Town chief executive Simon Clegg says owner Marcus Evans will continue to provide manager Roy Keane with funds for new players. Clegg refused to comment on any progress regarding the two signings Keane has been hoping to add to his squad by the end of the week.

Speaking to the press yesterday afternoon, Clegg said that Keane still has the backing of owner Marcus Evans: “The manager continues to enjoy the full support of Marcus and myself and if he identifies the right players in the price range that is acceptable to us then we’ll look to bring new people in.

“Any issues to do with new players are jointly agreed between Marcus, Roy and myself and we work as a team to bring those players in at the right price. The issue to do with identifying new players quite rightly sits with the manager, it’s not my job or the owner’s job to identify players that the manager needs to bring in.

“If we get the right player at the right price and he fills a gap in the team, I have every confidence that the owner will be sympathetic and we’ll bring somebody in.

“Marcus is in it for the long term. He’s very clear in where he wants to take this club and will make investment appropriately.”

But Clegg was unwilling to be drawn on any ongoing deals: “I’m going to continue my policy of not talking about any speculation on players until we’re in a position to formally announce someone.”

Clegg says the subject of a change of manager hasn’t been broached, despite Keane’s comments earlier in the week regarding his probable loss of job if Town’s position doesn’t improve: “There have been absolutely no discussions along those lines. I think probably what he was saying was that he recognises that the responsibility for football results rests on the shoulders of the manager and that the current position is not sustainable forever and a day.

“But he’s not under any time constraints or any time pressures to turn it around. I’m confident that he will do it and believe that he will do it.

”I’ve made it very clear that it’s about putting in place the building blocks which will take us back to the Premier League at the earliest opportunity.”

Clegg says he has forged a good working relationship with Keane: “Roy is a man who is very focused very determined, passionate about winning and has set himself a high hurdle.

“He’s entirely professional, very focused and someone who I am enjoying working with and supporting.

“He is a very honest and open person and he tells it as he sees it and that’s quite refreshing.

“Roy and I have regular conversations, we’re looking forwards at this moment in time, not backwards. He’s looking to fine tune things and we’re seeing the evidence of that on the pitch.”

The chief executive says he feels the majority of supporters are also backing the manager: “I went up on the train to Sheffield and spoke to a number of fans and in the main they were hugely supportive.

“The fans that I spoke to were confident that it’s going to turn and after the performance on Tuesday there’s a lot to be encouraged by. I’m not sure many other clubs are going to take a point at Bramall Lane, let alone score three goals there, this season.”

Clegg says that he still sees the play-offs as a realistic target: “I will always remain optimistic as long as continues to be mathematical hope. We’re not even a quarter of the way into the season yet. We’ve played 10 games out of 46, so let’s not be writing this team off yet.

“Out of those 10 games we’ve played five matches against the top six clubs in the Championship at the moment, so we’ve had some fairly tough games and I think there have been some really encouraging signs, at Sheffield in particular.

“I’m not trying to get away from it, we’re bottom of the league. I travelled back from the Sheffield United game on the team coach with Roy and it was in fairly sombre mood, people were disappointed.

“But they’ve got to pick themselves up and make sure we’re in top condition for the match on Saturday.

“We’re looking at the long term. It’s far from ideal, it’s not where we wanted to be, but Marcus and I look at the big picture here in terms of where we want to take this club in the long term. Sometimes these things take time to settle down and gel in.”

Clegg also revealed that owner Evans, who he says has no intention of changing his policy of remaining very much in the background, met with Sir Bobby Robson’s widow before Saturday’s game against Newcastle: “He had a private meeting with Lady Elsie and the two sons that were here, Mark and Paul.

“He personally handed over the seven volumes of the books of remembrance that the club have put together with over 3,000 names in them, signed an entry himself and also the cover sheet.”

Photo: Action Images

tractor_lady added 14:03 - Oct 1 understand Lillian and respect your view, i was more concerned about the sweeping statement by yourself and now callumgarryskeemer about those not moaning are not passionate. Being a devoted town fan of 37 years i find that totally insulting. I found it hard to sleep tuesday night after the game so wound up was I by the frustration of so near and yet so far, so i oppose to being called not passionate as i am sure a good many 'positive' fans on here will agree. Have a view, voice it but don't critisise others for having an oppinion too by labelling them not passionate.

