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Town Confirm Klug's Return
Town Confirm Klug's Return
Wednesday, 13th Jun 2012 09:00

Town have confirmed Bryan Klug’s return to the club as academy director, as we reported yesterday. In February, TWTD was first to reveal that the Blues were trying to bring the 51-year-old back to Playford Road.

Klug, who has been working as assistant director and head of player development at Tottenham’s academy since leaving Town in 2010, says he is delighted to be returning to where he has spent most of his footballing life: “Everyone knows that Ipswich Town has been a big part of my life.

“I have played for the club, coached here at academy and first-team level and even had a few days as manager!

“It’s been my football club for 30 years of my career and I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to return here and take on the challenge that running an academy in today’s game presents.”

Chief executive Simon Clegg added: “I’m delighted to welcome Bryan back to the club. His record of developing young players is respected throughout the game and when it became clear that we would be looking for a new head of our academy with Sammy Morgan stepping down, Bryan was the obvious candidate.

“Developing our own players continues to be vital to this football club and this in part was my thinking behind this new appointment title.

“The changes that are taking place in the game at academy level present a big challenge for all clubs, but we feel confident that in Bryan we have a man with a wealth of knowledge to drive our youth development programme forward for many years to come.”

Town first approached Klug in February with the Coventry-born coach initially reluctant to go back to the job he vacated in 2006 to become Jim Magilton’s assistant manager.

Klug was Magilton’s second in command until John Gorman’s appointment in 2008, when he moved into a head of football development role and was taking charge of the reserves when he was controversially axed by former boss Roy Keane in January 2010.

Klug, who has remained living in Suffolk while at Spurs, was a youth player with the Blues between 1977 and 1983 but failed to make a senior appearance, moving on to Wimbledon (loan), Chesterfield and Peterborough United and then into non-league football.

He returned to Portman Road in 1987, joining the coaching staff, and in 1998 became the director of the newly formed academy in an era during which Kieron Dyer, Richard Wright, James Scowcroft, Titus Bramble and others emerged.

In 2005 Klug, who has also had spells as caretaker-manager of the Blues, led the academy to the club’s third FA Youth Cup before becoming Magilton’s assistant a year later, shortly after Newcastle United had approached him to run their academy.

Meanwhile, Blues academy graduate Jordan Rhodes, now with Huddersfield, and ex-loanee keeper Alex McCarthy from Reading are reported to be in the 35-man GB squad for the Olympics.

Elsewhere, reports in South Yorkshire claim Town won't be pursuing Sheffield United midfielder Stephen Quinn, the brother of former Blue Alan, despite online rumours to the contrary circulating in recent weeks, particularly amongst Blades fans. Middlesbrough and Blackpool are said to be interested in the 26-year-old Irishman.


Photo: Action Images



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ozzydog added 09:03 - Jun 13
Absolutely brilliant news.

COYB
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Bugs added 09:03 - Jun 13
Great news
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FrimleyBlue added 09:04 - Jun 13
Phil, surely something must have been said about his previous sacking?
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bluelady added 09:09 - Jun 13
Fantastic news, I have not knocked Clegg in the past, i dont think any of us have any idea what he does on a day to day basis etc. However how come he let the dark lord sack such a top coach as Klug only to reinstate him when Keane left? Seems crazy to me but hell what do i know! Great news and hopefully the beginning of something special, looking forward to some home grown talent again!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:11 - Jun 13
Hallelujah! Welcome back, Bryan.
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DoctorPolski added 09:13 - Jun 13
This will be the biggest signing of the close season. We are seriously getting back on track as Ipswich Town Football Club.

