturday!
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IamSpartacus added 23:25 - Oct 24 Whatever happens... and despite not having a great regard for Clegg... I just hope they get the right person in- one that the fans can relate to. The fact is, in all the times past when we have been doing okay we never ever gave the Chief Exec, Chairman or owner a 2nd thought.... I'd love to never have to think of Clegg again, so that's a win-win !
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brockleyblueboy added 23:29 - Oct 24 Does Clegg take training? Does Clegg go in the dressing room at half time? Does Clegg pick the team? Does Clegg decide tactics? On paper we have a strong side. We just bottled it. I have said it so many times, the fans at Portman road have a job to do and that is support the team. When we go one nil up the nervous tension created by he home fans transcends onto the pitch and into the players minds. We need a strong man manager to weed that out of the players and then a few results will turn our pessimism into optimism. We should all go with a "the glass is half full" attitude what ever the appointment and support the team. True blue tilli die

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Edmunds5 added 23:33 - Oct 24 I think you can only blame Clegg and Evans to a certain extent, we dont know what goes on behind the scenes but there isn't a huge amount they can do if the football person, the manager, the one who believes he can lead the team fails. Both Keane and Jewell had flaws and you could blame Clegg and Evans for that but I must admit I was really happy when we hired Keane, he was given financial backing and you cant blame Evans if Keane goes and spends £2m odd on a player like Leadbitter for example. Yes those at the top make the appointments but these managers are putting themselves forward, the players and management are the ones who go onto the pitch and perform all Evans and Clegg can do is support them and generally they have done this quite well. Time to make a good appointment and time for that man and those players to rise to the challenge.

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itfchorry added 23:45 - Oct 24 Out Clegg. !!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 23:53 - Oct 24 is this the same magic circle who suggested keane and jewell? if so might be better to put a pin in the racing post.
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TractorBoy666 added 00:10 - Oct 25 I really feel sorry for Jewell but he knew he couldn't lose against Derby. Yet again it was a silly mistake by a keeper, that he loaned though. But the abuse he got was very stupid of the fans. Really am hoping that we can finally get someone who can climb us up that league. This next appointment is going to be crucial so make sure you get it 100% right Clegg & Evans. Whoever it will be, I will be fully behind the man.

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MVBlue added 00:12 - Oct 25 Why do I get the feeling we'll never get anywhere with Clegg at the helm. So, I reduce myself to calculating how long we have to have Clegg running the operations at ITFC. Looking at him he's in his fifties, so would we say another 8-10 years of Clegg? Maybe after that we have a chance. We await the Post-Clegg era.
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Morgan added 00:22 - Oct 25 Since PJ left Clegg has spoken a lot of sense. I really believe Evans and Clegg can form A good future for us if the appointment is right. I'm backing the future and hoping mistakes have been learnt from.
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KernewekBlue added 00:23 - Oct 25 Remove Clegg, Clegg not in, give Clegg the sack, unemploy Clegg, dismiss Clegg... How many other ways can I think of to put it without posting "Clegg out!"
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KernewekBlue added 00:38 - Oct 25 Read between the lines... "Clegg has ruled out involving respected Blues stars of the past in the selection process: “No, because ultimately the decision comes down to the owner and myself. "We need to find someone who we passionately believe has the right background, the right experience, the right drive, the right motivation and someone we can work with.” It reads... The mess we're in now and the mess we find ourselves in in the future is all down to Mr Evans and myself. We don't want to talk about the state of this club and what we need to do to rectify the massive mistakes we've made, and will make again, with people who have more experience of football at this club or people who have it's best interests at heart. I'm right up my own chuff... as you can tell, I'm too full of my own self importance to listen to mere mortals. We simply want to find a yes man, someone cheap whose strings we can pull, set up as a scapegoat if we get relegated and someone we can blame for our complete lack of footballing knowledge and footballing business accumen. In other words, we're looking for a right patsy who doesn't mind being led around by the testicles, someone old and backward thinking who won't mind falling on his sword for the cock-ups we make. It's just that scenario that has put us where we are today... staring league one squarely in the face. Sorry, but "Clegg Out!"

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TotalBlue added 00:40 - Oct 25 Clegg In!!!!!! We are in a very sorry position but will improve anyone got any idea of the odds on town making the play offs I have a quid to risk
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BurleyForever added 00:52 - Oct 25 Karlos you are right we will be out of this division & in Div.1 if we do not appoint the right MANager maybe a woman could do Better. Hope Powell or Kelly Smith Anyone??
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mawwam added 01:13 - Oct 25 I can't even be bothered to read Cleggs dribble, wanted you gone way before PJ!! Just go
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WicklowBlue added 01:17 - Oct 25 Going to get burnt here but probably due to my overly optimistic nature I'm wondering have the Cleggens partnership come of age with there thinking? Certainly not a fan but seems like some sense coming through above, learning from past mistakes? I see the comments about getting someone young and hungry personally I think we went too extreme with the last two managers. Never thought Keane was the right man to develop a team too harsh an approach and perhaps PJ was too nice and certainly lost his way big time. Again in my opinion think we need someone the players will respect, display leadership skills set a vision for everyone at the club to buy into. Reward those who put 100% in and equally stick the boot in for those who need it. Don't think Curbs does it for me, out of names mentioned I'd be happy with McCarthy love him or loathe him he has a track record of building successful teams and being irish did a great job with the irish team. The football may not be pretty but I don't think now is the time for champagne football need to get some steel into the spine of the team then let the creative players express themselves.

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IssanBlues added 02:24 - Oct 25 Jewell done the right thing for ITFC by resigning has Clegg the balls to follow or as I expect he will remain drawing his yearly salary CLEGG YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK
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