x

Town Needed One More Sale - Ipswich Town News

Town needed one more sale during the January transfer window to avoid going into temporary administration. However, Birmingham's bid for Jamie Clapham was the only one received before the window closed on January 31st.

While another player on the way out would have dented Joe Royle's hopes of making the play-offs it would have prevented the club having to bring in Deloitte and Touche as temporary administrators.

The Town board will remain in control of the club with Deloitte and Touche working in close conjunction with the club's management. Nick Dargan and Nick Edwards are Town's administrators, having previously worked in a similar position at Leicester City.

Dargan was present at Monday afternoon's press conference and seemed confident that a satisfactory outcome could be achieved during the period of administration.

He felt that it was too early for him to outline the situation the club are in: "I think I'll need a period of time to actually assess the financial position, but what I would say is that we've had great cooperation from from the existing management team.

"What is is slightly different in the circumstances here at Ipswich Town is that we will be working with the existing management. It won't be a sale of the business and assets of the old company.

"It's clear that the purposes for which the administration has been granted is to enter into a formal voluntary arrangement with its creditors and return the company back to the existing management team who, quite frankly, have taken many of the steps that you have to take to return the club to viability."

Dargan added that he felt he would have a better idea of the situation in the next seven to 14 days during which time he would be having conversations with Town's creditors, many of them the day-to-day suppliers to the club.

Town chairman David Sheepshanks was once again keen to point out that the problems the club is currently facing are not down to the rebuilding of the North and South Stands. The work on the stands and the Academy was covered by the £25 million, 25-year bond. When the bond was set-up the club based the figures on concervative Division One figures.

The Blues' problems are more to do with shorter term cashflow and player contracts above and beyond income in the First Division. The collapse of the transfer market has meant the club is stuck with these players until the contracts are up, contracts deliberately negotiated to last several years in order to negate the effects of the Bosman Ruling.

Former chairman John Kerr said that supporters could give the club a helping hand and called for fans not currently attending matches at Portman Road to make the ground "a sell-out from now until May."

A Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is an agreement which will bind all the club's creditors who will be sent notice of a meeting where the terms will be formally laid out.

If the club's proposed CVA is given the thumbs up by the majority of 75% of creditors, according to value, then the CVA will be approved.

It is likely that the CVA will see the club pay their creditors back over a lengthy period of time. It is rare that creditors refuse the agreement, the likely alternative being liquidation of the club, a situation which would mean they would be unable to recoup any of their losses.

However, Town's situation could be improved dramatically by one development - promotion back to the Premiership in May.

What to read next:

Luongo Completes Millwall Move
Millwall have confirmed the signing of former Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo on a one-year deal.
Stanislas Appointed First-Team Coach as Town Add Set-Piece Analyst
The Blues have appointed former AFC Bournemouth, Burnley and West Ham winger Junior Stanislas as a first-team coach.
U19s Beaten in Second Game at Czech Tournament
Town’s U19s were beaten 3-2 by Slovan Bratislava in their second and final group game at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia yesterday.
Town Continue Pre-Season at Aberdeen
Town face Scottish Premiership Aberdeen at Pittodrie in their second public friendly of the summer this evening (KO 7.30pm).
Town Women to Start WSL2 Season at Southampton
Ipswich Town Women will open their first ever second-tier season with a WSL2 away game at Southampton on Saturday 6th September (KO 2pm) with Nottingham Forest the first visitors to the JobServe Community Stadium, the Blues’ new home, the following weekend.
Morsy: The Best Spell of My Career and Life
Departing Town captain Sam Morsy has issued a message to fans, teammates, manager Kieran McKenna and his staff following confirmation of his move to Kuwait SC, while the squad and ex-players have paid their own tributes to the Egyptian international.
Town Confirm Morsy Exit For Kuwait SC
Town skipper Sam Morsy’s move to Kuwait SC has been confirmed.
Town Announce Matchday Ticket Prices
Town have confirmed their matchday ticket prices for the Championship season ahead.
Luongo Close to Joining Millwall
Former Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo is closing in on joining Millwall following his trial with the Lions.
Eze Nets Twice as U19s Draw Opener at Czech Tournament
Striker Nelson Eze scored twice as an U19 Town side drew 2-2 with hosts Banik Ostrava in their opening match at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia yesterday.