The official Town Supporters Club have welcomed the appointments of new manager Roy Keane and new chief executive Simon Clegg, moves which they say are the most significant since the club became a professional outfit in 1936.

Chair Elizabeth Edwards said: "The changes we have seen at ITFC are the biggest since the club turned professional in 1936. The club is no longer locally owned or managed, but perhaps that is a model that simply is not going to provide success in the modern world.

"Although many fans have told me that they regret these changes, the majority would take success over structure. Marcus Evans is a successful owner of many businesses and is now imposing his preferred structure on the club. This means a CEO who rose to a high rank in the British army, before masterminding some of our country's greatest sporting successes at Olympic level. His legacy in Olympic terms has been sustained even since he moved on.

"Roy Keane is a manager in similar vein - a proven winner in his first big day-job, captaining the most successful Manchester United team in history, before proving himself capable of promoting a Championship side and keeping them in the Premiership.

"Both Simon Clegg and Roy Keane have shown a ruthless dedication to getting the job done, and an attention to detail and discipline that ensured success in their different professions. This will inevitably mean deep-seated changes in the way the club is run, throughout the business. It proves Marcus Evans is committed to delivering the success that we all want for our club.”

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