Blues chief executive Simon Clegg has been named the official Olympic attaché for the Pacific island of Guam, who are sending six athletes to this summer’s Games in London. Clegg, who prior to joining the Blues in 2009 had spent 20 years and 12 summer and winter Games with the BOA as deputy general secretary and then chief executive, says he’s looking forward to enjoying this Olympics without the responsibilities that were his at previous Games.

The Town chief, who led Team GB to 47 medals - 19 gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze — in Beijing as chef de mission four years ago, was involved with the 2012 bid from the start and was amongst those to sign the contract giving the Games to London.

His involvement with Guam means he will receive an access all areas pass having previously had no entitlement to tickets for the Games.

Clegg explained his role to the Daily Telegraph: “I’m still friendly with a lot of people in the Olympic movement — international colleagues that I’ve known for 20 years. One of those colleagues kindly gave the opportunity to be the official Olympic attaché for Guam.

“It’s not particularly demanding because obviously they are a small country with a tiny team and I will do whatever I can to support during the build-up and will continue to do so during the Games.

“The kind of jobs involved are speaking to people about uniforms, doing some work on the vehicles for them, and they’ve asked me to organise a team reception for them.”

The 52-year-old, who remains an athlete commission member at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), told TWTD that Town will be his main focus over the summer despite his obvious interest in the Games: “I think it will be a great event and I’m privileged that I played some small role in bringing them here. My priority is here at the football club but I’m sure I’ll get down for a few events.

“It’ll be quite exciting to see some events without having the pressure of managing 305 two-legged athletes and 18 four-legged athletes.”

Clegg says he plans to watch Blues central defender Tommy Smith in action with New Zealand: “I have spoken to Tommy and have said that I’ll endeavour to catch up with him at some of the football games.”

The Town chief executive dismisses widespread rumours that he will move on from Portman Road once the Olympics — for which Town owner Marcus Evans is the authorised ticket reseller for Ireland, Greece and Malta — are over: “It would be news to me.

“I’m still incredibly committed to this club, I’m still very ambitious for it and I want to enjoy some success with the club.”

Photo: Action Images

SuperReuser added 17:35 - May 15 Clegg has done nothing wrong here... hes allowed a few days off just like he rest of us... plus im sure hes still be keeping an eye on things at town. lets not turn into blackburn here and turn against everyone for no reason. he is human as well. if i was him id do exactly this. Clegg in!
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blues1 added 17:49 - May 15 wake up folks. he works for marcus evans who is highly involved with corporate hospitality at the olympics. im sure it would be with mes blessing that he spends time for the length of the olympics away form his job here.(no different than having a holiday neway). while hes away me & pj will deal with transfers. so where really is the problem with this. just get a life instead of just criticising everything the guy does just because youve got nothing better to say

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h32 added 18:10 - May 15 .......... that's him tied up for the summer - do I feel an excuse coming on for NO positive transfer action between now and August ?? - YES I do. Let's see what the interest level in ITFC is like after the Olympics shall we ?? ..... hope it's what we would like it to be !! .........
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h32 added 18:22 - May 15 ...... never mind mugs - you've bought your season tickets - doubt if anymore will be sold now.
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buryblue77 added 19:40 - May 15 h32, maybe we could hope that it has been 'suggested' that he go and look for another job and that's why he's off to help out. Then we can get a real CEO in with a proven track record in football and start to make things happen at our club, like signing players and not missing out. Or I could just wake up...........
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Tractamatt added 19:40 - May 15 This can only mean Jewell and Evans doing the deals this summer so can only be good news for us, wonder whose idea it was.Is Jewell still on holiday?
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walberswick added 19:57 - May 15 Spend £40 million on a club, get Crusty the Clown to run it. Why?
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TimmyH added 20:14 - May 15 any good players on Guam he could get hold off?...oh sorry it's Cleggy he'd f@*k it up!
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shaunest1 added 20:18 - May 15 ....wat a joke,we should be your 1 and only priority,and wat the hell is a 4 legged athlete...confused.com...
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buryblue77 added 20:20 - May 15 timmy, not sure he's even capable of that lol
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buryblue77 added 20:43 - May 15 “The kind of jobs involved are speaking to people about uniforms, doing some work on the vehicles for them, and they've asked me to organise a team reception for them.” So what's he doing? Some work on the vehicles? Taking Chops down there for an oil an filter change?
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braveblue added 20:46 - May 15 He is a disgrace. Dreadful seasons since he has been involved and he swans off to the Games. A complete disgrace. How ME ever made money is beyond me.
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scooterblue added 21:10 - May 15 can they keep him and we can get a proper football minded CEO.
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colchesterchris added 22:48 - May 15 Blimey, I assume everyone on here spends all of their holidays each year 100% working! He's still an employee, regardless of the position he holds, therefore he has the right to do what he likes on his time off. If ME has approved this, which he quite clearly has, then its Marcus you should be ranting about for approving this holiday, not Clegg! My word, our attendance figures would be even worse if they were measured in IQ's :/

