| Ashton interview in the EADT 13:07 - May 30 with 7554 views | Illinoisblue |
Not behind the paywall. Nothing really earth-shattering. We went up quicker than expected and got spat out by the prem machine. |  |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 20:32 - May 30 with 1582 views | blueoutlook |
Got his pants pulled down and his backside proper spanked over the Delap transfer. He really can’t be happy about that. Will be secretly smarting for a while. Will be very bullish over it if the media even dare ask him about it. |  | | |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 20:44 - May 30 with 1526 views | lazyblue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 20:32 - May 30 by blueoutlook |
Got his pants pulled down and his backside proper spanked over the Delap transfer. He really can’t be happy about that. Will be secretly smarting for a while. Will be very bullish over it if the media even dare ask him about it. |
Delap obviously wanted clause so he could move on if relegated, to get him we had to agree this otherwise he would have been at Southampton . Who would have thought Delap would be as good as was for us hence the difference with release clause for Omari as Omari was seen as the better player in the championship . |  | | |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 22:05 - May 30 with 1409 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 13:15 - May 30 by LankHenners |
Made me laugh when I read that. Perhaps the most Mark Ashton thing Mark Ashton has ever said. |
He’s so David Brent.
And yet I think it’s great we’ve got someone like that who seems so utterly obsessed by our club. Compare it to the Ev**s era and we’d have given everything to have someone talk about us with such pride, hunger and desire. |  |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 22:25 - May 30 with 1369 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 17:24 - May 30 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Did it seem just a PR exercise to you? Almost tying to show they're are not hiding away after a terrible 2025 but without really saying anything tbh.
Fair enough I guess but looking forward to this transfer window! Business starts now. |
He’s a good salesman, and a bit Alan Partridge at times, but I can’t think of what else he could say. The togetherness and drive seem genuine - they’re not just hollow words. |  |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 00:06 - May 31 with 1290 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
"So near, yet so far campaign".....
.....not sure about that narrative for this season. |  |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 01:57 - May 31 with 1246 views | TheBoyBlue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 20:32 - May 30 by blueoutlook |
Got his pants pulled down and his backside proper spanked over the Delap transfer. He really can’t be happy about that. Will be secretly smarting for a while. Will be very bullish over it if the media even dare ask him about it. |
He managed to get us a player who potentially could've kept us in the Premier League and got us a profit on that. I think he'll survive. | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 06:36 - May 31 with 1153 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 00:06 - May 31 by Marshalls_Mullet |
"So near, yet so far campaign".....
.....not sure about that narrative for this season. |
That obviously isn't the narrative for this season. |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 07:25 - May 31 with 1080 views | Churchman |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 20:32 - May 30 by blueoutlook |
Got his pants pulled down and his backside proper spanked over the Delap transfer. He really can’t be happy about that. Will be secretly smarting for a while. Will be very bullish over it if the media even dare ask him about it. |
Why don’t you ask him about it? Email, letter, whatever - go for it! And let us know his response.
I suggest you use your belittling metaphor/cliche - that should get his attention. You might also suggest what he did wrong and how you’d have done the deal. You never know, you might get offered a job as head of recruitment.
Back to the OP, I don’t think the ‘interview’ says much. Beyond the usual Ashton speak ‘We are all hurting and striving to do better but proud at how the club presented itself and hung together’ just about covers it.
I actually think the club did well with the infrastructure preparation in a short space of time. Not everything. For example I don’t think the ST holder movement from the East Stand was handled too well from a comms perspective. By and large, a good 8/10 from me. Despite an old ground, the club looked smart. Premier League.
Recruitment strategy, what went well, what didn’t, how it worked, where the club stands financially is something I’d like to know, but they are never going to be too forthcoming on that.
The reality is we fell a mile short of surviving. Why and what can we do better should there be a next time? The club needs to be honest with itself, even if it delivers PR spin to the plebs like me.