0

chripswich added 14:20 - Oct 1 Look..we've been pretty awful havent we...I was nearly chucked out on Saturday, i got soooo wound up at the inept way we played and in front of the nation aswell...it was embarassing... BUT... Roy keane is a winner..Evans is a winner...Clegg is a winner They are trying to build something that will win something and its so muddled, new and untried that its in a mess at the moment...there are some signs that what we are doing is coming together..but its still a mess and might remain so for sometime to come... we wont get relegated!! but i suspect we wont make the play offs either..mid table mediocrity quite possibly BUT with ambitionm, the ambition of proven winners...and that ambition will pay off..."winners" dont lose in the end! lots of people say we are no better than last year..well of course we arent..the results speak for themselves..but we never would have got any better than knocking on the doors of the play offs under the past tenureship...with the occasional great day (like v Norwich in April) with this management team we at keast have the possibility of doing something really special, I am impressed by keane even more now than i was before...No buffoon remarks..just simple honesty..the fact he understands completely and is prepared to say publically that both the team and he "isnt good enough" at the moment gives me confidence that we will be at some point...and that will not be in the distant future..I am sure of that

0

bigfish added 14:24 - Oct 1 Let RK fulfil his 2 year contract and give him the support. Dragging up the past may be we were wrong about Jim as he is miles better at QPR or maybe its just simply the club and the fans giving him the support he needs.
0

UEFA81 added 14:32 - Oct 1 Having a man like Keane as manager at PR and the reputation and history he brings with him is bound to cause stark divisions of opinion about the man. However, we are not divided as loyal fans of ITFC, we are all united in the cause and support of our lads. An opinion is just that - an opinion - it is neither right or wrong, if it was it wouldn't be an opinion. And we are all entitled to our opinions and must be respectuful of others whose opinion differs to our own. It's as simple as that. - that's what unity is all about. Everybody on here knows I have spoken out against Keane for weeks now and I will continue to do so because it is my opinion - it doesn't make me, or anybody else who shares my opinion any more or any less of a fan than anybody else. Yep, things are really tough right now, but it is what I expected when Keane took over - and until he goes I can't realistically see things improving much (if ever). And as I said in another topic, I'll believe these new loanee signings when I see them. COYB!

0

gypo added 14:38 - Oct 1 why did supple leave ? i think that might answers some of your questions we still have players who could`nt give a f~ck if they put our shirt on or not and they are not all keano`s signings .i am sure supple might be having a run in first team now if still at club!
0

Surco72 added 14:58 - Oct 1 Why is Mr Clegg talking about money to sign players which cannot be done until Jan and not about the loan players coming in ,it does seem worrying that it is taking so long and that we cannot attract players ? And before everyone says we have never been able to attract good players Jim brought in Noble and Dos Santos
0

byebyesheepshanks added 15:02 - Oct 1 It's mad i'm getting slaughtered for saying that Keane might get sacked because wer'e 4 points from safety & he's just been given the dreaded vote of no confidence. If you say this, you have to go 7 join the 'legions on Man City fans'. Perhaps I should support Zimbabwe Athletic - you get more freedom of speach with them! Come on You Blues - We all want you to win.

0

lilian3415 added 15:06 - Oct 1 UEFA81 As usual I admire the way you put your views without losing control of your emotions or recourse to insulting others. Maybe that's a lesson for us all. After all we are all supporting the overall long term objectives.i happen to agree that RK is not the right person for the job but it would be nice to be proved wrong.
0

Legend added 15:18 - Oct 1 All good things come to those who wait and we MUST all stick together and have faith in Keano, Cleggo and Evanso!! There is an old story.....Two bulls are sitting on top of a hill looking at the young fit cows grazing at the bottom....One bull turns to the other and says, "Hey lets sprint really fast down this hill and shag one of those cows"........The other bull pauses and thinks then turns to the other bull and says....."No....lets walk slowly down the hill and shag them all" Dont rush into making the wrong choice!!! Have faith in Keane, he will get us there!

0

matt_the_blue added 15:36 - Oct 1 UEFA81 - Whilst as usual I don't agree with your opinion on Keane I do still respect your opinion and totally agree with your sentiment, and even though I've not agreed with you and several other people here I've never believed you're anything less than a loyal Town fan. :)
0

matt_the_blue added 15:37 - Oct 1 Sorry that should read 'sentiment on unity' rather than just 'sentiment'...oops!
0

welshtractorboy added 15:43 - Oct 1 Andres Guardado is hopeful Deportivo La Coruna can snare Mexico international compatriot Giovani Dos Santos from Tottenham in the January transfer window. Forget him lets move on,CB and CF in place for Saturday? Woods ? would be good addition and i still think Healey,or Philips would be good converting chances into goals. Tommy Smith ex Watford would also have done a good job for us,but who am i. Two years ago my son who is 13 said we should sign Scotland the rest is history though he has done nothing this season in the prem

0

HarwichBlue added 15:45 - Oct 1 BBS, You're getting slaughtered cos you made a ridiculous statement that if we don't beat Barnsley Saturday Keane will get sacked in your first post on this topic. I cannot believe any one person including yourself actually believes that and unless Keane wants to make himself unemployable he will carry on and do his best for ITFC, whether he is succesful or not is up for debate but i for one think he will be and we should all get behind the team not speculate Keane's demise. LIke many of us on here we were brought up watching great and good Ipswich sides, the last couple of seasons have been mediocre at best and I don't think that's where we belong, if we have to take a couple of steps back before marching forward then so be it. Roy Keane is the right man big enough to take the sh*t while we do it. If we're in this position February you can publicly flog me down Portman Road!

