x

Club Answers Questions - Ipswich Town News

Town chief executive Derek Bowden answered questions from fans both via the club's Ipswich World service and from the London Branch of the Supporters Club yesterday. For the first quizzing he was joined by club chairman David Sheepshanks.

Bowden will face further questions from fans on Monday evening at a public meeting set up by Ipswich Town First, the newly-formed Supporters Trust.

The meeting is open to all and is at the Galleria in the Greene King Stand with Anglia TV's Stuart Jarrold compering. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Entry is free for members and £2 for non-members.

Yesterday Bowden revealed that the club's finances have improved since administration. He said that, as reported by TWTD at the time, the club's debt was potentially as high as £70 million.

The CVA restructured some of that debt while players leaving has meant that cash owed on their contracts will no longer have to be paid.

Bowden says the club's situation is improving: "We are in much better shape than we were before the administration. The debt before administration was £44 million, the debt is now £31 million. The debt has not disappeared, it has been rescheduled."

At the London meeting he explained the CVA in more detail as well as talking about the club's expectations for the forthcoming share issue.

He spoke about the restructuring of the debt and confirmed that the club is now operating without an overdraft.

The vexed subject of Thomas Gaardsøe's transfer was broached with Bowden reiterating that it was a football not a financial decision to allow the Dane to join West Brom.

Chairman David Sheepshanks, who will start working only two days at the club from this month, had earlier defended his running of the club in the Ipswich World session: "We have had to operate in the most hostile environment that there has ever been, but we have got ourselves in a much better position now.

"We have rescued the club in the face of appalling adversity. We are secure although it is still very tight. The final part of the jigsaw in terms of the financial rescue plan is to have the share issue."

The share issue is on course and likely to take place in October.

What to read next:

Akpom: I Always Had My Mind Set on Ipswich
Chuba Akpom has revealed he always wanted to sign for Town this summer despite nearly joining Championship rivals Birmingham City.
U18s at Palace
Town’s U18s face Crystal Palace at the Eagles’ training ground on Saturday afternoon (KO midday).
Ipswich Town v Sheffield United - Predictions
Have you predicted the Blades score yet? Seventy six per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, 14 per cent a draw and ten per cent an away win. The most commonly predicted result is a 2-1 win to Town with Hirst the first scorer but what do you think?
Gray in New Zealand Squad For U20 World Cup
Blues keeper Henry Gray has been named in the New Zealand squad for the U20 World Cup which gets under way in Chile later this month.
Akpom: Time to Kick On From Now
Town forward Chuba Akpom believes the Blues’ slow start to the season is not a cause for concern ahead of Friday’s match against Sheffield United at Portman Road.
Town Host Table-Propping Blades Targeting First Win
Town host bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United live on Sky on Friday evening looking to bring a number of unwanted records to an end (KO 8pm).
[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
McKenna: I Can See the Thinking Behind Play-Off Expansion Proposal
Town manager Kieran McKenna says he can see the thinking behind the proposal to extend the Championship play-offs to six clubs.
McKenna: International Break Has Been Beneficial
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says the international break has been useful to help some of the recent signings settle in, however, with a number of regular starters away it wasn’t possible to do too much directly working towards Friday’s home game against Sheffield United.
McKenna: The Next Challenge is Building a Team Supporters Enjoy Watching and Are Proud Of
Town boss Kieran McKenna says the challenge is now to build a team that the club’s supporters can enjoy watching and be proud of following a “difficult” transfer window in which the squad underwent greater change than had been anticipated.