I don’t want us to go through another season like that. No point. There’s been a few in my time watching ITFC and the experience doesn’t improve with age. |  | | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 08:15 - May 31 with 982 views | le2blue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 07:25 - May 31 by Churchman |
Why don’t you ask him about it? Email, letter, whatever - go for it! And let us know his response.
I suggest you use your belittling metaphor/cliche - that should get his attention. You might also suggest what he did wrong and how you’d have done the deal. You never know, you might get offered a job as head of recruitment.
Back to the OP, I don’t think the ‘interview’ says much. Beyond the usual Ashton speak ‘We are all hurting and striving to do better but proud at how the club presented itself and hung together’ just about covers it.
I actually think the club did well with the infrastructure preparation in a short space of time. Not everything. For example I don’t think the ST holder movement from the East Stand was handled too well from a comms perspective. By and large, a good 8/10 from me. Despite an old ground, the club looked smart. Premier League.
Recruitment strategy, what went well, what didn’t, how it worked, where the club stands financially is something I’d like to know, but they are never going to be too forthcoming on that.
The reality is we fell a mile short of surviving. Why and what can we do better should there be a next time? The club needs to be honest with itself, even if it delivers PR spin to the plebs like me.
I don’t want us to go through another season like that. No point. There’s been a few in my time watching ITFC and the experience doesn’t improve with age. |
interview continues here, talking FACT and Delap: https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/25203411.ipswich-town-mark-ashton-liam-delap-relega |  | | |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 08:57 - May 31 with 875 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
As I, and many others, have been saying all along - we had no choice but to accept Delap's release clause and City's sell-on clause, and we DO have our own sell-on clause for the future.
I'd like to think the twits banging on about Ashton having his pants pulled down will STFU now, but I won't hold my breath. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 09:17 - May 31 with 842 views | Churchman |
Thanks for posting that. In general terms it confirms what those, shall we say, with a more balanced approach guessed. | | | |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 09:50 - May 31 with 767 views | pointofblue |
My only concern is that Ashton - and even McKenna to an extent - is so busy trying to kiss his own backside he's failing to acknowledge things which went wrong this season which needs to be analysed. He did touch on hindsight, and I get his point, but it can still be learned from. Hopefully behind closed doors this is taking place because, in public interviews, it feels very self-satisfied and defensive. | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:16 - May 31 with 726 views | Churchman |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 09:50 - May 31 by pointofblue |
My only concern is that Ashton - and even McKenna to an extent - is so busy trying to kiss his own backside he's failing to acknowledge things which went wrong this season which needs to be analysed. He did touch on hindsight, and I get his point, but it can still be learned from. Hopefully behind closed doors this is taking place because, in public interviews, it feels very self-satisfied and defensive. |
I suspect what’s played out in public is very different to what happens behind closed doors. Any notion that he and McKenna are in denial or dreamland governed by their own egos is surely challenged by them being answerable to the club’s owners.
The finance bloke said ages ago in front of MA about CEOs - ‘don’t p£ss on my boots and tell me it’s raining’. I expect the CEO will have a very uncomfortable time in front of the owners and rightly so. | | | |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:19 - May 31 with 718 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 09:50 - May 31 by pointofblue |
My only concern is that Ashton - and even McKenna to an extent - is so busy trying to kiss his own backside he's failing to acknowledge things which went wrong this season which needs to be analysed. He did touch on hindsight, and I get his point, but it can still be learned from. Hopefully behind closed doors this is taking place because, in public interviews, it feels very self-satisfied and defensive. |
Did you see the first part of the interview? He literally says there are things they'd have done differently. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:22 - May 31 with 708 views | Vic |
“Could things have been done differently? We learn every single day. I certainly do. My team certainly does. Kieran certainly does. And I think hindsight's always a wonderful thing. We're mid-morning now and I could look back at this morning and say there's three things I would have done differently.
“I think I'd rather focus on the amount of things that we've done right. And I think the amount of things that we've done right certainly outweighs things that we would have done differently."
