Town chief executive Simon Clegg says the Blues are still to make a decision on whether to opt for Academy Category One or Two status when the changes to the system come into force next season.

He says that while the club knows the figures involved - an annual cost of £1.5 million plus a £750,000 grant from the Premier League for Category One or £480,000 plus a grant of another £480,000 for Category Two — the full details of what will be involved are not yet clear.

Clegg, manager Paul Jewell and owner Marcus Evans will weigh up the pros and cons: “It’s a decision the three of us will come to," he said.

“At the moment they’ve not given us the full detail of what’s involved. They’ve given us the figures, which [for Category One] are a significant increase on what we’re spending at the moment.

“You have to say, what are the benefits of Category One? And one of the benefits is that you can effectively poach on a nationwide basis, but you need to think realistically how many parents from just outside Newcastle are going to let someone under the age of 15 relocate down to Ipswich?

“Most people who have got young teenagers in an ideal world would want them to grow up at home and be able to continue their footballing skills within the normal family arrangement.”

Norwich City have said they will be opting for Category One - Town Academy manager Sammy Morgan's preference from a footballing perspective - but Clegg says that doesn’t necessarily mean the Blues will follow their lead, despite fears that Town's youth set-up might be viewed as a second class system: “We won’t be forced into it. What we will do is do the right thing for this football club.

“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.

“But let’s not lose sight of the additional money that’s going to cost and you have to weigh up the financial benefits in the context of financial fair play.

“It may well be that youth development sits outside that, that’s still to be decided and that’s something which has been mooted, but it’s still an important consideration in terms of the overall financing of a football team. ”

He says he’s well aware of the cash brought in by selling Town’s young talent over the years: “I’ve done a huge analysis in terms of how much money has been generated by the Academy over the years.

“You only need to throw a Connor Wickham, a Titus Bramble or a Kieron Dyer every few years. It’s quite interesting to look at those figures.”

As for the financial fair play developments which Championship clubs signed up to earlier in the year, he says the details of how clubs move to a break-even model are amongst the many unknowns at present: “Nothing’s been set yet, that’s the challenge. “

“There’s going to be a level of deviation that you’re allowed over a period of time. The period of time and the level of deviation is still being determined. There’s still a lot of detail to go on this. I’m told we will get a formal presentation in February.”

Clegg and Town back the proposals with the Blues’ and other sides’ debts growing year on year as clubs compete to sign the best players at this level: “The club supports it as a matter of principle. I come at this like the 23 other clubs in the Championship and that is that we’ll agree with it as long as we can retain some competitive advantage.

“I’m not going to agree to something which is going to be financially disadvantageous to us over and above the other teams. But, of course, every other club is looking at it in exactly the same way.”

The Blues chief admits to being not overly happy with the way the changes to the youth system came about: “I have to say I was hugely frustrated with the academy thing. We were held to ransom by the Premier League.

“Eighteen months ago we agreed to a new solidarity payment and part of the agreement to that was the complete review and restructuring of the academy set-up, and now we find ourselves in this position.

“Would we have voted for the solidarity agreement 18 months ago if we knew what we knew now? I don’t know. The answer to that probably is yes because, let’s not kid ourselves, the Football League is totally dependent on the financial support of the Premier League to continue.”

Meanwhile, a recent graduate of the Academy, midfielder Reggie Lambe, who was released by the club last summer, has had his move to MLS side Toronto FC confirmed.

The 20-year-old will be working under Blues legend Paul Mariner, who is the Canadian club's director of player development.

