By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions. We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Clegg: Playford Road a Different Place Under Paul Jewell Tuesday, 6th Dec 2011 07:00
Simon Clegg says the atmosphere at Town’s Playford Road training ground has undergone a complete change since Paul Jewell took over as manager in January. The Blues chief executive was speaking at last night’s PLC AGM where assistant boss Chris Hutchings stood in for Jewell, who was absent on what Clegg described as “important family business”.
Clegg says he believes progress has been made in Jewell's time in charge, despite the current run of seven successive defeats: “I think you only need to go up to Playford Road to feel the complete change in the atmosphere up there.
“We’ve got a much closer, much more cohesive group of individuals working together, and I think that can only be good for what happens on the pitch.
“Last Tuesday aside, there was absolutely no question on Saturday that those players were passionate and were very unlucky [against Watford].
"They were playing for themselves, they were playing for this club and they were playing for the manager.”
The Blues chief executive says there’s no alarm at Portman Road despite the current run and with Town sitting 21st in the Championship: “I’m not shying away from [the results]. We are where we are and it’s a bloody uncomfortable position. I don’t take any pleasure at all in standing up at an AGM on the back of seven back-to-back losses.
“Up until Portsmouth we were on a good run, but let’s not suggest that we’re in panic mode at the moment, because we’re not. Things are bad and we need to turn things around, but I’m confident that we will do.”
He says that if the defeats continue to rack up then the situation will be addressed as and when: “If we get to that point we’ll be thinking about it as we’re going along.
“I’m not going to speculate in terms of what may or may not happen and when it may or may not happen. What I’m focused on now is turning these results around.”
Clegg, who is as yet unconcerned by fears of relegation, reiterated that while Roy Keane’s tenure may have been viewed as a quick fix, Paul Jewell’s appointment marked a more measured approach: “It's about the long-term.
“A couple of people here were talking about short-term gains but we’ve made it very clear since Paul’s arrival that this is about a long-term game-plan in terms of putting in place the building blocks that will take us up.
“OK, we’ve taken a couple of steps back over recent weeks, but I’m confident that we’ll turn things around. We’re still some distance from the halfway point of the season yet.”
The meeting itself, chaired by David Sheepshanks, who remains the chairman of the PLC, which owns 12.5% of the club, was a surprisingly muted affair given the current on-field woes.
Chris Hutchings took a question about the age of the side, saying that that wasn’t the issue behind the recent downturn and that the same players had been involved in the earlier good run, also highlighting the progress of youngsters such as Joe Whight and Byron Lawrence.
The running down of former defender Gareth McAuley’s contract was criticised, Clegg responding that it was part of a collective decision to give manager Jewell and his staff time to assess the existing players when they came to the club in January before offering new deals.
Hutchings was questioned about Michael Chopra’s progress, telling shareholders that the striker has trained every day since his recent spell at the Sporting Chance Clinic and that he was also coming in for additional sessions as he continues a recovery from his gambling addiction which will take some while.
Match day prices were criticised, Clegg saying that a lot of thought goes into deciding them and that his main priority is to protect season ticket holders, adding that he was disappointed to have to increase their cost after five years ahead of this campaign.
There was applause after one shareholder suggested that fans were frustrated not to see more young players being given a chance. Hutchings answered that they are the club’s future with Josh Carson cited as someone who has made the breakthrough.
Others, he said, are progressing from the U18s into the reserves and will get their chance in the first team. But, as fans will have seen with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas after his summer move from Arsenal, young players can be inconsistent. He praised the job U18s coach Russell Osman is doing.
Clegg gave his backing for the club’s youth set-up: “Every single person in this room, myself included, would like to see 11 players in the starting XI, all of whom have come through the academy.
“We will continue to invest and prioritise the academy accordingly and we will continue to select players when it’s right and when they are ready to move into the first team.”
He added that the decision whether to opt for Category One or Two status when the Premier League-led changes to the system come in for next season will be made between him, manager Paul Jewell and owner Marcus Evans.
Hutchings said that whether the players whose loans are up in the near future — Danny Collins, Keith Andrews and Reece Wabara — will remain at Portman Road depends on a number of factors, not least their parent clubs’ plans for them and that the situation will become clearer in January.
All the meeting's resolutions — including the re-election of Roger Finbow and Philip Hope-Cobbold to the PLC board — were passed by the 158 of the overall 3,790 shareholders present and the evening was wrapped up within 40 minutes.
Photo: Action Images
Photo: Action Images
Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
Any questions asked with regards to pot available for the January transfer window and if the plan taking into account it's 'long term' was to look at recruiting young, hungry, lower league players?
You have no idea what makes a footballer or how to run a football club. You are deluded to think this squad is any good.