Brent’esk it might be but what a great attitude! There’s always mistakes and always things to learn - but never lose sight of what you’ve done or achieved each day. I prefer looking at life that way! |  |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:32 - May 31 with 693 views | pointofblue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:19 - May 31 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Did you see the first part of the interview? He literally says there are things they'd have done differently. |
Henced I referenced the comment about hindsight. But he follows it up by stating he prefers to focus on the positives, rather than acknowledging and learning from the negatives. Although, as I say, hopefully it's happening even if not being said. | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:36 - May 31 with 683 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:32 - May 31 by pointofblue |
Henced I referenced the comment about hindsight. But he follows it up by stating he prefers to focus on the positives, rather than acknowledging and learning from the negatives. Although, as I say, hopefully it's happening even if not being said. |
You seem to be desperately searching for negatives. Why?
OBVIOUSLY they'll be learning from what went wrong. He's aknowledged that, but like anyone communicating to the fan base via the press, he's OBVIOUSLY putting a positive spin and looking forward. He prefers to focus on the positives when talking to Stuart Watson, and therefore us. That doesn't mean internally they're not looking at what they did wrong and/or can improve on going forward, or that Ashton won't critique himself.
I'm not sure why any of this needs saying never mind pouring over and picking apart. What are you worried about exactly? [Post edited 31 May 10:40]
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| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 11:05 - May 31 with 647 views | pointofblue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 10:36 - May 31 by The_Flashing_Smile |
You seem to be desperately searching for negatives. Why?
OBVIOUSLY they'll be learning from what went wrong. He's aknowledged that, but like anyone communicating to the fan base via the press, he's OBVIOUSLY putting a positive spin and looking forward. He prefers to focus on the positives when talking to Stuart Watson, and therefore us. That doesn't mean internally they're not looking at what they did wrong and/or can improve on going forward, or that Ashton won't critique himself.
I'm not sure why any of this needs saying never mind pouring over and picking apart. What are you worried about exactly? [Post edited 31 May 10:40]
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Guess I'm worried the club is on a set path - albeit far better than the one we were on under Evans - and any evolution will be tied into this approach. The interview is a load of soundbites and little vision. The "Premier League clubs said we couldn't do more" comment, to me, is to defensive and self-congratulatory as a CEO/chairman of a club which picked up just 22 points and one home win all season.
Fair enough, I'm probably bitter about how things turned out so over-reading and over-thinking. It's not a bad thing the pre-season is basically a month shorter than last year. | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 12:13 - May 31 with 595 views | Nutkins_Return |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 11:05 - May 31 by pointofblue |
Guess I'm worried the club is on a set path - albeit far better than the one we were on under Evans - and any evolution will be tied into this approach. The interview is a load of soundbites and little vision. The "Premier League clubs said we couldn't do more" comment, to me, is to defensive and self-congratulatory as a CEO/chairman of a club which picked up just 22 points and one home win all season.
Fair enough, I'm probably bitter about how things turned out so over-reading and over-thinking. It's not a bad thing the pre-season is basically a month shorter than last year. |
I really can't comprehend your mentality at all. Ashton is cheesy in soundbites and a bit Brent. But he's done an incredible job and the path we are on has been exceptional. We have improved the team every year since the takeover. Yes we got relegated this season as was always likely as it is now clear having seen the Prem but I've said it before we have still progressed the club in terms of our squad and off the field progression as well. So for me every year we have got stronger. Next season is the biggest challenge to that now as we step down a division but there has been nothing to suggest we won't kick on again.
There is no comparison for example with a Luton and how they have a come unstuck. Ashton has been true this word in being relentless and proactive in approach. If you want to pick at it with a fine tooth comb you'll find loads of small errors along the way. We move fast now and we take calculated gambles along the way that our owners allow and fund/mitigate with the money they put in.