COYB!
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bedsitfc added 09:16 - Jun 13
lol up yours keane
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saffronblue added 09:22 - Jun 13
This is as important as signing a top player, welcome back Bryan and a big step forward for ITFC
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Bigbigg added 09:25 - Jun 13
Great, great news. Arguably the first step towards turning the club around from the effects of the Keane era.
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AlanMahon2011 added 09:26 - Jun 13
Hopefully he can do Clegg's job too while he's galavanting at the olympics!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:45 - Jun 13
Great news. Obviously Klug doesnt see the club in as bad as light as some of the posters on this site.
No doubt none of the anti PJ/SC brigade will bother to comment on this positive story.
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bluey420 added 09:46 - Jun 13
As Matt Holland just tweeted best signing Ipswich could make this summer: excellent news welcome back Bryan
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rgp1 added 09:48 - Jun 13
All calm down and chill. Whilst this can be seen as a positive appointment. Let's not forget that our academy apart from one or two players has produced feck all in the last few years so things may take time to get going again. Remember that southampton sold three of their academy team for millions whilst most of our fa youth cup team are now playing micky mouse football.Good news , let's just not get too carried away .
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newboy added 09:50 - Jun 13
I hope you can turn it around for the boys that are there it has been a disgrace since jewell and osman teamed up. Good luck to you you, Tony Humes, Richard Hall and Chris Kiwombya should never have been pushed out
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oldtimer3 added 09:59 - Jun 13
Great news welcome back I really dont think clegg can be blamed for loosing brian, I think he left keene to hire and fire the footballing staff, when I watch the Euros on ITV I turn it off when Keanes on the panel he talks a load of rubbish,I only watch the match,he is a nightmare As for the Town now, onward and upward
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clive_baker added 09:59 - Jun 13
Great news and welcome home. I was in the academy while Bryan was there and he's a great coach and top man. It's brilliant to have him back around the club.

Feels like more of that dark cloud that Keane left hanging over the club has been lifted and the recovery continues. Just need to get it right on the pitch now and here's to a good season. In Jewell we trust!
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ArnieMsBigToe added 10:09 - Jun 13
Brilliant news!! Now lets get going!! Get Kourouma & Baldock in + a GK & a couple of CBs. Prepare for next season in good time and be ready to go. . . COYB.
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rosseden added 10:09 - Jun 13
now Bryan has to put together his new team for the new system...... if tier one needed 18 full time staff and a budget of £2.35m, then a £1m plus budget for tier two must mean a staff of about ten or so..... Who should he recruit then?

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BillBlue added 10:22 - Jun 13
This is truly wonderful news so thanks and congratulations are due to the whole management team: Evans, Clegg and PJ. When I wrote an open letter to Mr. Evans at the time when we were at the depths of the abyss this was one of the pillars I outlined so I do wonder if, perhaps, he did read my comments (mind you one of the others was that he replace Clegg with a footballing experienced CEO!). This is just one more pillar on the road to recovery but a very good, and important, one. Not a word from Walberswick or Bluey123 (I hope) but I am sure the slowly recovering Jas will have some nice things to say about this. Nice to read your comments Bluelady, it seems to be a long while since you posted. COYB
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Guthrum added 10:22 - Jun 13
Good. Just the man I'd want to be overseeing the introduction of the new (EPPP-world) Academy structure.
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Safetyfirstmrwarke added 10:32 - Jun 13
It does feel like some damage is being repaired at last.
COYB.
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bluelady added 10:37 - Jun 13
BillBlue why thank you, tbh there hasnt been much to write about and i was away for the signing of the new RB (which i am delighted with) thought it was great those saying PJ signed players that were too old then said he was signing players that were too young! Yes Jas and i will be agreeing on everything before long (i know i have given him so right stick but we are mates really :-)
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CornardBlue added 10:50 - Jun 13
Best news in ages, at last the dark days of Keane are lifting, as earlier caller said just seeing him on TV makes me cringe.
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DiamondGezzer added 10:56 - Jun 13
Great appointment. Should never have been sacked in the first place. Mr. Keane, you have a lot to answer for.
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LFCITFC added 11:04 - Jun 13
Great news, brilliant youth coach. one of the best in the country
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