| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... 16:31 - Mar 26 with 9597 views | maxslaro |
completely damning Athletic report...
Key details:
The invitation to Farage was made by an associate of Ashton.
Farage was met by a club executive and then had lunch with Ashton and Luke Werhun, the club’s COO.
The club gifted the politician six ‘Farage 10’ Ipswich shirts free of charge.
Members of staff, some senior, have made formal complaints to Ipswich’s human resources department over the stunt.
https://www.nytimes.com/athlet |  | | |  |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:12 - Mar 26 with 1508 views | nrb1985 |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:12 - Mar 26 by nodge_blue |
If thats true it shows a spectacular lack of judgement and I am sickened that Ashton has let OUR club be associated with Farage.
At a time when we should be pushing for promotion, things like this will dis rail it.
I think Ashton should apologise and potentially resign. |
Potentially?! | | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:13 - Mar 26 with 1498 views | Steve_M |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 16:39 - Mar 26 by JakeITFC |
This is now probably a resigning matter. |
Yes, I don't see how it's anything but.
Obviously he'll have to be sacked rather than actually admit any wrongdoing. |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:14 - Mar 26 with 1479 views | ElderGrizzly |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 16:37 - Mar 26 by _CliveBaker_ |
But there was no official Town involvement in Farage visit?
Just booked a stadium tour like anyone can do?
Taking us for complete mugs. |
It seems so silly to lie, given this would all come out as soon as we pushed back on the reality of what happened.
It wouldn't surprise me that this came from Farage's side too |  | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:15 - Mar 26 with 1472 views | Metal_Hacker |
Considering all the good he has achieved and helped with the changing fate with our club it really pains me to feel that this should be the end of him ....but any other walk of life it'd be instant dismissal |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:15 - Mar 26 with 1445 views | GlasgowBlue |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:13 - Mar 26 by Steve_M |
Yes, I don't see how it's anything but.
Obviously he'll have to be sacked rather than actually admit any wrongdoing. |
It has to be sorted one way or another soon. Purely from a football point of view we don't need this distraction in the final weeks of the season and Ashton and McKenna have no doubt been preparing different scenarios and player targets for next season. [Post edited 26 Mar 17:15]
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:18 - Mar 26 with 1413 views | ZedRodgers |
I’m in disbelief at all of this.
If Mark Ashton is the Reform-leaning type he increasingly appears to be, I hope this whole episode gives him some food for thought on what Farage is all about - used and abused for the limelight, and now laughing from a distance as our support caves in on itself. What on earth was he thinking? |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:21 - Mar 26 with 1378 views | Lester_Freamon |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:12 - Mar 26 by nodge_blue |
If thats true it shows a spectacular lack of judgement and I am sickened that Ashton has let OUR club be associated with Farage.
At a time when we should be pushing for promotion, things like this will dis rail it.
I think Ashton should apologise and potentially resign. |
The right time for him to apologise was yesterday morning when the story first broke. After 2 days of near silence other than a weak-as-p!ss statement and a brief to the press that was a lie, he's basically toast. |  | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:23 - Mar 26 with 1351 views | Nordic_nutty |
I will not have anything to do with this club while it is associated with Putin's puppet. I prefer to not have openly racist populists rubbing shoulders with our chairman. |  | | |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:25 - Mar 26 with 1315 views | ElderGrizzly |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:18 - Mar 26 by ZedRodgers |
I’m in disbelief at all of this.
If Mark Ashton is the Reform-leaning type he increasingly appears to be, I hope this whole episode gives him some food for thought on what Farage is all about - used and abused for the limelight, and now laughing from a distance as our support caves in on itself. What on earth was he thinking? |
The thing is, no-one cares if he supports Reform.
No-one cares if any of our supporters support Reform.
It's what Reform did and how our club lied about it is the issue. And i'm sure it's more of an issue for the staff and players/manager than the fans as they have to work with someone who would lie to their face. | | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:26 - Mar 26 with 1301 views | SWLondonBlue93 |
Bl00dy knew it. Ashton taking us all for a ride. No respect for the fans whatsoever. | | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:27 - Mar 26 with 1277 views | ElderGrizzly |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 16:40 - Mar 26 by Zx1988 |
They still think that they can brazen this out:
"In a statement, an Ipswich spokesperson said: “There are many mistruths and falsehoods in this version of events. The club stands by the statement made on Tuesday, March 24. We will be making no further comment on this matter.”
When The Athletic asked the club for specific examples of “mistruths and falsehoods”, they declined to respond."
Assuming that this comment was given to The Athletic during the usual 'right of reply' process linked to the publication of this article (and potentially after Mark Heath published his piece earlier?), this is disgusting from the club.
Ashton has lied, been caught in the lie, and is still doubling down and refusing to apologise.
His position is getting more and more untenable by the day. |
He'll come out and say it was 5 shirts not 6... | | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:34 - Mar 26 with 1216 views | PhilTWTD |
I've been aware of the lunch for a couple of days but not firmly enough to run it, club not commenting, as it still isn't. |  | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:37 - Mar 26 with 1174 views | ElderGrizzly |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:34 - Mar 26 by PhilTWTD |
I've been aware of the lunch for a couple of days but not firmly enough to run it, club not commenting, as it still isn't. |
What do they think they have to gain from lying about it, when their official statement is clearly now untrue?
"No commenting" is not making it go away.
As we said in the beginning, if they held their hands up Monday it would have blown over fairly quickly. Well compared to this anyway. [Post edited 26 Mar 17:38]
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:39 - Mar 26 with 1110 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
In a season when small gains make the difference this is a glacier shaped spanner in the works. What a fekkin mess. |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:40 - Mar 26 with 1110 views | ZedRodgers |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:25 - Mar 26 by ElderGrizzly |
The thing is, no-one cares if he supports Reform.
