I agree football for football men in the main but this cant be a bad appointment. Just look at the guys cv.

he is 36 and looks a lot fiiter than Lee Bowyer did last season! get him in Midfield (joke)

On a serious note. The guy has won 2 gold medals in one of the toughest sports there is (physically and mentally!) He is a fitness coach - not a football coach.

No problem for me!

rosseden - Think it's a private joke between bluebadger and sitters m8. Clegg has always been slated on the forum as he's 'not a footballing man!'

slightly bizarre appointment but welcome to itfc

I was writing a comment but suddenly everything I had written disappeared so I am going to give it a miss. I am so angry at some of the stupid, inane, comments posted by certain morons. Why can they not just accept a winner when we are lucky enough to get one? COYB

This is a BRILLAINT APPOINTMENT.

Bluebadger etc being negative about this appointment you are all just showing your complete narrow mindedness and nievity.

The FACTS are this guy will not TOUCH a football, and players training with him won't either. And so they shouldn't. Hes got nothing to do with football, Hes not got a footballing background but whats hes here to do has as much to do with football as rowing does, so it doesnt matter.

As a strength and conditioning coach myself I can TELL you, that the most physically impressive athletes in the world, i.e LeBron James/Steven Jackson/Ronaldo etc all are some of the most dedicated athletes in the world in terms of improving there fitness and conditioning, and look what it got them! LeBron james spent most of his teenage years in a gym, with trainers not knowing the first thing about basketball, and it didnt work out to badly for him did it? So I would be SERVRELY disappointed if Ipswich Towns players were trying to improve there fitness using programmes that involved anything to do with a football.

As a fitness and conditioning coach he is here to improve players physicallity i.e strength/power/fitness, and these are gained without so much as looking at a football and you scientifically break down the specific things within that genre that need improving, and exercise accordingly.

He will also install his own winning mentallity in the players, which is one of the best to have ever come out of this country as a ex mens coxless four rower. Is that a bad thing? I think not.

In one way I can see why people would say this stinks of Clegg, getting his old mates in etc.... I'm not a fan of Clegg being at the helm of a business he previously knew nothing about supporting an owner of equal experience.
However on the subject I can see the positives, whilst many will say we need football men etc....we also need people who understand their technical areas, maybe it's a masterstroke getting such a person in, someone who knows how to keep fit. Remember, he's coming in to assist, we still have Liddell as the fitness coach, Williams is in an advisery role, I'm in full acceptance of this move.

Clegg-knocking = lazy simplistic thinking.

Steve Williams made a presentation at an event I attended a couple of years ago. He explained the lengths he and his fellow rowers went to in order to win their golds and if just 10% of this committment and desire rubs of on the players at ITFC this will be a brilliant appointment.

..... I can see us entering the Boat Race next - whoever would have thought it could all happen ? - bet people like Ray Crawford, and a few more of our past heroes are utterly speechless as to what has happened to this Club over the past few seasons.

After all the current buzz word is:- OLYMPICS - who really cares anymore about FOOTBALL at Portman Road ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

How about Sir Clive Woodward for the post of chief steward?

H32 - just because you do not understand the difference between fitness training and football training, please don't assume Ray Crawford doesn't either!

Langdon Blue - care to lay your credentials on the line against mine on both Fitness and Football Training ???? - anytime - just name the place and I'll be there ok.

Fitness coach... not the footballing skills coach stop moaning

Langdon Blue - and if you read my post, and digest correctly - you will understand that I DID NOT link Ray Crawford with either Fitness and/or Football Training in anyway at all.
Therefore a totally non relevant comment from you.

another example of evans boll))s.

Coxless ??



lol

H32 - and yet you are happy to wind others up and watch them bite haha...see you on the Thames when we support Town to glory in their first rowing race ;-) Glad that you don't really think that a Pro footballers training consists purely of kicking a ball around.

This summer we signed bryan klug! That is a football man and the heart of itfc for the youths, our future . If people has forgotten ....

WTF.......... Rower....... I know we are havin loads of rain but FFS Clegg!!

Langdon Blue - absolutely - but I'd rather meet you at Portman Road when we have ALL got something to be proud of once again - as/if - it ever happens.
You could even by me a Pint !! .....

H32 - I'd gladly buy you a pint as we celebrate Town being a force in our league once again...after the damage that Keane inflicted on our club...but I fear you'd tell me it was half empty! :-)

Hallo Nigel!! Worth a punt..

Great appointment.

I reserve judgement until I see what effect it has on the team(his lack of a footballing background). He may be a breath of fresh air and help the players and squad...lets hope eh!

Give the guy a chance.