Town chairman David Sheepshanks has hit out at the length of the new Football League-Sky Sports TV contract. Although the chairman is pleased with the link-up with Sky he feels that four years is a far too lengthy an agreement for the Football League board to have signed up to.

The chairman told the club site: "On the face of it, it may appear good news that the Football League has concluded a new television deal with Sky and from an exposure point of view and accessibility for football fans this announcement is positive, as BSkyB are excellent broadcasters of football.

"The market is very depressed at the moment and the comparatively modest value attached to the Football League rights is perhaps unsurprising in the current climate.

"What is most alarming however is that the Football League board has seen fit to commit to such depressed values for a four-year term. I cannot understand the rationale for this decision, irrespective of whatever pressures were put on them to commit.

"We're living in a rapidly changing market in the world of sports rights and, while nothing has been agreed thus far, the future shape of the Football League, particularly with regard to the First Division, as well as the format of the Worthington Cup after the current sponsorship is finished, are both subjects on the agenda for review.

"So why on earth commit the Football League to this length of agreement when there is every prospect that today represents the bottom of the market and the future could herald significantly improved value?

"All in all this is rather a depressing day and reminds me of the situation some six years ago when a previous Football League board committed the 72 League clubs to a similarly poor long-term deal that effectively severed forever any prospect of a reconnection with the Premiership.

"That decision resulted in rebellion and the overthrow of the board at the time, it may not be the case this time, but yet again such a vital decision has been made by the Football League board without any reference to all the First Division clubs. I can only envisage negative ramifications yet again following this decision.

"As to what effect this deal has on us at Ipswich Town Football Club, it means that we will get less than we thought we had conservatively forecast from the Football League. That said, it is no disaster, but makes life in the First Division just that little bit harder than yesterday."

Sheepshanks initially said that Town would have to make up a £15 million shortfall due to relegation. However, since then Town have qualifies for Europe and are seeded for the qualifyng and first rounds and figures of around £10-£12 million have been mentioned.

TV coverage of games in the UEFA Cup proper should bring in extra cash, while the sale of Titus Bramble will give the club £5 million as well as taking him off the wage bill as will the loaning of Matteo Sereni to Brescia. Both are expected to be rubber-stanped over the next week or so.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls