| Academy issues? 12:54 - May 27 with 12152 views | portmanking |
Tweet by the ITKer/sh*t stirrer on X 'misssuffolkblue':
"Suffolk lad and ex ITFC coach. Interesting appointment, but bigger news on the horizon when one of our greatest coaches is set to join them as well to work in their academy after numerous fall outs with Ashton over the lack of funding into our academy".
Lack of funding into academy? How does that compute with a Category 1 bid? And who is the 'greatest coach'?!
EDIT: Initial sentence is talking about Manning to the scum. [Post edited 27 May 12:57]
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| Academy issues? on 21:29 - May 27 with 1917 views | Reuser_is_God |
| Academy issues? on 20:28 - May 27 by sjg |
Because there’s no need to pay for a season ticket when you get a complimentary one with your job, which he had for 3 years (so before season ticket wait list) |
That’s just an unfortunate circumstance to be honest. [Post edited 27 May 21:29]
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| Academy issues? on 21:31 - May 27 with 1896 views | Illinoisblue |
| Academy issues? on 20:09 - May 27 by EEJB |
A relatively close friend of mine has been an ITFC academy coach for a number of years.
Over that last 3 years he has been concerned about his salary, barely above minimum, and spoken to Ashton about it a number of times.
He has constantly been ignored resulting in him handing his notice in and moving onto a higher paid role at a lower "ranking" club.
Ashton has now cancelled his season ticket, and also the ticket of his partner.
Things aren't great around the academy. |
A free ST for partners of relatively low-ranking employees? Seems generous. Maybe all clubs do this? |  |
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| Academy issues? on 21:32 - May 27 with 1890 views | Swansea_Blue |
Worth bearing in mind that Narwich haven’t got a lot to piss in, so if there is a fall out it’s likely to be due to more than money. There’s no way they have more money than us to invest. |  |
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| Academy issues? on 21:35 - May 27 with 1853 views | sjg |
| Academy issues? on 21:32 - May 27 by Swansea_Blue |
Worth bearing in mind that Narwich haven’t got a lot to piss in, so if there is a fall out it’s likely to be due to more than money. There’s no way they have more money than us to invest. |
They also have leas need to invest as their existing facilities are better than ours | | | |
| Academy issues? on 21:36 - May 27 with 1860 views | SomethingBlue |
| Academy issues? on 21:32 - May 27 by Swansea_Blue |
Worth bearing in mind that Narwich haven’t got a lot to piss in, so if there is a fall out it’s likely to be due to more than money. There’s no way they have more money than us to invest. |
Certainly less cash available to them now .... but I wouldn't necessarily sleep on Norwich next season (or beyond), the guys running the show there now are smart & well backed, and will ultimately get it right. | |
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| Academy issues? on 21:41 - May 27 with 1802 views | itfc_statman |
| Academy issues? on 21:32 - May 27 by Swansea_Blue |
Worth bearing in mind that Narwich haven’t got a lot to piss in, so if there is a fall out it’s likely to be due to more than money. There’s no way they have more money than us to invest. |
Like every bloody club at this level they have billionaire owners. | | | |
| Academy issues? on 21:44 - May 27 with 1766 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Academy issues? on 21:35 - May 27 by sjg |
They also have leas need to invest as their existing facilities are better than ours |
A fair comment, and of course already cat 1 | | | |
| Academy issues? on 21:52 - May 27 with 1722 views | textbackup |
There’s always been the romantic side to bringing through your own, but lets be honest, it’s not exactly been a constant churn of players ready to go into the first team. I think our academy has been a bit hyped up for a number of years.
We are in a position now to have money to spend, so I kind of get if there isn’t a focus on spending X millions a year funding it.
Anyway BK goes to them, takes a wedge, retires, puts them back 10 years. It’s his plan. |  |
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| Academy issues? on 22:31 - May 27 with 1587 views | itfc48 |
| Academy issues? on 20:09 - May 27 by EEJB |
A relatively close friend of mine has been an ITFC academy coach for a number of years.
Over that last 3 years he has been concerned about his salary, barely above minimum, and spoken to Ashton about it a number of times.
He has constantly been ignored resulting in him handing his notice in and moving onto a higher paid role at a lower "ranking" club.
Ashton has now cancelled his season ticket, and also the ticket of his partner.
Things aren't great around the academy. |
Given the size of the club now Ashton shouldn’t be getting involved here. You’d think he’d set the Academy budget and then give the senior staff in the Academy the autonomy to set wage levels as long as they kept within their budget. It seems pointless running the Academy if we don’t invest in good coaches. | | | |
| Academy issues? on 22:47 - May 27 with 1502 views | ITFCBlues |
| Academy issues? on 21:36 - May 27 by SomethingBlue |
Certainly less cash available to them now .... but I wouldn't necessarily sleep on Norwich next season (or beyond), the guys running the show there now are smart & well backed, and will ultimately get it right. |
Doesn't matter how well you're backed, you can't spend it! |  |
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| Academy issues? on 23:00 - May 27 with 1450 views | StNeotsBlue |
| Academy issues? on 22:47 - May 27 by ITFCBlues |
Doesn't matter how well you're backed, you can't spend it! |
You can towards the Academy though and sadly they've got a head start on us for now. |  | | |
| Academy issues? on 07:28 - May 28 with 1172 views | Bluespeed225 |
| Academy issues? on 14:00 - May 27 by SuffolkPunchFC |
Not sure what your point is?
Last season Norwich invested £4.8 in ALL infrastructure, including new first team recovery facilities which can't have been cheap. They 'hide' their academy investment in that figure, so I can imagine the academy figure is less than £3M (maybe significantly).
Last season we put £3.8M into the academy (explicitly academy only), a figure that has increased significantly since the owners took over. I'm sure the figure will increase again for this season just ending, and will continue to grow (especially given the new facilities being developed).
So where is the investment incentive to move from Town to the budgies? |
They have an airport and a cathedral, plus you might get to bump into undercover Blue Becky Jago. | | | |
| Academy issues? on 07:39 - May 28 with 1150 views | Churchman |
| Academy issues? on 20:54 - May 27 by bluesbrothers |
Ashton widely disliked for what it’s worth |
The CEO isn’t there to be liked. The big question: is he respected? Can he do the job? Is the environment a good one? It wasn’t under Evans. Is it now?
I don’t know the bloke and don’t wish to. On the face of it I don’t think he’s somebody I’d wish to work for. However, unless you actually do, you just don’t know.
I had that experience with a few bosses in my career. Two of them had horrendous reputations (both very ‘driven’ difficult people), but I worked really well with them and grew to like them too.
Sometimes people get reputations because those with an axe to grind are the noisiest. It’s always best to take as you find and be cautious about slagging off comments. Sometimes they have substance, sometimes not.
Back to the main point, if the owners are serious about the club’s future, it will do more with the Academy. A lot more. As for Klug? Been good for the club but time moves on. We’ve produced little in a long time and things need to change. |  | | |
| Academy issues? on 07:39 - May 28 with 1150 views | itfc_statman |
Ignoring the Norwich bit which is clearly going to frustrated because it's them, the focus should be on why our staff in the Academy are so frustrated and none have a nice word to say about Ashton.
It is the regular problem with owners who are looking for a return though. Many of them ignore the academy. Which is fine whilst they're bankrolling the club but one day they won't be.
Also, football at it's core has always had an element of enjoyment from watching one of your own.
If we are successful on the pitch most won't actually care but the moment we aren't... | | | |
| Academy issues? on 07:50 - May 28 with 1097 views | chicoazul |
If they could shut the Academy they surely would. As someone else ITT alludes to it’s basically an expensive hobby with pretty much zero output. But I pray to the old gods and the new that Bryan doesn’t go there, he truly is part of the furniture. |  |
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| Academy issues? on 08:08 - May 28 with 1039 views | ITFCBlues |
| Academy issues? on 07:39 - May 28 by itfc_statman |
Ignoring the Norwich bit which is clearly going to frustrated because it's them, the focus should be on why our staff in the Academy are so frustrated and none have a nice word to say about Ashton.
It is the regular problem with owners who are looking for a return though. Many of them ignore the academy. Which is fine whilst they're bankrolling the club but one day they won't be.
Also, football at it's core has always had an element of enjoyment from watching one of your own.
If we are successful on the pitch most won't actually care but the moment we aren't... |
The owners are pushing for Cat 1, I'm not sure that says they're not interested in the academy as that comes with additional costs? | |
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| Academy issues? on 08:38 - May 28 with 986 views | MattinLondon |
This thread is quite odd with some posters getting a massive hard-on with every supposed slice of negativity which appears - usually by someone ITK who probably isn’t.
The owners and MA have repeatedly stated that they want the club to have Cat 1 status - that’s the aim and that’s what they are going for.
If BK leaves then he leaves. |  | | |
| Academy issues? on 08:41 - May 28 with 972 views | Bobbychase |
| Academy issues? on 21:52 - May 27 by textbackup |
There’s always been the romantic side to bringing through your own, but lets be honest, it’s not exactly been a constant churn of players ready to go into the first team. I think our academy has been a bit hyped up for a number of years.
We are in a position now to have money to spend, so I kind of get if there isn’t a focus on spending X millions a year funding it.
Anyway BK goes to them, takes a wedge, retires, puts them back 10 years. It’s his plan. |
You wonder if Ashton looks at the Academy's performance over the past decade and questions why it has produced very little in terms of players who go on to make the first team. |  |
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| Academy issues? on 08:53 - May 28 with 922 views | itfctilidie |
| Academy issues? on 21:52 - May 27 by textbackup |
There’s always been the romantic side to bringing through your own, but lets be honest, it’s not exactly been a constant churn of players ready to go into the first team. I think our academy has been a bit hyped up for a number of years.
We are in a position now to have money to spend, so I kind of get if there isn’t a focus on spending X millions a year funding it.
Anyway BK goes to them, takes a wedge, retires, puts them back 10 years. It’s his plan. |
The reality is, in last few years Sudbury have produced more players up the pyramid than us- so no great loss. Had his hay day in the late 90s and produced very little since. |  | | |
| Academy issues? on 09:11 - May 28 with 837 views | Churchman |
| Academy issues? on 07:39 - May 28 by itfc_statman |
Ignoring the Norwich bit which is clearly going to frustrated because it's them, the focus should be on why our staff in the Academy are so frustrated and none have a nice word to say about Ashton.
It is the regular problem with owners who are looking for a return though. Many of them ignore the academy. Which is fine whilst they're bankrolling the club but one day they won't be.
Also, football at it's core has always had an element of enjoyment from watching one of your own.
If we are successful on the pitch most won't actually care but the moment we aren't... |
Given how little has come out of the academy any staff who are disgruntled with the club, CEO or Bluey should take a look at themselves first. Ok, Humphreys might make a player and Woolfenden certainly is, but in terms of what we’ve had out of it? Not a lot compared to others.
Yes, the owners are bankrolling the club and Academy isn’t their focus. Let’s be honest, it’s been nobody’s focus since GBs time 25 years ango and that reflects in who has come through and what the club has had back in transfer fees. It’s a long time since Rhodes and co.
I do think players who come through the club often invest more into it, but not all. In recent years anyone decent is picked off for £2.50 and a packet of twiglets. Basically, invest in it and gain Cat 1 and do it properly or accept it’s a waste of money. Just go for foreign players, who many on here are keen to see done, or bring in other club’s throw outs that might have a chance - a sort of short form academy.
Personally, I think a proper functioning successful academy is very important. Also from a community aspect, if they are serious about that, I think it has a role to play in that too. | | | |
| Academy issues? on 09:29 - May 28 with 773 views | textbackup |
| Academy issues? on 08:41 - May 28 by Bobbychase |
You wonder if Ashton looks at the Academy's performance over the past decade and questions why it has produced very little in terms of players who go on to make the first team. |
Thats sort of how I see it.
Would be amazing to see a first 11 with starters from Chantry, Whitton, kesgrave, Woodbridge plying… but the reality is (and I’m not picking on him here) that we can spend £1m on a player like AAH to be a project.
So many players fail to make the cut at bigger clubs, end up in L1/Champ then get snapped up. That’s probably where we are going to end up shopping.
It’s sad for the supporters who have that love and passion for the academy though, so I understand their worries | |
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| You've put renewing in italics on 09:39 - May 28 with 721 views | Dyland |
| Academy issues? on 20:14 - May 27 by EEJB |
Yeah, they wanted (and offered) to pay for them, but were told they couldn't.
Effectively banned from "renewing". They are both Town fans. |
Because it ain't renewing is it :)
Those STs will presumably be used for other employees. You can't have a system where whenever someone leaves the employ of ITFC that can choose to pay for a season ticket! It's unfortunate demand has outsripped supply whilst they were in the job but that's merely that, unfortunate. Doesn't sound like they've been malicoiusly treated, which was kind of the inference from your op...
On the topic of Ashton though, as others have said it's not his job to be popular but rather make ITFC a more valuable asset than at purchase and/or provide strong revenue streams for the investors. And this is, imo, very unfortunate about football these days, but the fact is that either clubs are run as "ruthless" businesses i.e. profit and margin are the number one priority, or they are run with the vague notion that enough supporters will accept medicrity or worse as long as there's a strong community element e.g. an academy churning out decent performers. I think the latter is a pipe dream quite frankly. Tis a shame but hey ho, that's where we are, having unregulated professional sports as tools for making money. [Post edited 28 May 9:49]
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| Academy issues? on 09:42 - May 28 with 685 views | itfc_statman |
| Academy issues? on 09:11 - May 28 by Churchman |
Given how little has come out of the academy any staff who are disgruntled with the club, CEO or Bluey should take a look at themselves first. Ok, Humphreys might make a player and Woolfenden certainly is, but in terms of what we’ve had out of it? Not a lot compared to others.
Yes, the owners are bankrolling the club and Academy isn’t their focus. Let’s be honest, it’s been nobody’s focus since GBs time 25 years ango and that reflects in who has come through and what the club has had back in transfer fees. It’s a long time since Rhodes and co.
I do think players who come through the club often invest more into it, but not all. In recent years anyone decent is picked off for £2.50 and a packet of twiglets. Basically, invest in it and gain Cat 1 and do it properly or accept it’s a waste of money. Just go for foreign players, who many on here are keen to see done, or bring in other club’s throw outs that might have a chance - a sort of short form academy.
Personally, I think a proper functioning successful academy is very important. Also from a community aspect, if they are serious about that, I think it has a role to play in that too. |
Agree very little out of it, but a bit chicken-and-egg isn't it? The Academy has been demonstrably ignored and under-funded for so long, putting us behind local rivals and other clubs at Championship level. That then takes time just to catch-up let alone overtake any of them.
I suspect the likes of Klug and co have then seen us spend circa £130 million on players and are wondering why £4 or £5 million can't come in the way of the academy to really enable them to move forwards. | | | |
| Academy issues? on 09:46 - May 28 with 646 views | itfcjoe |
| Academy issues? on 08:41 - May 28 by Bobbychase |
You wonder if Ashton looks at the Academy's performance over the past decade and questions why it has produced very little in terms of players who go on to make the first team. |
The academy was cut back a few years back and whilst funding has returned there’s not really seemingly any coherence to it currently.
All the Ipswich lot at top of academy have been pushed out - Nash, Atay, Hogg, Dyer, etc. Faces didn’t fit in new regime and they knew never would - it happens
Then Dean Wright has come into run the academy, from Norwich. Brought a load of his staff with him especially on scouting and tried to rip it up and start again but by basically discarding the whole of Suffolk and looking for big bruising 14 year olds from London when recruitment relaxes distance wise
He then left
We’ve now got Hlajko, he’s got his own ideas - from what I gather it’s tapping into the areas Col U were strong in - Brentwood, Billericay etc and going toe to toe with West Ham, or trying and failing too…but from what I gather he isn’t going to be long for this role here so we’ll need someone else in to come in with their own ideas
It’s a pretty haphazard way to run things, so think new owners take some criticism there.
At younger levels where I know parents of boys in it, or in local football, Norwich are still absolutely streets ahead, Col U still dominate in that fertile South Essex and London area and we just go backwards in recruitment and losing staff at key lower levels who aren’t happy |  |
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| So what you're saying is on 09:51 - May 28 with 598 views | Dyland |
| Academy issues? on 09:46 - May 28 by itfcjoe |
The academy was cut back a few years back and whilst funding has returned there’s not really seemingly any coherence to it currently.
All the Ipswich lot at top of academy have been pushed out - Nash, Atay, Hogg, Dyer, etc. Faces didn’t fit in new regime and they knew never would - it happens
Then Dean Wright has come into run the academy, from Norwich. Brought a load of his staff with him especially on scouting and tried to rip it up and start again but by basically discarding the whole of Suffolk and looking for big bruising 14 year olds from London when recruitment relaxes distance wise
He then left
We’ve now got Hlajko, he’s got his own ideas - from what I gather it’s tapping into the areas Col U were strong in - Brentwood, Billericay etc and going toe to toe with West Ham, or trying and failing too…but from what I gather he isn’t going to be long for this role here so we’ll need someone else in to come in with their own ideas
It’s a pretty haphazard way to run things, so think new owners take some criticism there.
At younger levels where I know parents of boys in it, or in local football, Norwich are still absolutely streets ahead, Col U still dominate in that fertile South Essex and London area and we just go backwards in recruitment and losing staff at key lower levels who aren’t happy |
It's going really well yeh?
:) | |
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