Blog written by Edmundo
Published: 19th March 2018 20:26
For those of you in business the title may seem like a boardroom soundbite, but seeing as it looks increasingly like there will be change at Portman Road over the next few months, what do we want to see?
I've got a few ideas of my own, but would appreciate comments below so we can really see what fans are thinking, beyond the next manager name. As fans we get to think without boundaries, so let's do that, and see what we get.
Owner
Currently we have Mr Evans, a solitary, far-from-lifelong fan whose estimated billions are not moving anywhere in our direction. Yes, he got his fingers burned, yes he funds our debt and losses season on season, but since when were we ever a profit-making club?
In an ideal world, I'd like to see a fans' consortium buying out the club. Evans would make good on his promise not to seek to profit from the debt he took on (at a knock down price) and the consortium covers the club running costs with a modest war chest. I don't think that running our club with a billionaire pumping in millions will float for us, it hasn't in the past.
Board
The combination of passive board members, really glorified yes-men, and I include Mr Milne in this, means that the board is both toothless and rudderless.
It is possible that a board made up of local businessmen from the consortium, with additional supporters' representation, but with the return of the CEO who has done well for us in the past, Derek Bowden, could keep our club closer to fans, whilst running a tight ship.
Bowden ran the club brilliantly through administration, and continued until being unceremoniously dumped by the Evans Group.
Management
The least said about our first team management and coaching the better. Let's just say it's NOT the Ipswich way, meaning that our academy products are not fitting in with the club at a crucial time, leading to so many of them going out on loan (U23 is just not competitive). The academy IS doing well right up to U18 level, which is a thread of hope in these dark times.
However, youth along will not keep us in the division, let alone take us up. We do not have any 'Fergie Fledglings' or 'Busby Babes' type mass of talent, but we do have a solid core.
Recruitment needs to be savvy, just like that of Southampton over the past nine or 10 years. A structure like this, supported by both the board, academy leaders and first team management, with a style of play that matches that seen at U18 and U23 level would take us higher in the table, and possibly further.
A manager that supports this view is arguable as important as the coaching talent he or she brings along to the club.
Admittedly the wish list above is unrealistic, but let's just see - if we get even half of the change I would like to see.