| So Mark Ashton, where are you? 11:25 - Mar 26 with 3700 views | LegendofthePhoenix |
It's nearing Thursday lunchtime, and no word from you.
You are the man at the top, you are the voice of Ipswich Town FC. Many of us are waiting for, and needing, a full explanation and contrite apology. Does that sit within "Running Towards Adversity"?
Just so you know, I have been a regular at Portman Road since before you were born. I've been to 40+ football grounds come rain, shine, snow, ice, fog over land and sea. I've bought the shirts, jackets, brought up my kids to support Ipswich. It's been a massive part of my life for nigh on 6 decades.
I am now ashamed to wear anything that says ITFC. I don't want to be called a racist or a fascist. I am embarrassed about the club that's been a big part of my life ever since I can remember. Do you think it's ok for you to sit in silence and not explain to me and many like me what your thought processes were to allow a far right party to use ITFC in their promotional campaign?
Because if you don't come out and give a proper explanation and apology and make this right, I am done with ITFC. My season tickets will remain unused for the rest of the season. If this isn't put right, ITFC will be nothing to me any more. Shame on you Mark Ashton.
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:14 - Mar 26 with 1115 views | baxterbasics |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:15 - Mar 26 with 1108 views | _CliveBaker_ |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:12 - Mar 26 by andyblue231 |
I think people need to separate the things they are responsible for and the things they are not. For their mental health. Nobody in the world is going to think you
Are a fascist because you wear an ITFC shirt. Because none of these decisions were taken by us.
You are responsible for your personal conduct not a football club’s. |
Also the reaction of the fans has been encouraging, and noted widely in the media. This reflects on the club. |  | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:16 - Mar 26 with 1090 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:11 - Mar 26 by _CliveBaker_ |
It might imply they weren't complicit in the publication of the images, but they were evidently complicit in the visit. |
Perhaps, but as has been mentioned I'm not sure it would be a good look to deny ANY political party that. |  |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:18 - Mar 26 with 1077 views | _CliveBaker_ |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:09 - Mar 26 by baxterbasics |
He may well have rather a lot in his in-tray, right now!
Never mind his inbox alone being now full of 2000+ emails from individual fans making their thoughts known. Am sure he's going through those one by one and crafting a personal response each time. He'll be done by around August. |
I know for a fact there's a sponsor who hasn't taken very kindly to it either and are in discussions. Probably shouldn't say any more but there's a part of me that thinks fair play to them. | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:18 - Mar 26 with 1073 views | Illinoisblue |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 11:52 - Mar 26 by _CliveBaker_ |
I'm probably in the minority here but the damage is done at this stage, the reaction to it is secondary now and of little value. What would he come out and say anyway, more inane PR bullshit?
The real issue is how or why the feck anyone thought it appropriate to let Farage into PR. The second that happened the cork was out of the bottle and there's nothing anyone cando to reverse it. |
You are Cruncher and I claim my $5.
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:19 - Mar 26 with 1059 views | mrfixit426 |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:12 - Mar 26 by andyblue231 |
I think people need to separate the things they are responsible for and the things they are not. For their mental health. Nobody in the world is going to think you
Are a fascist because you wear an ITFC shirt. Because none of these decisions were taken by us.
You are responsible for your personal conduct not a football club’s. |
This.
I've been out walking the dog every day this week in my ITFC cap as usual. Nobody has called me a fascist, or a racist. In fact I've had some very pleasant interactions with a variety of people.
If someone decided to make a comment to me insinuating I was either a supporter of a political party, or some kind of wannabe Nazi just because of the club I support, then that reflects on them, not me. |  | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:22 - Mar 26 with 1018 views | darkhorse28 |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 11:43 - Mar 26 by Cheltenham_Blue |
OK. Why is this thread more important than the other 3 threads asking the exact same question?
I think that's a fair question. |
Because every fan has a right to express their view, and any slight nuance or not.., that’s what a community and forum is. And if they want to vent, that’s fine, don’t read it if you don’t like it, that’s your choice.
