It is clear that Paul Jewell has totally lost any kind of meaningful influence over our fortunes, the loanees were the last throw of the dice and perhaps some kind of admittance from Marcus Evans that he also got it wrong and didn't back Jewell in the transfer window like he should have done.

However, the signings of Richie Wellens and Nigel Reo-Coker smack of real desperation for me. They're not players we need or fill obvious gaps in our squad and they're not players who will be here beyond their current short-term deals.

They are simply an attempt at a quick fix, a gamble on a shot in the arm like Keith Andrews. Stephen Henderson on the other hand looks no better than Scott Loach on last night's evidence and I am totally disgusted that he is at our club.

It is clear that Loach is weak coming for high balls and needs to communicate better, but we must have known that when we signed him. Let's give him time to improve that area of his game, as in many other areas he is an excellent goalkeeper.

The way he has been treated, scape-goated for a very poor performance, criticised in front of the press and dropped in a knee-jerk reaction, absolutely disgusts me. The guy has been a model professional since he has been here, clearly loves the club, gives his all and wants desperately to succeed here. It's just the latest gaffe in what has now become a long list of disastrous managerial decisions which have defined Paul Jewell's tenure.

We're only a quarter of the way through the season, there is still plenty of time to turn things around. However, it is completely clear that Jewell must go before Saturday, to give us some kind of fighting chance of getting a result.

I don't have much faith in Evans to make the right appointment, but surely the experience of a Mick McCarthy or a Billy Davies would have enough about them to keep us up? I thought the back-end of Roy Keane's tenure was bad, but I always had some hope that we might nick the odd result through hard work.

What's so terrible about our current plight is for me, we have a much better squad than we did then and we try to play a much better brand of football, yet there is very little evidence of the coaching staff being able to correct any of the shocking errors in our defensive play and Paul Jewell makes so many poor decisions it beggars belief.

I feel like a fan in mourning. There is almost nothing left of the football club that I fell in love with during the 90s. There has been a lot of talk of tipping points over the last few years, but I really do feel that we are now at a tipping point which stretches much further than the managerial position.

Marcus Evans must go back to the drawing board, properly analyse what has gone wrong since he took over the club and ensure we do not make the same mistakes again. However he sees Simon Clegg's performance as chief executive, he has to realise that the current set-up of the manager and coaching staff having no football 'sounding board' above them simply does not work.

Whether we replace Clegg or bring in an additional executive, the management structure of this football club badly needs a facelift. Somebody who can say "hang on a minute, Ingimarsson is clearly past it", somebody who can say "we need to sign a right-back, as Edwards's positional play is our Achilles' heel". Somebody who can work with the manager to reach well-considered decisions, rather than the owner occasionally running things by his football friends who have no vested interest in the success of this football club.

Unless Marcus Evans makes changes, real meaningful changes to the way this football club is run, whoever replaces Paul Jewell will simply be another roll of the dice.

awayfan added 11:51 - Oct 24 Really good blog. I'd perhaps word it slightly differently re. Henderson - can understand why you might be disgusted that Loach was dropped, but that's not quite the same as being totally disgusted that Henderson is at our club (he is just a pro footballer doing what he thinks is right to keep his career moving forward). Agree re. McCarthy/Davies - if either of them would come. All the talk about Curbishley worries me. Thanks for the excellent blog & COYB

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Wickets added 12:07 - Oct 24 Yes i agree with this well written blog, dont think any slurr intended on Henderson just the way management brought him. Lets hope common sense prevails and we can move foward as a club.I very much agree Clegg must go and be replaced by a football man.Mick Mills talks well on Radio Suffolk,respected in the game,Ex England Captain,clearly would love a job at the club mabey he could replace Clegg and for less cash.

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Steve_M added 12:25 - Oct 24 The inherent contradiction in signing two players on season-long loans and then replacing them with two more on short-term loans sums up much that is wrong with ITFC's approach. The manager may have wanted to try for short-term improvement but he should not be given so much leeway.
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prickettboy3 added 12:36 - Oct 24 Good stuff Souper, our frustrations as supporters is well articulated here. Every day I am growing more and more concerned that the powers that be aren't doing anything to change the situation. It was clear 4 weeks ago we needed somebody new at the helm, we are simply wasting time and missing opportunities by stalling further.
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algarvefan added 12:59 - Oct 24 Clegg will not be replaced by Mick Mills or anyone else. he is Evans man on the inside to do his bidding. Evans for me is the problem and any of the managers mentioned are indeed just 'another throw of the dice'. Good blog too the point!
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naa added 13:03 - Oct 24 Agree with the blog, if not the slightly strong wording. The current loan deals have just shown how desperate Jewell has been to try ot fix things, but he's thinking too hard and we needed some stability, not constant change. As such, Evans needs to completely reconsider his approach when Jewell inevtiably leaves. Getting in managers with past success hasn't worked so far, and nor has getting in loads of players on medium priced contracts. We need to go back to youth, risks from the lower leagues and one or two experienced loans. As for manager, I'd be happy with someone young and hungry, but I have to admit that a) it would be a risk and b) I don;'t actually know of any!

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Wickets added 15:56 - Oct 24 Why is Evans at fault? ok things have not turned out as we would all wish but he has pumped loads of his wealth into the club,perhaps his appointment of Clegg was not the best but thats said with hindsight.
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