0

stiffshorts added 15:49 - Oct 1 don't forget; a lot of nerds who post on here are the daughters/sons of their cousins etc. They're not Town fans. True fans are behind Keane's revolution. Revolutions begin at the bottom and work to root out all that is wrong with the current regime Viva la revolucion' Vive la Keano Vive la Town.
0

tractorboybig added 15:53 - Oct 1 How easily fooled the morons at this club are by professional spin. Evans has made millions from ripping rich clients off,Clegg uses his golden tounge to keep everybody happy in everthing without any substance, and Roy is relatively new to the game of management. Results are the only yard stick and after 20% of the season we are bottom and crap. Face reality this club is in free fall to the first division.You could argue we are beyond repair,very depressing.

0

ItfcFtw added 16:01 - Oct 1 Simple factor is, we need two cb's and a striker. End of matter....
0

GoingUp added 16:27 - Oct 1 Come on give the man & team a chance 7 out of the 1st 10 games have been against teams that currently sit in the top 10. Let's get amoungst teams outside of that and get winning 5 of our next 10!
0

WickedBlue added 16:34 - Oct 1 byebyesheepshanks your a pillock the username you chose proves that. A vote of confidence can very well and most probably does mean just that. Very good article and it sounds that Cleggg is sincre. So lets get this show on the road on saturday get our first win and start building the the confidence of the team. Oh and lets gets this experienced CB in, before we have to play Bruce again.

0

AJblue added 17:04 - Oct 1 Can I ask,without getting a torrent of abuse, all of the RK haters,what is your problem with him? Before you answer, I believe that we all have the right to voice our own opinion, but i find the endless negative posts so depressing, that no matter what the news story, you can guarantee that ther will be several comments calling for RK'S sacking, all from the same people. So I ask whats the problem? Is it just because of where we are in the league? Is it the type of football we now play? Is it that RK is contraversial, and like me thought it was your duty to dslike him because he was in a very successful Man utd team? Or is it something I am missing? It seems to me that there is only 1 valid reason above,and surely given time (ie his 2 year contract) we will be challenging where we belong. Surely changing the manager now, could prove to be a disaster. Any new manager cany buy until January, and would need to assess the squad as RK has done, all of which takes time. So, basically I dont seea choice,lets all try and enjoy the ride up the table, which I am sure will happen very soon.Relegation is not an option,neither this season, i fear, is promotion. But exciting, pretty football with lots of goals (at both ends!) is I am genuinly interested in your responses

0

FormerlyCGS added 17:06 - Oct 1 Wickedblue - can you not see everyone else saying on here that an opinion is an opinion and does nto make anyone a pillock. read between the lines. We are bottom of the league, without a win. the chances are he will be sacked sooner or later - managers have been sacked this year that are in a better position. In the past managers have got votes of confidence and then sacked days after - how do you know this wont happen here. I HOEP IT DOES. KEANE OUT

0

julesbda added 17:14 - Oct 1 Interesting comments injuredanimal ... as the great Winston Churchill once said " WHEN THE EAGLES ARE SILENT , THE PARROTS BEGIN TO JABBER !! "
0

Mark added 17:25 - Oct 1 I am not a Roy Keane hater, I would love him to do well. It isn't about personalities, it is about results. The fact is we are bottom of the league and have not won a match. Is it because of Keane's management style, hard approach, tactics, signings? Most of his signings have not (yet) performed well and we are still lacking in several areas of the pitch. People are righting saying we need a centre-back and striker, but I am also very worried about left-back and defensive-midfielder. For now I say stick with Keane and see if things improve. If we continue as we are however, we cannot afford to leave it until January as by then the gap to safety would be too big and we would get relegated! Hopefully October will be a good month, with the slightly less tough fixtures we have, and we can look forward once again to a brighter future.

0

BoxerBlue added 18:11 - Oct 1 Callumgarryskeemer OUT!! Are u a budgie in disguise??
0

tractorboybig added 18:16 - Oct 1 its nice having a two year contract perhaps we will end up in div 2. Still give the man a chance.
0

RomeoZondervan added 18:49 - Oct 1 This week I have mostly been eating strawberry pop tarts
0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls