| Questions that need to be answered 08:51 - Mar 30 with 1846 views | WarkOfTheTown |
1: We were initially briefed that Reform’s visit to Portman Road was neither official nor as the result of an invitation – rather, that they booked a stadium tour privately online and the club was unaware who had made the booking. Was that true?
2: It has been reported that Nigel Farage was invited to visit Portman Road by an associate of Mark Ashton. Is that correct and, if so, who was it?
3: Were the club’s owners made aware of Reform’s visit in advance?
4: Did Mark Ashton and Luke Werhun entertain Nigel Farage for lunch as reported?
5: The club initially claimed that the ‘Farage 10’ Ipswich Town shirt was purchased by Reform. It has since been reported that the club printed six ‘Farage 10’ Town shirts and gifted them to him for free. Which version of events is true?
6: Did Reform inform you of their intention to capture promotional content at the ground and was permission granted?’
7: Will Mark Ashton apologise to the Ipswich Town fans who have been upset by seeing their club used by Nigel Farage and Reform for political gain? |  | | |  |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:53 - Mar 30 with 443 views | baxterbasics |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:48 - Mar 30 by Nthsuffolkblue |
As a matter of interest Lazy Blue, are you happy with us sponsoring Farage?
Would you be equally happy if the club sponsored Corbyn? |
I don't think this is accurate, that's misrepresenting what took place.
Ashton hooked him up with a tour, a lunch, and some free publicity. Foolish. But still a step-and-a-half away from "the club sponsors Farage" |  |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 09:55 - Mar 30 with 447 views | NederlandseBlue |
I suggest the questions that need to be answered are different now and include:
1: Why did the club initially lie to media and fans about the invitation and the gifting of shirts? And did Mark know and/or authorise that initial response?
2: What was Mark apologising for in the video? The invite and subsequent meeting? Lying about it? Or getting caught?
3: What was the initial rationale for extending an invite to Reform? Who sent the invite and was Mark aware in advance?
4: Was the initial invite to a private meeting? If so, how did this evolve into the private tour and publicity event that it became?
5: What was discussed during the meeting?
6: Does the club restrict what photos/videos can be taken and published on private tours? Were exceptions/authorisations given to Reform?
7: Does the club have an existing policy related to engagement with politicians? Does the club have an existing gifting policy that meets the requirements of the UK Bribery Act of 2010? And were these policies upheld for the Reform visit?
8: What happened to the "To Mark" autographed shirt? [Post edited 30 Mar 9:55]
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| Questions that need to be answered on 09:56 - Mar 30 with 428 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:53 - Mar 30 by WarkOfTheTown |
A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake
Mistake - entertaining Farage
Mistake - staying silent
Mistake - issuing a non apology
Mistake - not taking ownership
Mistake - not answering the questions
Mistake - disrespecting the fanbase
Mistake - not resigning |
It is far worse than that.
The initial statement denied that they entertained him at all.
They didn't simply entertain him, they instigated it by inviting him.
Ashton has clearly lied to fans and staff about what happened. He has covered that by claiming there are a lot of "mistruths" out there. What is a mistruth? He means lies. And yet he hasn't specified what is untrue at all. The only proven lies are his. |  |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 09:57 - Mar 30 with 426 views | bluelagos |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:53 - Mar 30 by WarkOfTheTown |
A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake
Mistake - entertaining Farage
Mistake - staying silent
Mistake - issuing a non apology
Mistake - not taking ownership
Mistake - not answering the questions
Mistake - disrespecting the fanbase
Mistake - not resigning |
I'm going to be generous - some people really hate change and hate conflict.
To admit that the man you have admired (for what he's done) is incompetent and his actions have caused division and damaged the club isn't easy for everyone.
Denial of the issues is far easier for some. |  |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 09:58 - Mar 30 with 419 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:53 - Mar 30 by baxterbasics |
I don't think this is accurate, that's misrepresenting what took place.
Ashton hooked him up with a tour, a lunch, and some free publicity. Foolish. But still a step-and-a-half away from "the club sponsors Farage" |
He hooked him up with a tour and lunch and then invited their media team to take footage. What do you think Ashton expected their media team to do with that footage?