No-one cares if any of our supporters support Reform.
It's what Reform did and how our club lied about it is the issue. And i'm sure it's more of an issue for the staff and players/manager than the fans as they have to work with someone who would lie to their face. |
Agreed. I just meant that I hoped this gave him the measure of the man if he was lacking that, but personal allegiances certainly aren’t relevant or the issue here.
Hopefully, the general feeling isn’t misconstrued as that. Some of the national press - specifically something I saw on talksport from Simon Jordan before today’s muck - made the suggestion that we might only be taking offence to who the politician is. I think those of us inside this hellish bubble realise the problem here is obviously the awful lying and utter stupidity, but hope that message isn’t lost in translation where it matters. Otherwise this will drag on longer and in an uglier way than necessary. | |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:42 - Mar 26 with 1080 views | itfcjoe |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:18 - Mar 26 by ZedRodgers |
I’m in disbelief at all of this.
If Mark Ashton is the Reform-leaning type he increasingly appears to be, I hope this whole episode gives him some food for thought on what Farage is all about - used and abused for the limelight, and now laughing from a distance as our support caves in on itself. What on earth was he thinking? |
I don't think it necessarily means he is Reform leaning, just that he's blinded by a bit of fame and couldn't wait to meet someone famous - what a way to ruin your legacy |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:42 - Mar 26 with 1061 views | bluelagos |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:37 - Mar 26 by ElderGrizzly |
What do they think they have to gain from lying about it, when their official statement is clearly now untrue?
"No commenting" is not making it go away.
As we said in the beginning, if they held their hands up Monday it would have blown over fairly quickly. Well compared to this anyway. [Post edited 26 Mar 17:38]
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Shows what a vacuous over promoted pr1ck he is. Anyone with half a brain knows when you mess up you hold yer hands up and apologise.
But he had neither the intelligence or integrity to do that. |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:43 - Mar 26 with 1055 views | DanTheMan |
Actually gobsmacked.
I cannot believe that someone with a functioning brain thought this was a good idea. Or that this would not come out.
I don't even know what to say.
Ashton has to go really. Maybe, maybe he gets away with it if he came straight out and owned up to it.
But nope, we're onto the ol' quadruple down.
This is possibly one of the biggest PR disasters I can think of.
Not getting any more of my money until this is properly sorted. |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:45 - Mar 26 with 1026 views | PhilTWTD |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:37 - Mar 26 by ElderGrizzly |
What do they think they have to gain from lying about it, when their official statement is clearly now untrue?
"No commenting" is not making it go away.
As we said in the beginning, if they held their hands up Monday it would have blown over fairly quickly. Well compared to this anyway. [Post edited 26 Mar 17:38]
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Indeed, I've got the impression they've been trying to wait it out, but given the anger it was always going to come out. | | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:46 - Mar 26 with 1000 views | bartyg |
MA's position is untenable. Not because of the act itself, but because of the abject failure to treat the fans, media and public with respect at all stages of the fallout.
I won't be giving the club a penny whilst he is in his position. |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:51 - Mar 26 with 942 views | ZedRodgers |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:42 - Mar 26 by itfcjoe |
I don't think it necessarily means he is Reform leaning, just that he's blinded by a bit of fame and couldn't wait to meet someone famous - what a way to ruin your legacy |
Yeah sorry - I didn’t necessarily mean this was evidence of that and didn’t word it very well. Leaning / sympathising / willing to engage with..
I just hope he sees the minerals of the man now, if it wasn’t already clear to him. As this will surely prove the biggest misjudgement of his professional career. | |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:52 - Mar 26 with 912 views | Freddy |
I believe The Athletic , they dont get much wrong
But with the controversy continuing to escalate, The Athletic can now reveal more details which undermine Ipswich’s account and raise further questions of the club’s handling of the affair.
These include:
The invitation to Farage was made by an associate of Ashton.
Farage was met by a club executive and then had lunch with Ashton and Luke Werhun, the club’s COO.
The club gifted the politician six ‘Farage 10’ Ipswich shirts free of charge.
Members of staff, some senior, have made formal complaints to Ipswich’s human resources department over the stunt.
Supporters’ groups have continued to apply pressure to Ashton and Ipswich’s ownership. On Wednesday, Blue Action — one of the most vocal fans’ groups at Portman Road — accused the club of letting themselves be “egregiously exploited by a political figure for personal gain and those in charge seemingly allowing and even welcoming it”. | | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:53 - Mar 26 with 882 views | muccletonjoe |
Just gets worse and worse. I hear players and staff have made complaints to the clubs HR depth. ASHTON GET OUT OF THIS CLUB FFS |  | | |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 18:01 - Mar 26 with 802 views | SitfcB |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 17:45 - Mar 26 by PhilTWTD |
Indeed, I've got the impression they've been trying to wait it out, but given the anger it was always going to come out. |
Where do you see this going/ending? |  |
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| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 18:03 - Mar 26 with 790 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| so Mark Ashton hosted Farage for lunch... on 16:43 - Mar 26 by Reuser_is_God |
I’ve given Ashton the benefit of the doubt through this whole thing but that, if true, is pretty awful.
I don’t really care that he met Farage, I have no real interest in politics, but he’s lied to everyone & also risked the commercial side of the club which is something I thought he had such a good handle over. |
Yep I’m with you.
Disgusting and he’s taken us all for mugs with the denial early this week |  |
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