I prepared myself for this season and refuse to become entitled or negative about the club when all I see is good people doing good things even if they couldn't do the improbable again this year. | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 12:48 - May 31 with 561 views | Vic |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 11:05 - May 31 by pointofblue |
Guess I'm worried the club is on a set path - albeit far better than the one we were on under Evans - and any evolution will be tied into this approach. The interview is a load of soundbites and little vision. The "Premier League clubs said we couldn't do more" comment, to me, is to defensive and self-congratulatory as a CEO/chairman of a club which picked up just 22 points and one home win all season.
Fair enough, I'm probably bitter about how things turned out so over-reading and over-thinking. It's not a bad thing the pre-season is basically a month shorter than last year. |
What makes you worried the club is on a ‘set path’? Given the trajectory since the owners and MA came in, and the very few mistakes so far I’d say that’s a very good thing. What are your concerns? Where do you see the cracks?
Let’s face it, jus5 about everyone who wasn’t a Town fan predicted us to get relegated, and even most of us said it would be a huge achievement to stay up. So to be relegated isn’t such a big surprise is it? Sure there are things to take away and address - but even if we’d stayed up that would be the case.
Let’s not be too critical - pretty much everything the club has done over the last 3 years has turned to gold. I reckon we should trust them until there are clear and obvious signs that they are getting things wrong | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 13:17 - May 31 with 531 views | pointofblue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 12:48 - May 31 by Vic |
What makes you worried the club is on a ‘set path’? Given the trajectory since the owners and MA came in, and the very few mistakes so far I’d say that’s a very good thing. What are your concerns? Where do you see the cracks?
Let’s face it, jus5 about everyone who wasn’t a Town fan predicted us to get relegated, and even most of us said it would be a huge achievement to stay up. So to be relegated isn’t such a big surprise is it? Sure there are things to take away and address - but even if we’d stayed up that would be the case.
Let’s not be too critical - pretty much everything the club has done over the last 3 years has turned to gold. I reckon we should trust them until there are clear and obvious signs that they are getting things wrong |
For me, the issues are the academy - either we should go full in for Category One or do a Brentford and basically ditch it as IMO it's in limbo right now - and it'd be nice to hear about development of international scouting, even if it's just the planning stage.
I don't even the most negative of fans expected just one home win this season. Or we'd finish on less points than Luton. Thee is still a difference is simply going down and the manner of going down. | |
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| Ashton interview in the EADT on 13:35 - May 31 with 503 views | Churchman |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 12:48 - May 31 by Vic |
What makes you worried the club is on a ‘set path’? Given the trajectory since the owners and MA came in, and the very few mistakes so far I’d say that’s a very good thing. What are your concerns? Where do you see the cracks?
Let’s face it, jus5 about everyone who wasn’t a Town fan predicted us to get relegated, and even most of us said it would be a huge achievement to stay up. So to be relegated isn’t such a big surprise is it? Sure there are things to take away and address - but even if we’d stayed up that would be the case.
Let’s not be too critical - pretty much everything the club has done over the last 3 years has turned to gold. I reckon we should trust them until there are clear and obvious signs that they are getting things wrong |
No, I don’t think too much criticism is justified, especially on things people know little about such as transfer dealings - unless you are a chartered accountant of course 😃.
Of course they’ve got things wrong. If they haven’t, they’ve not been doing anything. It’s what you do next that always counts, including not repeating mistakes. | | | |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 14:11 - May 31 with 467 views | HighgateBlue |
It would be interesting to know what the main things are that he would have done differently, and how he would have done them differently.That might give us a fair amount of confidence that (a) things will be better next time, and (b) there will be a next time. |  | | |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 14:21 - May 31 with 447 views | pointofblue |
| Ashton interview in the EADT on 14:11 - May 31 by HighgateBlue |
It would be interesting to know what the main things are that he would have done differently, and how he would have done them differently.That might give us a fair amount of confidence that (a) things will be better next time, and (b) there will be a next time. |
You've put it much better than me. | |
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