Photo: Action Images

Postmaster added 11:58 - Dec 8 You only have to consider the ramifications if Norwich and West Ham were both category 1's and we remained a 2. If the ambition is truly there at board level then cat 1 is a must.
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Surco72 added 12:02 - Dec 8 I suggest the people quoting Wark,Burley and Beattie may want to move on it was 40 years ago that these players were in our academy ,the world ,football and Ipswich Town have changed . Saying that Mr Clegg perhaps some of the money the club recieved from the sell of academy star Wickham could be put to financing Cat 1 for a few years to allow us to at least pretend we are aiming to compete with the premiership teams

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itfc1981 added 12:05 - Dec 8 Actually feel physically sick over how ITFC is being run The lowest point in ITFC history is nigh.
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bluearmy4life added 12:11 - Dec 8 We have a Owner who us fans have never met, A pathetic C.E In Clegg who knows nothing about football and running a club no wonder we are failing!!! Have to agree with itfc1981 it is sick how are club is runned.
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RetroBlue added 12:13 - Dec 8 Whether we like it or not , you have to detach from the "romance" of having Ipswich acadamy players developing into the first team - with the cost of developing this "product" and the end return. Football is now a business whetehr you like it not. If is going to cost £2m + EVERY year...by the time aplayer such Wickham is developed and filters through into the 1st team he is already destined to go to a Big Club. The "return" for the majority of these adacamy developed players, will in the main, be far less than the £8m we received for say CW - therefore we will be providing players for the Big Clubs on the cheap((for them) and at a loss to this Club. Why should we ? ITFC is right to question this . The premiership is doing NOTHING for Clubs outside of the Premiership !!

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Pessimistic added 12:36 - Dec 8 Instead of all of us getting impatient with Paul Jewell, it doesn't take a professor of football to know that if anyone should leave Town without delay, it is undoubtedly Simon says!
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Mark added 12:39 - Dec 8 "an annual cost of £1.5 million plus a £750,000 grant from the Premier League for Category One" So is that £750K or £2.25M? I agree it seems we are being softened up for Category 2 and that would be a big big shame. Surely most parents of a 15-year-old give the opportunity to join a Category 1 football academy would be supportive of that youngster following their dream, and excited about being given a good education to get them into the world of professional football!?

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Tiggs added 12:59 - Dec 8 Is there really a decision to make? This really does make very sad reading Mr.Clegg. Maybe we should open a Care Home instead......
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simonsays added 13:02 - Dec 8 Oh what a surprise. Clueless Clegg again!
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Jewell_do added 13:21 - Dec 8 Retro...the point is Clegg seems happy enough to splash out over £20m on spineless mercenaries yet when it comes to the history and tradition of this club we all of a sudden need to save??? Players 40 years ago moved hundreds of miles to follow a dream, it's a bit strange to say they wont in 2012. The attitude is disgusting from him.
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tellitasiseeit added 13:28 - Dec 8 I thought a vast majority of Academy players come from all over the world to join this once great club? A lot further than Newcastle. I totally agree that the only person that should be involved in Academy business is Sammy Morgan.He is the only person who is qualified to know what is best for the running of the Academy? The other three would get rid of the Academy if was to save them a few coppers? They have showed how much intrest they have in the Academy in the past?

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itfchorry added 14:15 - Dec 8 This man is a danger to Ipswich Town FC. He knowns nothing about football or or the proud history of our club. Clegg - You couldn't run a bath Looking forward to hanging out my Clegg Out banner at Barnsley on Saturday. Clegg OUT
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Legend added 14:44 - Dec 8 Mr Clegg, You and Evans have already ripped the life and soul out of this proud, loyal, family friendly, attractive club, now all that is left is for you to do is bury the corpse! Do you know anything about ITFC or football?? What a dire mess we are in , This club is famous up and down the country for producing talent in the form of youth players and yet you question if its worth it? Tell you what, Get rid of Bower, (sick note) Ivar, Bullard, and all the others who dont seem to give a toss, and invest in youth. You will be lucky mr Clegg to see 11,000 home fans next season the way you are going.