It’s called community. Togetherness and respecting people’s right to speak, the thinks that Ashton destroyed this week.., with ego and mindless self interest.
Conflating our club to any politics is so reductive and stupid both in terms of commercials, brand equity and perceived ethics.., it’s the destruction of us commercially.. we are now toxic.
So people will want to vent at seeing their club destroyed from the inside out - they should!!! Listen, it don’t, but don’t try to close down their right to speak - don’t act like a controlling dogmatic fascist.
There can be 50,000 threads!!! If you don’t like it, so be it, it’s OUR club and its entire future in the line, if passion’s cat run high for that we have bigger problems!
Would you prefer Mark Ashtons favourite colour, cheese, colour of cheese?
The apathy with Mark for the last two seasons is 100% why we’ve reached this juncture. Nodding dogs.., nodding, more red flags than a Putin parade! .., ignored for a quiet life. |  | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:22 - Mar 26 with 1028 views | chicoazul |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 11:59 - Mar 26 by Steve_M |
I think an actual apology is still quite an important step to moving on from this. I think that goes for the players as much as the fans from what I've heard. |
Never apologise never explain innit. First thing they teach you at a McKinsey conference. |  |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:22 - Mar 26 with 1032 views | baxterbasics |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:18 - Mar 26 by _CliveBaker_ |
I know for a fact there's a sponsor who hasn't taken very kindly to it either and are in discussions. Probably shouldn't say any more but there's a part of me that thinks fair play to them. |
Which is an example of why we are not going to hear anything of substance from him in the timescales people are hoping. He's got a lot of behind-the-curtain fire fighting to do, maybe investigations, before he can say anything. Someone like that won't put themselves out there until every t is crossed and i dotted. Or to put it more cynically, not until they've all got their story straight. | |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:23 - Mar 26 with 1018 views | RetroBlue |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 11:52 - Mar 26 by _CliveBaker_ |
I'm probably in the minority here but the damage is done at this stage, the reaction to it is secondary now and of little value. What would he come out and say anyway, more inane PR bullshit?
The real issue is how or why the feck anyone thought it appropriate to let Farage into PR. The second that happened the cork was out of the bottle and there's nothing anyone cando to reverse it. |
For me its about accountability . Ashton never shighs away from taking the plaudits . Hes Mr Teflon in my book . Ive always felt that as soon as the brown stuff hit the fan, he'd be nowhere to be seen . Not wrong on that one yet I fear.
The Cobbolds will be truning in their grave at this farce, and would ccertainly have come out and made a statement by now had they still been at the helm.
I think this facre underlines excatly why Ashton should not be holding two major positions at the Club. Too much control , zero accountability it seems .. |  |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:26 - Mar 26 with 994 views | _CliveBaker_ |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:22 - Mar 26 by baxterbasics |
Which is an example of why we are not going to hear anything of substance from him in the timescales people are hoping. He's got a lot of behind-the-curtain fire fighting to do, maybe investigations, before he can say anything. Someone like that won't put themselves out there until every t is crossed and i dotted. Or to put it more cynically, not until they've all got their story straight. |
Suspect that's right, and I wouldn't expect a huge amount if or when it does come. This isn't a guy who has a great track record when it comes to fronting up in the challenging times. 'Lessons learned' and 'would do things differently' etc no doubt, but his focus right now will be grovelling, damage limitation and fire fighting. | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:28 - Mar 26 with 977 views | Steve_M |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:18 - Mar 26 by Illinoisblue |
You are Cruncher and I claim my $5.
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I read that as: "Other people are getting more likes on social media than me". |  |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:30 - Mar 26 with 959 views | _CliveBaker_ |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:18 - Mar 26 by Illinoisblue |
You are Cruncher and I claim my $5.
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I think I'd rather be called Farage. | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:30 - Mar 26 with 953 views | wrightsrightglove |
Running towards fascism
Good morning Mark,
I know this is probably one of many emails that you’ll receive on this subject so there’s no need to reply but I hope the below is taken onboard alongside other fan’s concerns.
Seeing my club associated with a known right wing fascist has left me feeling disgusted. You’ve said previously that you’re just the caretakers of the club, it belongs to the fans, and this incident has shown a complete disregard for fan’s views and how they may feel about their club being used for political gain by any politician, let alone one as polarising as Nigel Farage. It’s not just the incident itself that has left me dismayed, but the level of incompetence from whoever is involved in making the decision to allow the event to take place. I have zero media training, and zero political training, but even I could have told you how this incident would be perceived and the backlash that it would receive from fans and non-fans across the country. This football club is the heartbeat of our town, of my town, and the work that has gone into reviving the club has been incredible but this has now been tarnished by an incredibly poor / naive decision. There’s been so many positives about the town recently and it’s devastating that this event has, and will continue to, overshadow them all.
I wonder how our women’s team feel about the visit? "Here's the bigger question. Do we think, chaps, when we're there in the front line, when the balloon goes up, with fixed bayonets, when the whistle's about to blow to go over the top, do we actually want to be there with women beside us? Do we? What an extraordinarily bizarre idea! I certainly don't think so.”
I wonder how our Refugee Football attendees feel about the visit? Sam Oakley, the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Foundation, runs several of their sessions, including Refugee Football.
“For the Foundation, these sessions are so important and for the football club as a whole,” he said. “These guys very much want a sense of belonging. We can allow them to feel part of the football club. For the football club, it’s great as well. We’re making new fans, it looks great on the community, and we’ve expanded the reach of the club more generally.”
I wonder how Anis Mehmeti feels about the visit? “1 in 50 Albanians in Britain are in prison” “We have to stop the flood”
We can see how Rainbow Tractors feel about the visit already via their statement.
The weak statement put out by the club just makes matters worse. It’s clear that we’ve never hosted representatives from a range of political parties in the same way, there’s zero evidence of this unless this has been done behind closed doors, in which case, it begs the question as to why this visit wasn’t treated the same way. There’s been local politicians at games, but that is patently not the same thing as what has occurred with Farage. Stating that “Ipswich Town is proud to be an inclusive, diverse and welcoming organisation that supports all members of the local and wider community” is also clearly untrue if the club are standing behind this visit. Allowing a divisive figure who thrives of creating division and alienating parts of the community is not inclusive or welcoming or supporting *all* members of the community.
Marcus Evans done a lot of damage to our incredible club, but he never made me ashamed in the way that this event has. We’re the club that once sang “Ipswich lives in racial harmony” in the face of players receiving racist abuse. We’re the club of Sir Alf who supported gay players at a time when being gay was still illegal. We’re the club of Sir Bobby, a Patron of Show Racism the Red Card and an ardent supporter of welcoming foreign players into the league. I can’t help thinking that both of these incredible men will be turning in their graves at the sight of a fascist in the stadium of the club they loved so much.