Ashton knew we would be used as publicity for Reform. Isn't that sponsorship? | |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 09:59 - Mar 30 with 417 views | TheMoralMajority |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:53 - Mar 30 by WarkOfTheTown |
A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake
Mistake - entertaining Farage
Mistake - staying silent
Mistake - issuing a non apology
Mistake - not taking ownership
Mistake - not answering the questions
Mistake - disrespecting the fanbase
Mistake - not resigning |
Largely agree, but I would amend (with annotations)
Ok - entertaining a campaining politician <- Fine club must engage with all stripes
Mistake - Promoting a campaigning politician <- Unacceptable, but rescuable
Mistake - Lying about involvement <- Position now very shaky
Mistake - Gaslighting and lying more about being apolitical <- Complete erosion of trust
Mistake - issuing a non apology <- Position now completely untenable
Mistake - not taking ownership <- see above
Mistake - not answering the questions <- see above
Mistake - disrespecting the fanbase <- see above
Mistake - not resigning <- see above |  |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 10:11 - Mar 30 with 374 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:55 - Mar 30 by NederlandseBlue |
I suggest the questions that need to be answered are different now and include:
1: Why did the club initially lie to media and fans about the invitation and the gifting of shirts? And did Mark know and/or authorise that initial response?
2: What was Mark apologising for in the video? The invite and subsequent meeting? Lying about it? Or getting caught?
3: What was the initial rationale for extending an invite to Reform? Who sent the invite and was Mark aware in advance?
4: Was the initial invite to a private meeting? If so, how did this evolve into the private tour and publicity event that it became?
5: What was discussed during the meeting?
6: Does the club restrict what photos/videos can be taken and published on private tours? Were exceptions/authorisations given to Reform?
7: Does the club have an existing policy related to engagement with politicians? Does the club have an existing gifting policy that meets the requirements of the UK Bribery Act of 2010? And were these policies upheld for the Reform visit?
8: What happened to the "To Mark" autographed shirt? [Post edited 30 Mar 9:55]
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In many respects it is too late to answer many of those questions.
1 If the club is making a response about actions the club knows the Chairman and CEO was deeply involved in, why is the person responding not seeking confirmation about the accuracy of the response from those deeply involved. There isn't a satisfactory answer to this question.
2 Spot on. A general, vague apology is meaningless. He seems sorry for nothing until he can explicitly state what he is sorry for. Especially when that apology is further framed with a vague "there are a lot of mistruths out there."
3 That would be a good question. I cannot think of an acceptable answer here. Perhaps there is one. They would argue the vague extending a welcome to politicians of all colours but surely that comes with a caveat that the politicians don't seek to make political gain from an implied association. I don't recall any other non-Ipswich MP being given anything approaching this treatment. Did they extend the same invite to leaders of the 2-3 main political parties or the leaders of the other 3-4 more recent ones? Of course Ashton knew about the invite.
6 It seems clear that any restrictions did not prevent them being used to publicise Reform. That is a deep failing on top of everything else. The fact the club gifted him the shirts and allowed the picture in the dressing room shows they were complicit in the publicity.
7 Is something the club needs to review.
8 I think we all know. If it wasn't "To Mark" there may be a question but it is "To Mark". | |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 10:13 - Mar 30 with 364 views | Camul123 |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:37 - Mar 30 by Cheltenham_Blue |
Be fair. People being castigated for not having an issue is precisely what's been happening for nigh on a week. People have been accused of being 'fascist sympathisers' for precisely that. |
Can you point me to specific examples of that accusation being made? | | | |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 10:55 - Mar 30 with 326 views | NederlandseBlue |
| Questions that need to be answered on 10:11 - Mar 30 by Nthsuffolkblue |
In many respects it is too late to answer many of those questions.
1 If the club is making a response about actions the club knows the Chairman and CEO was deeply involved in, why is the person responding not seeking confirmation about the accuracy of the response from those deeply involved. There isn't a satisfactory answer to this question.
2 Spot on. A general, vague apology is meaningless. He seems sorry for nothing until he can explicitly state what he is sorry for. Especially when that apology is further framed with a vague "there are a lot of mistruths out there."
3 That would be a good question. I cannot think of an acceptable answer here. Perhaps there is one. They would argue the vague extending a welcome to politicians of all colours but surely that comes with a caveat that the politicians don't seek to make political gain from an implied association. I don't recall any other non-Ipswich MP being given anything approaching this treatment. Did they extend the same invite to leaders of the 2-3 main political parties or the leaders of the other 3-4 more recent ones? Of course Ashton knew about the invite.
6 It seems clear that any restrictions did not prevent them being used to publicise Reform. That is a deep failing on top of everything else. The fact the club gifted him the shirts and allowed the picture in the dressing room shows they were complicit in the publicity.