This from the man who only last month questioned Jordan Rhodes ability to make it in the Championship. How can we have any faith in a CEO of a football club who thinks in this ridiculous manner.
ITFC's problems started when you joined, you have employed two duff managers, you should not be given the chance to make the same mistake again.
"He says that if the defeats continue to rack up then the situation will be addressed as and when: “If we get to that point we'll be thinking about it as we're going along"
“I'm not going to speculate in terms of what may or may not happen and when it may or may not happen. What I'm focused on now is turning these results around.”
a very well worded comment but hardly a ringing endorsement of PJ
Very easy to talk about the younger players, but when will they be given a chance when we continue to add loan squad players rather than those who will benefit the first X1 AND the younger players development?
Still think we need to stick by PJ as he did inherit a mess, but he needs to realise the core values of the club and the importance of playing the right way
Stick by PJ and get behind the team, they showed sat that they do care and PJ played a decent team, he left bullard out and JET who have both been awful this season so he can see what we see! The team or the manager ain't gona perform with everyone on their backs! Back the team or stay at home!!!!
Barnsley will turn up sat thinking they will smash us which will be a big mistake as I think we will get a decent win!!!
More evidence of the woeful management of Roy Keane then - he should have been sacked much sooner to prevent the club getting into such a state.
So, Paul Jewell takes training, he watches the reserves, he watches the youth matches, he travels here there and everywhere scouting, he is involved in nearly all aspects of the club's decision making including wages and transfer fees...everything is so right about him except for our recent run of results. I really hope he is able to turn it round.
The future of our football club could be hinging on what sort of adademy we go for - GRADE ONE PLEASE!! If not, it seems Norwich will have a massive advantage over us. Youth is our future, it has to be.
For all thats wrong with our club at the moment its refreshing to see that we are prepared to back jewell and give him time to turn things round. I hope the improved showing against watford is the turning point for the season. Come on town.
There lays the problem in clegg. Eadt reports that he thinks progress is being made. That is worrying.
Sense of de ja vu from last year as he pretty much said the same thing about rk. Given he and me have appointed rk and PJ he has to safe face on this.
We don't pay to watch them train and points are not given for effort in football. Carry on as we are and only fans at games will be season ticket holders and those that do go atmosphere is worst it has been.
Barnsley away on a cold yorkshire evening will show what this team has to offer. A big week.
Oh, and Andrews is our top scorer so who will replace his goals from midfield in the second half of the season.
this has just confirmed to me that our club is the the RIGHT hands from chairman - CEO - and manager. i have said it before things will get worst before they get better, but better they will get.
Lots of "Doublespeak" in there, espicially with "may, may not, when" etc. I hope everythings is as good as he says it says. Sounds as though everythings fine and under control. So that's a relief...
And there certainly is alarm at Portman Road.
"Wuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu"
"This Sound.....is a ......."
Shame it's not "Where were you Hiding when the Storm Broke" by *The* Alarm, but it'll do.
Worst run of results since 1994/5 season (that was in the Premier league) Dire one up front football League position far worse than same time last year Relying on aging players - NOT youth - youngsters not given the chance Attendances falling dramatically.
Clegg/ME are clearly deluded. It is FAR worse under PJ.
Phew! That's amazing news isn't it? There I was thinking that things were really falling apart and it was becoming as bad as the Keane-era - BUT in fact, "there's a really great atmosphere at Playford Road". That's alright then isn't it? Our overpaid old journeymen are at least having a bit of a laugh at the training ground.
I BET THEY ARE!!!
Win, lose or draw - promotion/relegation - it's all pretty much the same really isn't it if you're at the end of a career and no-one else wants you.
Here's to ITFC - the kind and caring old folks home with a lovely atmosphere for its residents. I am feeling better about this whole nightmare already. Thanks Mr Clegg - you really have your finger on the pulse...
Of coarse the atmosphere changed, the Dark Lord walked out of the door for ever. On the good early run, the oldies were not so tired then.?? Jewell visiting his family, yes he has to put in an appearence now and again because they do not live here, he has not commited himself to settle in the area. Barnsley away hey 5.20 kick off on sky, almost a year ago( bar a week,) that we had the same kick off time at P.R. when the heavens opened with that SNOW FALL let us hope that the snow fall again, because we played well that night and WON !!!!!
What a load of rubbish it is worse than I thought I was at least hopeful the rot would stop if Jewell went either clegg should win an oscar for backing the man who could not be bothered to turn up or he is a waste of space too. The club is not interested in our youth we may as well fold the academy they will not be given a chance by a fat scouser who prefers pensioners and a CEO who agrees. Relegation and no crowd is the future and then his pensioners will walk because he cant afford to pay them
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
