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Chief Executive Clegg to Leave Town
Tuesday, 5th Feb 2013 10:40

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



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backinbeige added 10:39 - Feb 5
Wow, it seems Clegg really is out
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NorthstaNder added 10:39 - Feb 5
Well I'll be buggered.
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ABO1itfc added 10:40 - Feb 5
Bye Bye Clegg and take BlueLady with ya ;)
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backinbeige added 10:40 - Feb 5
For the record: I don't have an opinion on whether he has done a good or bad job, just commenting on the vast majority of 'Clegg Out' comments that seem to follow a lot of news stories
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Sindre94 added 10:41 - Feb 5
Wow
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Sindre94 added 10:41 - Feb 5
Just wow
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Stourbridgeblue added 10:43 - Feb 5
So who's going to be "the public face of ITFC" now then?
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nthstd added 10:45 - Feb 5
That's a surprise for sure. "protect the playing budget" does this mean that someone with a football background has tunred round and said "Now then lad if you want to get promoted you're gonna have to spend some brass" You may wish to apply a regional accent to that. Entirely speculation but we have lost out on so many deals over the last 4 years we became, it would appear, the club none wanted to go to.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 10:45 - Feb 5
Soooo sad! no it's best news in years
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Blaine96 added 10:46 - Feb 5
Does this mean Evans might finally come out and show himself from now on, But didnt expect this at all.
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brendenward35 added 10:47 - Feb 5
Maybe Marcus has finally decided to become Mr Visible instead of Mr Invisible?? you never know, think Mick has had a big say in this to be honest
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JimmyJazz added 10:47 - Feb 5
Interesting that ME will play a more active role. Is he finally taking it seriously?

Is Clegg being made the scapegoat for the past 4 years of standing still?
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BlueBob added 10:47 - Feb 5
I think Clegg has done a good job considering the financial restrictions he was increasingly forced to work under. Where possible players were signed and managers given the support they asked for but he rightly refused to be held to ransom by players, clubs and agents for fees and wages that were simply not justified. Despite what people here like to think it seems unlikely he was anything to do with players failing to be signed - this was simply down to money and the personalities and reputations of the managers in place at the time. All this in the face of what seems relentless criticism. Thanks for the work Simon.
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Wickets added 10:48 - Feb 5
Get In.
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newboy added 10:50 - Feb 5
Good job and about time unprofessional in dealings, unfit to run a business and no idea about football.
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oldelsworthyfan added 10:50 - Feb 5
This has taken most of us by surprise, but I guess most will see it as a move in the right direction. If ME can strike up the kind of relationship that the Cobbolds had with our Manager this could be really good news.
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kozmik added 10:50 - Feb 5
POW!!
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Esteemed_Canon added 10:50 - Feb 5
Let's get rid of Liz Edwards now, much like Simon Clegg she also has no standards evident.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 10:51 - Feb 5
Get out and stay out!
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bennyitfc added 10:52 - Feb 5
This must have something to do with Mick!
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jas0999 added 10:53 - Feb 5
I commented the other day whether ITFC could 'hold on to MM and TC'. At the time, I was shot down in flames. But what I meant by that comment, is Mick is clearly not impressed with the loan and short term situation. In order to keep both these guys ME had to change something; either his/Clegg's transfer policy or the removal of any obstacles in achieving permanent deals. It would seem he has done that by axing Clegg. It's interesting reading the statement that emphasis is put on building a team for the future from this Summer ... clearly something Mick wants to do - and somthing PJ failed to do whilst working with Clegg.

I personally believe this is a good move for the club, particularly if ME is finally going to be more hands on. Its essential we build for the future - not silly money - but good decent permanent players. However, I wish Simon all the best for the future.
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SouperJim added 10:53 - Feb 5
Fantastic news!

Many of us have been saying for some time that Clegg has made numerous gaffs which have damaged the club and that he should go. His apologists have always insisted that it is not possible for us fans to have any real insight into his performance or have simply blindly stated that he was doing a "good job". However, those of us able to sensibly read between the lines picked up on a shift in his role which ultimately appears to have now been the end of him.

Of course Evans will say he was the best thing since sliced bread, fantastic servant, goes with our best wishes blah blah blah. But it is obvious that Clegg's involvement in episodes like Jordan Rhodes, Charlie Austin, players being allowed to run down contracts, public spats with Delaney and Martin over contracts, Blackpool "free coaches", the rent agreement saga, the wonderfully timed turnstiles repaint, the Boro "terms and conditions" refund debacle and finally letting two managers sign loan after loan after loan, have finally taken their toll.

But yeah he was great, carry on arguing black is white and click the little down arrow!
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Moscow_Blue added 10:54 - Feb 5
Could this mean that MM takes a bigger role? We didn't have (nor apparently need) a CEO when Sir Bobby was in charge.
1

BillyBaxsterBest added 10:55 - Feb 5
Thank you Mr Clegg for the very good job you have done whilst at Ipswich , We would have been very much worse off without you. I wish you the very best of luck and happiness in your future career. Some fans live in never never land and think money grows on trees, the rest of us live in the real world.
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nolanfanips added 10:56 - Feb 5
Just be careful what you wish for....
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