This isn’t going away, or going to be forgotten. It’s going to have an impact on this club and the fans for a very long time, and the longer it goes without being addressed properly, the more damage it is going to do. The club is great at celebrating all of the good it does within the community, it’s now time for you to step up and accept the damage this has caused and layout why it will never happen again. | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:32 - Mar 26 with 935 views | Illinoisblue |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:28 - Mar 26 by Steve_M |
I read that as: "Other people are getting more likes on social media than me". |
Exactly that! | |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:38 - Mar 26 with 902 views | SWLondonBlue93 |
Rightly or wrongly, I'm not expecting anything of substance from Ashton. Firstly, I cannot see how he could possibly have been unaware of the visit before it happened, and secondly because, for all the good he has done at the club, he has shown so far he is not the type to apologise for anything. | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:45 - Mar 26 with 874 views | Luk38644 |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 11:33 - Mar 26 by SitfcB |
Give it a rest ffs. |
Logged in just to upvote this - people need to start moving on now, the club have made a statement, let's leave it there. |  | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 13:06 - Mar 26 with 807 views | Prominent_Blue |
Congratulations !! Flounce of the week !!! Hopefully you'll give up your season ticket to someone who actually wants to support their team not start blubbing as soon as something doesn't fit their political outlook. | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 13:21 - Mar 26 with 760 views | NthQldITFC |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:22 - Mar 26 by chicoazul |
Never apologise never explain innit. First thing they teach you at a McKinsey conference. |
Well don't go to one then, if you aspire to being a decent human being. |  |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 13:40 - Mar 26 with 690 views | Swoody |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 13:06 - Mar 26 by Prominent_Blue |
Congratulations !! Flounce of the week !!! Hopefully you'll give up your season ticket to someone who actually wants to support their team not start blubbing as soon as something doesn't fit their political outlook. |
The blubbing on this site over the last few days by the entitled idiots has been nothing short of hilarious, I have frequented this site for a number of years in the background due to the number of idiots posting this type of rubbish. It seems for every 10000 normal people there are 1000 that throw their toys out of the pram when something happens, they do not like and believe they are speaking for the majority. I am no reform supporter, but all this their racist and fascist crap is just laughable and just makes those spouting it look even more sad! Our club is open to everyone to visit, I can't stand Starmer and the mess he is making of the country, but I would not jump on here crying for an apology if he rolled up at the club and did the same.
Unfortunately the Tories let the country down and now Labour are making the Tories 14 years look good so you should all get used to Reform because if we like it or not and as is suggested by most Polls and the bookies they will be running the country in a few years most likely and I worry for those on here who need to focus more on enjoying life rather than worrying about things they can do nothing about. | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 13:49 - Mar 26 with 667 views | Vic |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:03 - Mar 26 by Cheltenham_Blue |
On thing that would make a huge difference is to start by issuing Reform with a take down notice and starting legal proceedings. I refuse to believe that Reform had express permission to take these photographs, or to use them in the way they have been used.
Portman Road is private property and therefore express permission is needed for any commercial photography creation or usage. It's why all the photographers on match days have to be accredited.
A take down notice will likely be ignored, (they often are), but if done in a very public way via the clubs media channels, it will be the first step in indicating that the club were in no way complicit. If Reform took the images without permission, then that is a violation of ITFC's property rights, and constitutes trespassing, a civil matter, but none the less would send out an indication to the fans.
It could be the reason for the delay in Ashton saying anything is owing to delays whilst getting legal advice. Equally it could be because there is a queue of sponsors at Ashton's door. |
I logged on to uppie this. You are exactly right. |  |
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 14:00 - Mar 26 with 619 views | ITFCSG |
So the Bristol City fans I knew weren’t wrong after all - Ashton loves to be in the limelight when things are going well - me! me! me! But refuses to take any responsibility or be accountable and goes into hiding when things cock up.
Continued silence only means complicity. Plus the stories fed to EADT and the media prior to Reform’s post makes the Club and its management look dishonest as well.
Never expected dishonesty and lies from ITFC. This is simple disappointing. [Post edited 26 Mar 14:05]
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| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 14:17 - Mar 26 with 570 views | ITFCson |
Please just leave. Why do you need to announce it to everyone? | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 14:30 - Mar 26 with 532 views | PaulYoungs |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:09 - Mar 26 by baxterbasics |
He may well have rather a lot in his in-tray, right now!
Never mind his inbox alone being now full of 2000+ emails from individual fans making their thoughts known. Am sure he's going through those one by one and crafting a personal response each time. He'll be done by around August. |
2000+ emails? You have access to the mailbox? | | | |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 15:04 - Mar 26 with 469 views | Benters |
| So Mark Ashton, where are you? on 12:45 - Mar 26 by Luk38644 |
Logged in just to upvote this - people need to start moving on now, the club have made a statement, let's leave it there. |
Have a uppie from me Luke. |  |
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