x

Owner's Praise for McCarthy and Connor - Ipswich Town News

Town owner Marcus Evans has praised manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor for seeing the Blues to within touching distance of the Championship play-offs for the first time in a decade.

Writing in the programme for Saturday's final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest, Evans says he’s delighted with the progress made and vows to continue to back the duo, as well as the club's academy.

"It’s worth reminding ourselves of just how far we have moved forward over the last two years,” he writes.

"The fact that we are within sight of the finishing line to reach the play-offs is nothing short of miraculous and a testament to the ability of Mick and Terry.

"My main priorities over this summer, and in future years, is to support Mick by ensuring we keep our best players through being able to offer competitive terms, as well as the players being aware that they are part of a team with the realistic potential to move onwards and upwards in whatever league we find ourselves.

"In addition, I will continue to ensure funds are available to offer similarly competitive terms for new players we bring into the club.

"If we add to this a vibrant academy with players progressing into the "first team, we will have, I believe, a recipe for greater success.

"Transfer fees, when needed, will be paid, however activity in the transfer market in the Championship generally, not just from us, has been lower over the past few seasons with the introduction of Financial Fair Play.

"We will continue to be highly competitive in terms of wages and will strive to match up to market conditions.”

Sixth-placed Town are currently three points ahead of Brentford and Wolves in seventh and eighth with a superior goal difference with two games left and could seal their play-off place tomorrow.

The Blues are anticipating a crowd of around 24,500 for Nottingham Forest’s visit.

What to read next:

[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Burley Given All-Clear After Cancer Treatment
Blues legend George Burley has been given the all-clear following his recent cancer treatment.
TWTV Video Verdict - Brentford Plus Alan Lee and Season Stats
The TWTV team reflect on the 1-0 home defeat to Brentford and are joined by former Town striker Alan Lee to look at the Blues’ frontline as well as Adam Wilkin, who provides a statistical overview of the season.
Ipswich Town 0-1 Brentford - Highlights
Highlights of this afternoon’s 1-0 home defeat to Brentford.
Frank: Exactly as Difficult as I Expected
Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted his side’s 1-0 victory over the Blues was as difficult as he had anticipated.
McKenna: VAR is Taking Away From the Game
Boss Kieran McKenna believes VAR “in its current guise” is “taking from the game as a spectacle”, the Blues’ 1-0 home defeat to Brentford having been repeatedly stopped for incidents which the Town manager believes were marginal decisions rather than clear and obvious errors.
Palmer: We Need to Sustain Pressure For Longer Periods
Town goalkeeper Alex Palmer feels sustaining a performance over 90 minutes is the Blues’ target following the 1-0 defeat to Brentford at Portman Road.
Ipswich Town 0-1 Brentford - Match Report
Kevin Schade’s 18th-minute goal saw Brentford to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. The German international headed home a controversial three-times-taken corner with the Blues ultimately worthy of a point, Omari Hutchinson coming closest with a late strike which visitors keeper Mark Flekken pushed onto a post.
Ipswich Town 0-1 Brentford - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Ipswich Town 0-1 Brentford - Half-Time
Kevin Schade’s 18th-minute goal has given Brentford a 1-0 half-time lead over the Blues at Portman Road.