Trust is a funny thing, it takes years to develop and in extreme circumstances, minutes to end. Whether that's in a relationship, a friendship or in a commercial setting, when it breaks down it is simply time to move on.

And let's be clear, it's broken. Not because Mark Ashton hosted Nigel Farage, that's his business who he chooses to dine with. His political views and leanings are his business just as previous owner Marcus Evans's political allegiances were his business.

But Ashton has lost the trust of many for one simple reason, the evidence which has emerged over the last 24 hours appears to indicate that the club lied. The club appears to have gaslit the fanbase and misled journalists all in a desperate attempt to hide the truth of how it was Nigel Farage came to make a Reform PR video at Portman Road.

The silence from the club spoke volumes, it shone a light on the fact that clearly something was amiss. Why not simply apologise for allowing a political party to use Portman Road? Why not admit the error, apologise and commit to do better?

We now know why, multiple sources have spoken to the press and it's clear that, contrary to the club’s version of events, Ashton was fully aware of Farage's visit to Portman Road, and even facilitated it according to some reports. Maybe he knew what Farage planned, maybe he didn't. But it was dishonest to mislead the press and fans.

Ashton has shown in that simple act he is not fit to be CEO of our club. We expect a number of things that are clearly lacking. Competence, integrity and honesty.

He's made one fantastic decision (recruiting Kieran McKenna) and piggy-backed that for years. Yep, we have invested in the club infrastructure, anyone could see that was needed.

But we have also lost countless staff from our academy operation. Experienced staff with years of knowledge of our club.

And look at how he has failed to engage constructively with Blue Action. It is now coming out how he actually threatened them with being banned from "my stadium". The arrogance and ego shining through in that one phrase.

On its own, a series of questionable decisions shouldn't mean we should sack him.

But ongoing fan disunity, players unhappy, sponsors unhappy and future player recruitment will now be harder. Those all are football matters and that is damaging our club and will impact us for years if unresolved.

The alternative is a slow car crash. The impact of this week doesn't blow over, the damage is done and will remain until the cause is removed. Until the break-up is complete.

The vile abuse received by anyone who has spoken out on social media shows just how divided the fanbase (and society) is. The way forward is simple, get rid, do it quickly and then unite behind the team.

Anyone who thinks Ashton is the man to unite the fanbase is deluded. Bang on all you want about fans being 'wet wipes' etc, but the fans have every right to object to our club bring used by a political party for PR and more importantly, for being lied to.

The fans have every right to expect honesty and integrity in all club communications.

For many the trust is gone and the only way that ends is for Ashton to leave. One way or another his time is surely up.

Maltster added 15:47 - Mar 30 Bluelagos seems to have lost its way.Time to wind it up and donate any funds to charity!
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bluelagos added 16:09 - Mar 30 @SaxonBlue - thanks for clarifying.
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captaincrunch added 19:39 - Mar 30 Churchmans missing the point again. Are you like this in real life?
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KBsSocks added 23:52 - Mar 30 "captaincrunch added 19:39 - Mar 30 XYZ missing the point again. Are you like this in real life?" captaincrunch missing the point again ... are you like this (etc) ?
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Edmundo added 13:47 - Mar 31 I think it's time for a new Chairman: preferably someone "Ipswich" through and through, who can oversee and hold our CEO to account. However, for Ashton to do that would require a massive amount of humble pie digestion. I think personally he'd rather walk. Therein lies a big problem.
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captaincrunch added 18:42 - Mar 31 KB if you are trying to be clever it has not worked. Ironically you missed the point yourself about the point being missed.The guy I was responding to seems to deliberately ignore the message on purpose in order to attack his political opponents and then bangs on about how morally good he is. If you are trying to say I have missed the point then why don't you say what it is rather than posting a totally useless comment? At least I had made a point in the first place. Where is your response? OK so not everyone is going to have the brainpower to understand it but at least be more self aware. If you are the kind of person who can't keep up then why attract negative attention to yourself by behaving badly when you expose yourself? Missing the point is one thing but how you act afterwards will be amplified by it. Anyway do what you want its just helpful advice. The real tragedy here is that very few seem interested in being civilised. I would have thought there would be more of an outcry for attacking political opponents than having a politician do a publicity stunt. I guess that makes us the real a$$holes rather than the CEO. Don't critiscise him when you are more like Hitler than Farage is meant to be. Just saying!

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KBsSocks added 04:05 - Apr 2 "captaincrunch added 18:42 - Mar 31 KB if you are trying to be clever it has not worked. Ironically you missed the point yourself about the point being missed..." Hm. This is recursive.
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KBsSocks added 04:14 - Apr 2 Anyway, Captain Crunch, just to respond to your post: I am CC, Hot Air Hot Air Hot Air No Substance Bluster More Hot Air. I WIN the argument because I have said whole lot of nothing and this is the final word on the matter. My response - sorry, I am not engaging with Hot Air, and you will not have the last word.
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