:(
really believed this one would work out...

ClassyIpswichLass - Lamborghini started off making tractors ...

A number have said he cant have gone to Burnley for footballing reasons but their manager has joined with a good reputation, admittedly in the lower leagues, and CA knows him already. Football is a money business and my impression is that ME wants to control the purse strings more tightly than the initial period as promotion was not achieved. He wants/needs promotion to get a return on his investment as soon as poss given the time that has already elapsed but this does not mean paying up for every potentially good opportunity as however good they sound they don't always work. Risk/reward ...

ClassyIpswichLass - Lamborghini started off making tractors ...

A number have said he cant have gone to Burnley for footballing reasons but their manager has joined with a good reputation, admittedly in the lower leagues, and CA knows him already. Football is a money business and my impression is that ME wants to control the purse strings more tightly than the initial period as promotion was not achieved. He wants/needs promotion to get a return on his investment as soon as poss given the time that has already elapsed but this does not mean paying up for every potentially good opportunity as however good they sound they don't always work. Risk/reward ...

Genuine inside info, Keane was never interested in Austin but ITFC have been tracking him for 2 seasons, we then get close then fook it up

"Topps" do all us REAL ipswich fans a favour and jump ship to Norwich will ya....

I agree with E18blue, Burnley have a good crack at the play-offs and he has a relationship with Eddie Howe.

it's not the end of the world.

Untried at our level Austin is close to Howe and his agent simply got him a better deal at Burnley - doesn't matter what PJ or SC said or did. I expect some of you would have handed Austin and agent a blank cheque just like RK did for Lee Martin, and I can still remember the outrage on here after 'we' discovered that Martin was (back then) less than average. PJ is a proper football man, and if they want to play for us 100%, he will gradually get proper footballers in. This one got away but there will be others. Get over it.

What a disappointment. How short sighted of the club.We could have looked at him as part of a new, long term team of players that we so desperately need. With so many players out of contract soon, we need to invest on in a nucleus of bright young and exciting players to help carry the team forward and offer some stability.

We will rue the day we missed out on him!

For those of u slagging off Evans get a life were the fcuk do think we would be now in lg 1 or 2 skint if he didn't throw a crap load of money to save this club granted we still maybe but i have faith in the lads and PJ to get us out of this , if this kid cant see the potential of town ( i know it dont seem that way at the mo ) and would rather go to a club that lets face it will never achive as much as this club has done and will do in the future SOD him . Belive he will regret it in the end .

How long will it take for Evans and Clegg to realise that to get decent players, you've got to offer them decent wages? Even after 2 years or so at the club, they still appear to be clueless as to how the world of football works.

Swindon fan in peace. Austin's got potential but not sure if he will achieve it. All the stories round Swindon are of womanising, late night clubbing and putting on the pounds (weight that is!) although I think he's a little greedy £££ wise too. He has been poor for the last few months, missing sitters and moping around on the pitch. When he's played against decent centre backs he can be blotted out of the game. Good luck for the rest of the season - just hope we escape relegation. We've actually got a decent bunch of players individually. Some people reckon Austin's been a bad influence in the dressing room. Maybe you've had a lucky escape - he seems to be turning into a prima donna. At least you have got a decent manager now and not that crazy Keane!!! Adios.

Calm down folks. Its pretty obvious that we've got a wage structure to keep to (otherwise we go bust). Burnley have their parachute payments so can afford to pay a lot more in wages. We move on.

I'm no fan of clegg but why is everyone getting so upset with clegg and the issue of not meeting his wage demands. How about he probably would prefer to go to burnley because he feels there a better club and stand a better chance of going? Just a suggestion.

But clegg managed to land the Brazil 2012 team so thats all fine then! Muppet!
If we cant sign a league one 21 year old striker what chance have we got when a real gem comes along? pathetic! we will end up with a panic buy like lard ar$e Scotland again you wait and see!
We should be paying these players the going rate!
To be honest i think that Evans has given up on his goal and is just happy to plod along.....Show some ambition FFS!

Clegg you are one of the worst things to have ever happened to this Club. We are going backwards at a rate of knots with you here. Now clear off! Clegg out

I'd like to say I'm amazed that the signing of Charlie Austin didn't go through.....
but I'd be fu**ing lying out of my ass!!

Simon Clegg...hmmm, now tell me just what has he done & what does he actually do for our club apart from sweet FA?

We never used to be that good at signing players but know we are bloody useless!!

Weird one considering the amount we're paying for Bullard. So Austin's terms must have been outrageous for someone that young or we've not made Suffolk an attractive enough proposition financially. I think one thing any Chief Exec has to wisen up to is that we'll always have to go that extra mile on wages to make it more desirable to young players. Sleep Suffolk or the doorstep of Manchester at 21? Mmm...

Burnley is a hole though!

possible greed from an unproven player, bet he didnt offer to structure the deal depending on his performances!!
We want players at PR who want to be here, jog on CA

Thanks Phi1 - interesting to hear that ..maybe he came across like that in the discussions - It is amazing how many young English players go that way - Footballers and Agents - it really is ANOTHER WORLD THEY LIVE IN

Just read what the Swindon fan posted earlier and maybe just maybe Burnley have done us a favour. Not sure why it is Cleggs fault. There are not many CEOs in football who are actually football men!

There should be a wage structure in place at PR otherwise there will come a time when ME will stop pouring millions into the place

At the end of the day Austin is a good Division one player, not a great division one player. The step up is very big and maybe he might not actually be able to adapt.

Still gives the many schoolchildren on here something to get upset about. Beats homework!!

Atleast come out and tell us why the deal couldn't be done! If it is simply money then that's a joke, and obviously the deal of bullard faulted that! Come on Clegg let's have it!

From a very good source.... CLEGG OFFERED HIM EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT HE IS ON RIGHT NOW AT SWINDON!
He never wanted to go North but suprisingly didn't want to move his entire family for the same money as what he's on now! He is rated as a top goal scorer with huge potential.. He came to our club yesterday to get a deal done, but instead we pushed him upto our competitors in Burnley - what a friggin joke!
I am sure this guy will go on to be a decent scorer at this level and will be worth many more millions in time! Another one slips through our fingers!
Wake up all the Clegg defenders the man is a useless plumb!

another one slips through the net. How can Clegg sit there and say that the ambition is to get to the prem as soon as possible, then not do what is necessary to get a quality goal scorer who would clearly help us achieve this. Im not surprised he has joined Burnley if we cant show any ambition and true desire to bring him to the club. Players will join the club that shows they want them the most and unfortunately these days, its the club who is prepared to pay what they want. This deal should of been done last night so he didn't have the chance to speak to anyone else.

hahaha "From a very good source.... CLEGG OFFERED HIM EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT HE IS ON RIGHT NOW AT SWINDON!

Surely no one beleives this qoute haha what a crock of shi*

From a good source my ars* get a grip

Until we are willing to pay higher wages this will keep happening. Unless we can sign a player before the press or other clubs get involved then any half decent (i.e. in demand) player will go to the highest payer. On this basis I think our only hope of promotion in the longer term is either astute (but relatively cheap) buys (a la Burley) and our own young players. Our owner has some ambition but not enough for us to be serious premiership contenders I believe. Mediocrity is most likely here to stay!! Sad but realistic I think!