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Question Time - Ipswich Town News

Yesterday evening saw the South Stand's Galleria restaurant host Five Live's Any Sporting Questions. David Sheepshanks was among John Inverdale's guests along with swimmer Karen Pickering, former Essex cricketer Don Topley and Norwich striker Iwan Roberts.

Roberts received regular boos throughout the evening, but took it all in the best spirit. Even Don Topley took it upon himself to wind the Welshman up on a number of occasions.

Many contemporary issues were discussed, Sheepshanks declaring that the Phoenix League hasn't "a cat in hell's chance" of going ahead, although he says there should be some reform in order to reduce the gap between the Premiership clubs and the rest.

Don Topley talked at length about match-fixing in cricket and the alleged incident during his career where Essex and Lancashire fixed the results of two matches in order that one should win one title and the other, the other. Also on the subject of corruption in sport, Karen Pickering confessed to frustration when competing against swimmers she knew were, or had previously, taken performance enhancing drugs.

Iwan Roberts admitted that there was a lot of jealousy at Norwich for the acheivements that Town have made over the last few years. He added that it was important that Norwich didn't live in the past and keep harking back to their UEFA Cup run of nine years ago. David Sheepshanks said that there was a similar harking back at Portman Road when he took over as chairman in 1995.

Of Town's current situation David Sheepshanks said: "There is a saying, form is temporary, class is permanent."

He also backed George Burley as the best man to bring Town back should they get relegated, a statement the audience received with applause.

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