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itfchorry added 15:29 - Dec 8 Well Put Legend GET THIS BUFFOON OUT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
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truebluedan added 16:08 - Dec 8 We have no one at this club who believes on building upon our proud history!! Surely mr clegg and co this is the first step on the road to recovery as lets face the facts were in serious trouble and please do not say that we are not, Currently just above the relagation zone after years of so called rebuilding is rubbish! one more think itfchorry is a legend.
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Legend added 16:08 - Dec 8 Why don't TWTD run a poll to see who is happy with Clegg and how ITFC is being managed by this clown? I doubt you would even get 10% in favour of Clegg. Does this man know anything at all??
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itfchorry added 16:14 - Dec 8 Any others with Clegg Out banners for Barnsley on Saturday.
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RevAdrian added 16:25 - Dec 8 I haven't commented on much for ages but this is surely a key moment for the future of Ipswich Town Football Club. Earlier posters here have pointed out a) that Mr Clegg's comments seem removed from reality, b) also that reality includes the likelihood (if we are only second category status) that it will be talented local youngsters who go from here and c) that the likes of Kevin Beattie, George Burley, John Wark were all early signings from a distance - and to that principal we could all add a list of other names who signed for clubs from even further away - Ronaldo and Messi are just two come to mind! That the same man who went on and on about 'excellence' when he first arrived here should utter such a comment about the willingness of potentially elite sportsmen to move beggars belief. Of course it is not a financial decision to be taken lightly but I feel it is a decision which, in years to come, could be looked upon as a key turning point - one way or the other - in our club's history.

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truebluedan added 16:59 - Dec 8 If i was at barnsley saturday id happily help hold the "clegg out" banner
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harlingblue added 19:53 - Dec 8 We MUST be in Academy Category 1, it's not a case of whether some family in Newcastle would want their son to relocate to join us, BUT the total reverse, we would want local talent to have a chance to play for OUR CLUB. Norwich are now the leading lights in this area, having been our poor cousins for many years, they have gone for Cat 1 and if we go for Cat 2, I know who will be grabbing the best of East Anglian talent. Sammy Morgan would know this more than anyone at our Club having been a successful member of the Norwich City youth set up in the distant past.

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h32 added 20:23 - Dec 8 If these people make the decision to go for anything other than Grade/Category 1 Academy - then they have PROVED beyond ANY DOUBT that under their ownership/control - THIS CLUB HAS NO AMBITION AT ALL. I am VERY deeply concerned that they are even considering doing otherwise. Not surprised tho' because they know NOTHING about the game they are involved in - and care, even less, about the long term future of this once great Club of OURS.

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h32 added 20:36 - Dec 8 What's currently happening to this Club in front of all our eyes, I could never have dreamt up. As a 'life long fan/supporter/follower - it chills me to the bone when I think back to the past and all the great times we've had, enjoyed, and more importantly, been a much valued part of. Now, we count for little, if anything - until maybe we stop going - not even sure they would blink an eye lid if we did that. SAD - real sad. And yes - my glass is 'half empty' - for bl##dy good reason.

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h32 added 20:46 - Dec 8 Whatever true 'football people' close to this Club (and we all know them without naming) think of the CEO - I can only imagine. Every day I despair more - because I have, and always will, love this Football Club. In name anyway - because it may be all that's left, the way it's going.
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tellitasiseeit added 21:14 - Dec 8 If we continue to lose any more games,and decide to adopt category 2 status. We do not need any more proof as to how they intend to dismantle our once great club.It will be time for every loyal Ipswich supporter,young or old to make a stand against the people who are killing our club and taking our Children's heritage away from them. It will do them no good burying their heads in the sand and ignoring us. Boycott the games make them lose what they adore, ie MONEY. PICKET the grounds ,Get the MEDIA involved.Let every one know what kind of people we have pretending to be doing a good job for Ipswich? RUBBISH COYB

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tellitasiseeit added 21:19 - Dec 8 I never thought I could get so down and angry about the future prospects for our club.Im sorry about my post its just the way I am feeling right now?
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