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

llewej_tuo added 17:41 - Dec 6 "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 " Wot u bangin on at Keane for ... heres both there IPSWICH records u muppet Keane ... games 81, lost 28 Jewell ... games 43, lost 22 Now, take a long hard look at that fact. Check wikipedia, the facts are there u muppet ... Where will Jewells dismal record of defeats end ??? JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT

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h32 added 18:07 - Dec 6 ......... there is a 'naivety sickness' spreading thro' the supporters of this Club - Clegg must be having a huge laugh at the expense, yes expense, of some of you. Progress judged by the 'atmosphere at Playford Road' ??????? - just cannot believe any other CEO, or even this one, would make such a statement when we are in a potentially serious relegation battle. As some (with a bit of ambition about them) have already stated :- ' bet it is a happy place for some of them' - and they're probably laughing all the way to the Bank too.

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bluearmy4life added 18:26 - Dec 6 So things are a different place at the training ground compared to the Keane Era. That to me is just another vote of confidence for PJ. You three muppets will take us to league 1 if we aren't careful.....Oh but they did try against Watford and we were so unlucky not to win. Not good enough I'm afraid.
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tomisamos added 19:59 - Dec 6 itfc1981 - the real deadweight in this team in terms of age are Ingimarson, Bowyer, and Bullard. You agreed you wanted one of the three of them. Otherwise, at 30/31 you can still do the job, and do it well for another two or three years. To me, the signings looked more like building a basis of proper football with proper footballers that the young players could learn from and fit into. The only injury prone player is Sonko. But. again, we've taken that on evidence of his first two months here. and even if he is injury prone, he's only here for a year and is on an 85% wage cut. Hardly sapping the expenses. Now this plan hasn't worked and despite the quality of the players at our disposal, they are not performing, but I'm sick of it being called a retirement home just because Bowyer and Bullard are journeymen (and were both dropped accordingly over the course of the last couple of games). As for Carson, you just said he's inconsistent. So was Danny Haynes. So was Dean Bowditch. So was Matt Richards (or worse). To be honest so was Wickham, he would go games and games without looking like scoring then go on a fantastic run. You could say the same about all of our youth players. Why? Because they are youth players. You can't build a team on them alone. You also say Martin has no product. Jewell duly drops him and now we have no width. JET being crap is also harsh in my opinion. He's not fit in the way that we'd like, but his touch and ability is clear, he needs to pick up a consistent run and score a couple of goals and I'm convinced he'll start to look like the player we bought him to be. But that would need patience, and as I've seen with almost every young player who has come through here, including the above names and more, ITFC fans have no patience with their youth. They just don't. Any of them that break through (Peters, Haynes, Bowditch, Richards, Roberts, Smith, Ainsley, Carson) are berrated after about a months worth of hype because they are not the complete player. Well no sh*t. Are you surprised Jewell bought in some experianced proven players to try and steady the ship?? The fact that almost all of them, perhaps bar Andrews and Collins, haven't performed is an anomaly. They should be at least mid table and had they snatch results from Reading and Watford, for example, they would be. You're right about the right back. Also, you're right about Chopra, but Jewell is trying to fix his problems and help him and he is also not playing and relying on him. Yet whenever Chopra doesn't play/is taken off the fans moan that he should be playing! Our other strikers are Murphy, who looks good and could sign, Ellington, who's age and stature means he's just there as a solid back up option anyway, Scotland, who since Jewell turned up has looked fired up again, and given the chance scores and JET, who I've discussed. I expect Jewell to assess the midfield in January and add some flair. I think he expected that from Bullard and Bowyer with Martin, JET and Carson to provide it on the wings. I think he still hopes to see it from Leadbitter, who is still only just into his prime years as a footballer, don't forget. It hasn't happened, but it should have. Expect him to change it as the only player who looks up for it is Andrews, who I thought was an unnecessary gamble when we took him yet has proved by far our best midfielder, perhaps player. However, if he isn't given time, he won't sort it and we'll get a new manager try to completely re-build and re-shape the club. Which is also going to bring about some painful results and runs of form. To summarise, I know there are big problems, we should be doing much better than we are. However, by that I'm implying we have the potential to re-build in front of us and I believe our current crop, with maybe one or two changes in January, including offloading a couple of our uniterested midfielders and we will sort this. I still hold onto comments such as those from Sam Allerdice that we were West Ham's toughest challenge. It's the same set of players. Sacking Jewell now is a quick fix. We're not even in the relegation places yet, just, and if we were to win our next two or three we'd be long shot of them again. This is a terrible run of form, but we can bounce back. I think a lot of people are prepared to criticise anything Jewell does now, regardless of whether it's a sensible move. I also think there's alot of use of hindsight, because in the summer I think at least half of the boo boys would have probably seen ours as a strong squad. Jewell has seen what needs to change, he's clearly aware of the fans, and I think he'll bring the change. I still would take this over having had to watch Keane for another year.

