Town have announced that chief executive Simon Clegg is to leave Portman Road after four years at the club. A press release from Town says that owner Marcus Evans and the rest of the club’s board will take a more active role in the running of the club.

Owner Marcus Evans said: “Following a review of the club’s management structure and the Financial Fair Play budgeting requirements, it became clear that we would need to operate differently going forward and Simon and I mutually agreed that it was time for him to seek new opportunities.

“I would like to place on record my huge appreciation for all of Simon’s hard work, loyalty and professionalism. Over the last four years he has done an outstanding job as the public face of the club.”

Clegg added: “As a result of the strategic review, it is clear that moving towards break-even will challenge all clubs, not just Ipswich Town.

“At the top of our agenda, and quite rightly, has been the priority to protect the playing budget. This, coupled with the owner’s intention to play a more hands-on role, has led me to the decision that now is the right time to seek a new challenge.

“Whilst we have been discussing this for some time, we agreed to leave any final decision until nearer the time when the rules are due to take effect, at the end of this season, and after the end of this last transfer window.

“I will be returning to my family in Surrey and over the coming months will be looking for my next professional challenge in international or domestic sport.”

The club statement announcing Clegg's departure says owner Evans will have a greater involvement in the running of the club: "As part of a strategy to meet the financial challenges of the Financial Fair Play rules, Marcus Evans, the club’s owner, and other members of the board will be taking a more hands-on approach to the day-to-day management of the club."

We understand that with no direct replacement for Clegg being lined-up, current board members Ian Milne, Jonathan Symonds and Martin Pitcher will now take on many of Clegg's duties - liaising with the departing chief executive - but with Evans himself set to be directly in charge at Portman Road in the longer term.

However, it is not yet known whether Evans will be more publicly visible despite the change of role.

Former British Olympic Association chief executive Clegg joined the Blues in April 2009, taking over from Derek Bowden, who yesterday joined Essex Cricket.

Photo: Action Images

BuckieBlue added 22:11 - Feb 5 Can't have been easy being stuck out in front during these past 4 years! Ok never a football man and we could do better but from all accounts worked hard for the club. Wish him all the best. If it frees up some more funds for MM and maybe gives him a freer hand then onwards and upwards. Must admit I don't have any reason to think ME will suddenly become Mr public, which is not necessarily a problem but, as has been said, ITFC do need someone speaking on behalf of board etc- hope fans get that communication.

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stringtheory added 22:21 - Feb 5 HiI petermorris - sorry I've forgotten, what did you tell me?
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BillBlue added 23:18 - Feb 5 Nice post Bluelady and not just the response to that idiotic post either. I would feel a lot happier if he had been moved out to make way for a person with footballing experience because that is what we are still lacking in the higher echelon at our club.
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R_LAMB3 added 01:30 - Feb 6 I think he should gone the same time as Paul Jewell went because he was the blame for a lot of things going wrong at the club. For example only letting Mick bringing loan players to club instead of buying players I was very sad about what we did in the tranfer market in january and it makes you wonder if he had something to do with that. You dont have to spend big money to get good players for example looked what we paid for Wordsworth and look wtat a good player he is and their must a lot of players like him out there going cheap who would do a good job in the championship but i think Mick was told for now you can only loan players. We need to build a stable team for future and i mean players of our own and maybe just a few loan players helping out and now clegg has gone hopefully the powers to be will let Mick do this if not we will lose him and he will make someone else great. Look what happened at forest this week after they peed their manager off due to the january tranfer market. Please mr Evans give Mick some money to spend and the reward will be he will make Town great again.

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lowtit added 10:14 - Feb 6 Clegg in!
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petermorris added 11:59 - Feb 6 Stringtheory - postings 11 Jan.
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stringtheory added 12:23 - Feb 6 petermorris - can't find it and I am interested in what you said. Can you re-post or something?
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brazil1982 added 12:28 - Feb 6 Fair play to him for attending supporters' meetings etc, always thought he was a decent fella. All those knocking transfer deals - I imagine he was not going to pay some of the ridiculous wages that Agents demand these days.
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h32 added 18:16 - Feb 6 Listened to him on Radio Suffolk this morning and he spoke as an honorable, decent, and very disappointed man. Signed 73 players since he has been here !!! - and stated that ALL managers had control over the players that were brought in, and moved out. I think he has been blamed for much that was not his fault (and I do not exclude myself from that) - it was a genuinely disappointed man speaking this morning . 'Proof of the Pudding' is always in the eating - we will now see if this changes anything - I hope it will - but suspect NOT somehow.

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