Town chief executive Derek Bowden has clarified his position regarding Bolton chairman Phil Gartside's proposal for a two-division Premier League with no relegation or promotion into and from the lower leagues.

Bowden has responded to an open letter from Ipswich Town First after his recent comments in support of Gartside's ideas: "If I can make my point of view clear, I'm not advocating closing of the ‘trapdoor' in the event that a second division of the Premier League were to be created and I certainly wouldn't promote it either personally or on behalf of this club.

"Clearly though something needs to change with regard to the distribution of wealth within the game.

"I know that life is difficult for clubs in Leagues One and Two, as indeed it is in the leagues below, but the financial gulf between the Premier League and the Championship creates particular problems for those clubs relegated into the Championship and these need to be addressed.”

Trust chairman Carl Day was pleased with what Bowden had to say: "We welcome Derek's clarification of the club's position and are pleased to hear that they are not in favour of closing the trapdoor and preventing sides progressing upwards from the lower leagues.

"When I spoke to him on Friday, he said he was interested in opening a debate regarding the disproportion distribution of wealth between the Premier League and Championship, something he seems to have done successfully, with the majority of Town fans seemingly taking our position against Phil Gartside and Bolton's proposal."

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