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tomisamos added 20:06 - Dec 6 llewej tuo - I've looked at wikipedia before. Here are some stats you may have forgotten... Jewell wins: 17 Keane wins: 28 Jewell win rate: 38% Keane win rate: 34% Taken into a wider context, I believe Jewell has the potential to out do Keane if he starts winning within the next two games. Less draws, more goals, there are more stats you coulld have used, I suppose you didn't want to... I'm not saying mine are better. I'm just saying to think that Keane was worse doesn't really make someone a 'muppet'.

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llewej_tuo added 21:20 - Dec 6 tomisamos -- u missing my point Keane --- 81 games, 28 lost Jewell ---- 43 games, 22 lost so you are telling me, that in the next 38 games, Jewell is only going to loose 5 more games !! therefore beating Keanes record after 81 games ? hahaahahhahaahahaahahahahahahahaah ......... muppet JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT

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h32 added 21:33 - Dec 6 tomisamos - some good and rightful points made. As much as I had no confidence in Jewell from the beginning - I had hoped otherwise, and genuinely wanted him to be successful. I, and many others I suspect, have to admit to being reasonably impressed with the squad of players that he has assembled and, of course, we all expected much better from. One important consideration had to be tho' that 'older' players would feel the pace at some point, and adequate provision made in the overall plan. In some ways I think we are quite shocked that none of it has happened. However, PJ's tactics, substitutions, etc; must have surprised and confused even his most ardent ally - and after all, if he is not getting the expected return from said player/players then it has to be down to him. The buck stops there. In addition, his apparent attitude to playing youngsters and associated pace we desperately need - amazes me. He is not getting from the older, experienced players, what he should have been able to expect, but he has some strange ideas i.e Leadbitter as Team Captain, in so doing, stating that the role is largely unimportant. Just one example of where he is not helping himself, or endearing himself, to his most experienced players, who know the game and I would guess, to a man, would disagree with him. All things considered I still believe he is not, and never was, up to the task - although I still hope for his and the Clubs sake, he proves me wrong. Even now.

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llewej_tuo added 21:56 - Dec 6 " tomisamos - some good and rightful points made. " WHERE !! JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT
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Tractorboy24 added 22:28 - Dec 6 Considering the fact that the academy has produced about £40m worth of talent over the last 15 years (£6m each for dyer, wright, bramble and bent plus £12m with the wickham deal and then players like ambrose and Rhodes) surely it's a no brainer whether to spend the money on being a grade one academy? God knows where we'd get income from otherwise!
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tomisamos added 02:16 - Dec 7 llewej tuo - no I'm just saying that rather talking talking about losses perhaps we should talk about points gained. I think Jewell could well beat that record given time and January. Also, the question 'where?' need's a question mark. Just one example of your clear small mindedness, I shall pay more attention to h32 who actually reads, thinks about and constructively responds to people with the bigger picture in mind. Not just some crazed anger at the manager.

