Town chief executive Derek Bowden faced questions from over 100 fans at the Galleria in a public meeting organised by Ipswich Town First, the recently formed Supporters Trust, and chaired by Anglia TV's Stuart Jarrold.

Bowden answered questions from the floor on a variety of issues but unsurprisingly in the main on the subject of the club's financial state at present and over the last year.

He confirmed that the transfer figures mentioned in the media regarding the fees obtained for the likes of Matt Holland (£750,000) and Thomas Gaardsøe (£500,000) were correct.

Leicester City are paying Marcus Bent's full wage while he is on loan with them but Town are only paying a proportion of Alan Mahon's pay during his three-month loan spell at Portman Road.

Thomas Gaardsøe's exit proved to be the stormiest issue of the evening with Bowden insisting it was a footballing decision to allow the Dane to leave Town.

Effectively Joe Royle wanted to sign Georges Santos on a two-year deal but the club's finances wouldn't allow him to do so unless the offer for Gaardsøe from West Brom was accepted. Royle decided that Santos fitted into his plans more than the former AaB Aalborg player.

There will be a full transcript of the meeting available later in the week via the Ipswich Town First website: " target="_blank">http://www.ipswichtownfirst.co.uk

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