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 03:53 - May 16 Im pretty sure mobile phones work in London, its quite a large place !! chrisgoodchild - thank goodness for some sense
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HK_Bluey added 06:48 - May 16 Will try and avoid the slanging that seems to proliferate in other posts on here....just a couple of points to make: 1. There is little evidence in this article to suggest that the level of SC's involvement in the Olympics over the summer will have a detrimental impact on our summer transfer business (and yes, even SC should be entitled to some time off....). Lets judge the success or otherwise of that by results next season, not by the number of 'targets' we are linked with who end up going to other clubs, which seems to be the preoccupation of some on here! 2. What has Simon Clegg's previous career experience got to do with his potential in this role? (David Gill - Accountant, Peter Kenyon - CEO of Umbro, Nicola Cortese (Southampton) - Italian Banker etc). How many CEOs are 'true football men?' and what does this even mean?? That said, I think there is a strong case that to succeed in the future CEOs of football clubs will need to think and act more like CEOs of large corporate entities in which case you can expect many more accountants and bankers!!! That should be really entertaining to read some of the views when that (inevitably) happens....courtesy of the FFP rules clubs will need to start operating like proper businesses.

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itfc1981 added 07:27 - May 16 'Simon Clegg left Olympic sport, and he has no credibility in football. To sort that out he's trying to make friends with his new football chums, so he's forgotten all the promises that were made,' said Daley Thompson. Spot on Daley
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spanish_archer added 08:09 - May 16 @chrisgoodchild. Sure everyone is allowed a holiday but this ain't a holiday....He's working! That's the point. Let's see in August when we haven't signed the players we want, revenue hasn't been increased etc etc. @HK_Bluey. And there is no evidence managing an Olympic team will seal the football deals. Let's see if David Gill, Kenyon, or delia start managing the Olympic affairs of some dot in the ocean to help seal up players. I rather think not. It stinks, we are in a mess and with FFP coming no longer can we rely on Marcus's money to buy our way out of this. Clegg needs to take a long hard look at himself. Spot on Daley. And if one person defends Clegg, please reply with the most positive impact he has had on this great club.

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dalinghooblue added 11:52 - May 16 Mr Clegg is an employee of ME. ME has interests in the Olympic Games. The words piper and tune spring readily to mind
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HK_Bluey added 12:34 - May 16 @spanish_archer: There is similarly no evidence that SC's involvement will adversely impact the deals we seal (which was the point I was making). In terms of other interests, I am pretty sure that Delia still has business interests outside of NCFC and Peter Kenyon as I recall was a key member of the World Cup 2018 bid. The article does not say that he is managing the Guam team but that he has agreed to be their official olympic attache. It does not sound like an onerous task to me and certainly not one to get in the way of ITFC business. Too much being made of the mess we are in. 2-4 decent signings and I think we will have good season. No evidence at this stage that this is a goal beyond the capabilities of the current management team at our beloved club. Whatever happens in the transfer window, we need to judge whether it was good business based on the results we achieve next season and the platform we build to be successful under FFP.

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spanish_archer added 13:32 - May 16 @hk_bluey - Of course there is no evidence that SC's involvement will affect any deals, as it's in the future. My point is: The olympics run July 27 to August 12. The premier league kicks of August 18 (Championship not announced yet). That potentially leaves him a week from the start of the season (depending when the Championship kicks off). From June until the start of the Olympics is Euro 2012 and historically football teams don't do much business over major tournaments (not that we will be targeting these kind of players) and the main holiday season for players. Clegg should be 100% focused on ITFC in the final four weeks before the season starts. I honestly don't understand how anyone can think our CEO can help his employees by diversifying into other areas...unless he just wants free tickets and a jolly. Time will tell as always!

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Tiggs added 13:33 - May 16 Sponger!!!!!
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HK_Bluey added 16:23 - May 16 El Bow, many CEOs have developed the ability to multi-task (it is usually considered an important pre-requisite of the role) most have interests outside their primary appointment. It appears you think SC is incapable of either of these things. I think I have already recognized the events we are debating are in the future as I have suggested we all need to wait to see what is going to happen. I am still not clear what has convinced you this is going to prevent us from achieving our close season objectives.

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HK_Bluey added 16:34 - May 16 SA, just seen your last comment, agree with you that time will tell. I also believe that both SC and PJ need to make good progress on the results that came from last years summer trading. Still believe they will but respect the views of those who don't. COYB
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h32 added 18:32 - May 16 chrisgoodchild & Bobblehat - self assessment obviously.
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