7 Is something the club needs to review.
8 I think we all know. If it wasn't "To Mark" there may be a question but it is "To Mark". |
On 1, the local media are in a tough spot as they are dependent on the club for news. It might be hard for them to push back on people they have had no reason to doubt until now. But I do want to know if this was someone in the media team who was trying to explain to the best of their knowledge at that time, or whether it was a deliberate attempt from the top to mislead.
On 3, I would hope it is because Reform has views on the governance of football (scrapping the new independent regulator, for example) and therefore it is in the club's interest to understand how serious a potentially influential party will be about changes to the sport. This is a legitimate reason to meet, but they have not said this and it has been a week now... | |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 11:16 - Mar 30 with 293 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Questions that need to be answered on 10:13 - Mar 30 by Camul123 |
Can you point me to specific examples of that accusation being made? |
There's plenty of them if you care to look. |  |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 11:20 - Mar 30 with 286 views | ReusersTown |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:53 - Mar 30 by baxterbasics |
I don't think this is accurate, that's misrepresenting what took place.
Ashton hooked him up with a tour, a lunch, and some free publicity. Foolish. But still a step-and-a-half away from "the club sponsors Farage" |
It's about as close as you can get | | | |
| Questions that need to be answered on 11:51 - Mar 30 with 248 views | GeoffSentence |
| Questions that need to be answered on 09:58 - Mar 30 by Nthsuffolkblue |
He hooked him up with a tour and lunch and then invited their media team to take footage. What do you think Ashton expected their media team to do with that footage?
Ashton knew we would be used as publicity for Reform. Isn't that sponsorship? |
Giving a platform to a political party at any time is dubious, during an election campaign it is a clear sign of support and , yes, sponsorship.
Apolitical my backside. |  |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 12:28 - Mar 30 with 219 views | CrayonKing |
I'm actually ITK on point 5 (oooo look at me!)
Sadly can't give the full story unless the person involved chooses to but it should be obvious anyway that "The club" has lied about virtually everything since the story first broke. |  | | |
| Questions that need to be answered on 12:36 - Mar 30 with 206 views | Camul123 |
| Questions that need to be answered on 11:16 - Mar 30 by Cheltenham_Blue |
There's plenty of them if you care to look. |
So that's a "no" then. | | | |
| Questions that need to be answered on 12:54 - Mar 30 with 169 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Questions that need to be answered on 12:28 - Mar 30 by CrayonKing |
I'm actually ITK on point 5 (oooo look at me!)
Sadly can't give the full story unless the person involved chooses to but it should be obvious anyway that "The club" has lied about virtually everything since the story first broke. |
I presume this is point 5 in the OP above.
Your reply reads that the club had the shirts printed and gifted them to Farage. This fits with The Athletic's version of events I believe.
This further means that the promotional image set up in the dressing room of Farage in front of these shirts was very much arranged with the club. That isn't an accident. | |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 12:58 - Mar 30 with 162 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Questions that need to be answered on 12:54 - Mar 30 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I presume this is point 5 in the OP above.
Your reply reads that the club had the shirts printed and gifted them to Farage. This fits with The Athletic's version of events I believe.
This further means that the promotional image set up in the dressing room of Farage in front of these shirts was very much arranged with the club. That isn't an accident. |
Further, I would say, had that not been true wouldn't Ashton have made a clear and unequivocal denial. He is known for those.
"Look, there is a photograph of shirts with Farage's name and the number 10 on them that Reform has published. It has been reported that our club shop printed those and supplied them for free. That simply is not true. I apologise that we allowed their media team to set up the dressing room and take a promotional shot of him in front of them but it simply isn't true that we got those shirts printed and gifted them to him."
That would be typical Ashton. Why hasn't he made any statement like this? Because he knows that it would be demonstrably untrue. | |
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| Questions that need to be answered on 13:03 - Mar 30 with 151 views | ReusersTown |
| Questions that need to be answered on 12:58 - Mar 30 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Further, I would say, had that not been true wouldn't Ashton have made a clear and unequivocal denial. He is known for those.
"Look, there is a photograph of shirts with Farage's name and the number 10 on them that Reform has published. It has been reported that our club shop printed those and supplied them for free. That simply is not true. I apologise that we allowed their media team to set up the dressing room and take a promotional shot of him in front of them but it simply isn't true that we got those shirts printed and gifted them to him."
That would be typical Ashton. Why hasn't he made any statement like this? Because he knows that it would be demonstrably untrue. |
It's so glaringly obvious why he's being silent but all we get from the reformers/faux neutral is that there's no evidence, we want to move on, 'nobody' cares (never singular). | | | |
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