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tomisamos added 02:34 - Dec 7 h32 - I can see exactly where you're coming from. I think Leadbitter was meant to be that younger talent, and I really think he needs to let that go and look for someone like Henry who we were linked to who will energise that midfield a bit more and allow the playmakers to playmake. I was a fan of the diamond when it first happened, but it needed to be Andrews or Leadbitter holding and in the end it went to pieces, I'm glad we seem to maybe be moving on. Having said that, Jewell realised quickly, despite what some might say, that we needed two up front, and it has worked wonders for Scotland. If Chopra hadn't been not entirely focused so far those two could have been brilliant together, against Coventry they showed some real class. Some of the tactics in game have been poor, though I agree. I've seen moves I've agreed with too, though and I think at times there's been a spark in the play that we hadn't seen for a while. For example, against Southampton Jewell's tactics at half time were spot on to bring on JET and change the formation. It worked at had we had a less shocking defense we'd have won that game, as their fourth goal came as we had them completely on the back foot and after that goal we were crushed. I agree with you that the captain debate is ridiculous, Jewell is wrong there and his captain has proved him wrong. I guess the problem is that Jewell brings a lot of problems to the table that we're used to. We've seen Jim and Keane make terrible decisions (Jim always made his changes far too late to make an impact, for instance), we've seen too many big names and large amounts of money invested who became flops (lisbie, campo? McAuley imo compared to De Vos and Wilnis, Miller's return, Priskin) and we've seen too much midtable mediocrity which lurches further towards the relegation battle than the play offs and then ends up just about safe. This has been going on ever since Burley and Royle got us up and down then nearly got us up and it's got tiring for the fans. But it's nothing new and my concern is that bringing in another manager unless he's completely right will just see the same process repeated. Is Jewell up for this? He's thrived out of his depth before. He was out of his depth at Wigan but he found and spurred on a side to compete out of nowhere and years on Wigan are still hanging on in there in the Premiership and those players (Baines, Valencia, Bullard, Ellington, Roberts) came from nowhere, came good and are now well respected names in football. Maybe Jewell can do the same? He's seen it before and I still trust him, but my patience is running out and I think you can testify I've been very patient. But, I suppose like you, I'd far rather the next couple of months see Jewell turn this around like he managed to earlier in the year and maintain the turnaround rather than go through the painful process of a new manager, new team, and the same problems.

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llewej_tuo added 03:15 - Dec 7 " Also, the question 'where?' need's a question mark. Just one example of your clear small mindedness, I shall pay more attention to h32 who actually " whats this !! elocution classes .... u sad little muppet JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT

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Pettitt10 added 10:22 - Dec 7 Clegg out. give PJ time to sign in January. it cost far too much to change managers and then we have to go through the whole transition stage again so there is no point.
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tomisamos added 10:42 - Dec 7 Elocution is where you learn to speak properly, so no. Anyway, seeing as you're clearly not prepared to listen to anything I've actually said about the team I shall address you no further and allow you to call me a muppet one more time. Carry on being unconstructive, maybe you'll get your wish and be able to chant out the next manager this time next year.
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llewej_tuo added 15:29 - Dec 7 tomisamos --- go away, your boring me to death with those replys, there about as "unconstructive as the titanic on its last voyage " ... and to clegg and jewell the clowno muppet ----- its time to play the music, its time to light the lights ... its time to play the music on the muppet show tonight ... lalalalalalala lalalalalala lalalalalalalala JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUTJEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT

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h32 added 17:52 - Dec 7 Tractorboy24 -absolutely right there - it HAS to be Grade One - no other option in my opinion. If otherwise, we really have 'hit the rocks' - I have very little confidence that this will be the decision tho' with certain people owning/running the Club.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 00:02 - Dec 8 that's great news then, i'll swap my season ticket at Ipswich for one at Rushmere.
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