Loan midfielder Richie Wellens laid into Town’s permanent signings after Saturday’s dismal defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, claiming he and his fellow temporary signings are the only ones who care. Caretaker-manager Chris Hutchings similarly pointed the finger at players in his post-match press conference after the game.

Wellens, who is with the Blues from Leicester until November 10th, said: “A new manager needs to come in and put a rocket under their backsides because there are not enough people who show they care about losing or even their own careers.

“One of the coaches said that the old manager got stick for bringing in loan players, but it is the loan players who are showing they care and that is a sad indication of what is wrong.”

He refused to blame those coaches for Saturday's display: “There is a full week to get someone in but everything Chris [Hutchings] and Sparky [Mark Kennedy] have said and done in the days before the game were spot on.

“If we are allowing balls to drop in the box and not clearing the ball or not stopping shots, or winning a header, you are going to get beat and that is not down to the coaches.”

He added: “We need people to show passion, to show they care. It is difficult when you are getting the ball and no one else wants it. It is human nature when you are under pressure to go and hide but we need a better attitude, and to act like men.

“I have always thought of Ipswich as a nice club and that was confirmed when I got here. It is a little too easy, too cosy.”

The 32-year-old former Manchester United trainee continued: "Defensively we were a bit of a shambles. We did not compete with their physicality and they won every headed ball in both boxes.

“When you go a goal down after 40-odd seconds in the situation we are in. We showed some character and came back for a while after going a goal down and were the better team.

“The second half was terrible. It is difficult to put a finger on why but we need to sort it out."

He says he takes defeats such as Saturday's to heart: “I care — I care about football. The easiest thing for me would be to let the game pass me by but that is not me.

“I have had four games and lost four and that hurts me. I won’t speak to the wife and the kids will be put to bed. It ruins my week.”

Wellens says he wouldn't have been out in the circumstances some of the other players were in midweek: “In training when we are asked to work they do put it in.

“It is not for me to say when people go and have a drink. But if it was me I would have looked at the situation.

“Do I need to go out and be having a drink? If I was a supporter I would not have been happy. It was about six or seven and you can’t judge the whole group by those players."

He also issued a warning for the future: “I can’t see Ipswich ever winning a game unless they are at their best and everything is going for them.

“To be a strong club in the Championship you have to win when things are not going well. I can fully understand why the club have been done by five and six goals this season.”

In terms of the new boss, he wouldn't be drawn: “It is not my place to say about that. They need to get to get the decision right because we had it at Leicester.

"They sacked Nigel Pearson who was doing a good job but then we had to go through two or three managers before we got him back and now he is doing very well. Whoever it is needs to get the players on board as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, interviews for the manager's job continue with this morning's papers again mentioning Blues interest in Blackpool's Ian Holloway. However, as of this weekend, Town had not made contact with the Seasiders regarding their boss.

Mick McCarthy and Alan Curbishley remain the two frontrunners for the job.

Photo: Action Images

Elizabeth added 12:46 - Oct 29 Thank you Ritchie Wellens for confirming what most of us already knew. Hopefully these "players" will be identified and have the decency to go elsewhere !!
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BlueVelvet added 12:48 - Oct 29 Wellen, you should try paying to watch - at least you are getting paid for your Sat afternoon. As for DVD Hutchings, he needs to focus on whats important - and shouting your concerns from the roof tops is not your top priority, watching a DVD of Birminghams last game probably is though
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Warkys_Tash added 13:00 - Oct 29 Fair play to Richie Wellens. Confirmed what we all thought for a very long time. Shame the club couldn't sack some of the players. Only 3-5 players came out with any credit on Saturday, Hyam was one and Wellens were amongst those at least trying. As for the others, there has been too much Twitter talk from certain Twits in the squad and not enough action. Players that have the talent but not the right attitude, everything handed on a plate before they are 30. Going out for a night is fine, but it is about picking the right moment. They call us haters. Really?? Not haters, just fans that are sick and tired of getting played for fools by lazy players not worthy of wearing the shirt. That is why we haven't won a home game this season!!!!!!!

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Blue041273 added 13:08 - Oct 29 It's disheatening to us that Richie has to come out with this now, as after all he will be heading back to Leicester very shortly and his opinion is therefore unimportant in the full scheme of things. Nevertheless for most supporters his comments strike a chord and are truly valid to anyone who has had the misfortune to watch a home game performance this season. Yet it's all very well for players, particularly loan players to look at the ' here and now'. We, as supporters , are entitled to take a longer view. True, what we are being asked to to accept as football, is not good enough but the window of opportunity signalling better times is beckoning. But a manager with evident man management skills is required. We cannot replace the whole squad immediately but we do need to get the best out of the players we have. Sounds like a job for Superman.

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TractorCam added 13:10 - Oct 29 I don't think Wellens has been performing too great himself, but he looks like he wants to get it right and what he has said about the others is spot on.
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blueherts added 13:13 - Oct 29 yep - It seems totally unanimous on here 'Well said Wellens ' and interesting all the same names come up ; It just amazes me how fans can see it but not Manager or ;heaven forbid' those upstairs Martin , JET - Not good enough for 'Bigger clubs' come here and think they are Daddy B#&'cks - Wenger and ferguson know a thing or two about players and its not always about ability . Attitude is more important . Edwards - plays out of position , and has absolutely no leadership skills on pitch , Chopra - we did him out of his gambling debts and this is how he repays the club - sums him up ( Twitter comments as well) Garvan - when he was here had similar attitude , Supps called it and frankly amazed no one looked into it more deeply . As said - it is that bad , that we need a real no nonense character - not single minded chump like Keane - but an experienced Manager

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runningout added 13:28 - Oct 29 well said Wellens.. shame it has taken so long for someone at club to show an ounce of reality.. players responsible wont even be bothered by this episode though.. that's the way they are.. 'Wasters!'
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walberswick added 13:30 - Oct 29 It doen't look like he wants to stay around after his loan.
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Bob7881 added 13:31 - Oct 29 blueherts spot on, football teams win matches with ability, confidence and hard work Jewell put a squad together with none of the above. The players offloaded in the last few seasons seem to be doing alright shows now what poor judges of players Keane and Jewell both are. Part of a managers job is to find out background etc about players Jewell must have been aware of certain players attitudes and off the pitch problems if he didnt it shows how incompetent he really is. Yes the players let him down but he has allowed that to happen. We are probably stuck with some of this crap for now so i only hope the new manager can keep us up and then clear out at the end of the season. Win lose or draw i never knock players if they put in a full shift thats all us fans are asking for.

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BlueBob added 13:42 - Oct 29 It's not his place as a loan player to potentially sow the seeds of further dissent and bad feeling amongst the players and staff. He should not have been allowed to come out with his opinions ,(and that's all they are - the opinions of one loan player after a couple of fractious weeks during which he's had negligible impact and the manager who thought he would add to the squad has left) when his spouting off could further damage the clubs reputation and chances of securring a decent successor to the mess Jewell has left. The squad is largely Jewells, he was in charge and it was Jewell that failed to get a team together and motivate them in any way what-so-ever. There is clearly dead wood to be removed, but Wellens is clearly part of it after this little outburst. These things should be discussed in private not to the press unless specifically directed to do so by the club.

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steed added 13:45 - Oct 29 First of all well done for wellens for going public . With out getting done for name dropping ect. There is clearly player power at the club the players I blame is firstly the captain does not captain or talk enough second one is a are gambler friend 3rd one he is not bitter 4th he is a bird and 5th is a fighting plane . Work the names out for your self. Clearly we need a manager who can stand up and be counted it has to be mccarphy for me stood up to Roy keane also would not take any rubbish from current squad . The other managers who have been linked with ipswich are to nice . At the present time this is not what ipswich need

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Blue041273 added 13:50 - Oct 29 Bob7881 Agree entirely. Yet we need a club with players with whom we can bond and who we can trust to perform week after week. Agreed, this is not the Premier League philosophy but we need to start from somewhere. IMO this is not through abusing the loan system which was designed to help clubs in emergency situations. While we need good players, particularly players that bring something to the party and enhance the squad, we also need to develop a strong core that develops year on year and requires only cosmetic improvement rather than root and branch surgery every six months.

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Tractastic added 14:11 - Oct 29 Wellens in , Chopra out. Sounds more and more like a job for Mick McCarthy.
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itfcjay added 14:16 - Oct 29 Its ok though because Scott Loach said himself on Twitter that we are too good to go down !!. What we need is a manager who is a talker and a motivator and isnt scared to shout his mouth off when required . At the moment we have a bunch of overpaid idiots on the field who have no pride in wearing the ITFC shirt . My top six in this situation would be in this order - 1 . Billy Davies 2. Ian Holloway 3. Harry Redknapp 4 . Mick Mccarthy 5 . Owen Coyle 6. Alan Curbishley

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blueherts added 14:30 - Oct 29 Where is N'Daw
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runaround added 15:01 - Oct 29 Well said Wellens although I would add that not all permanent players dont care and not all the short-term players do. For me on Saturday, only Hyam, Carson, Wellens, Mohsni and to a certain extent Martin and Higginbotham seemed bothered. Henderson very obviously doesn't want to be here and I noticed he had joined in with the "haters" comments on Tw@tter along with Chopra and Jet. Edwards is not only not a right-back but is NOT a captain, both him and Chopra have been more than looked after by the club with their issues, so should so the fans and club a bvit more humility and respect. Cresswell has been very poor and just trudges around in a daze. He needs dropping/resting but knows he wont be. A new, strong, manager needs appointing in next day or so and the under-performers need a real wake-up call. If they wont shape up, get rid, after all we've let enough players go on free's since ME has been here, so ridding us of the likes of Chopra and JET wont hurt in the long run. Build the side around the players who we own who WANT to play for this club such as Hyam, Carson, Smith and Loach. Even if that means relegation, it will be beneficial in the long run

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Lukeybluey added 15:16 - Oct 29 stick em all on the transfer list.
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bloowarmee added 15:17 - Oct 29 Refreshing honesty considering the reception he can expect from the players he is criticising until he leaves. It seems to come from the heart from a proud pro, and is the most telling thing yet said about the reason we are where we are. It also, gives me even more respect for the generous and dignified way in which PJ departed - had to go, but a true gent. The truly gut-wrenching thing on Saturday was the way we came off second best in pretty much every 50:50 to a side that, let's face it, were second from bottom. McCarthy please. COYB.

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kerryblue added 15:22 - Oct 29 Clegg said now was a time for strong leadership,so Last Weds the senior players go out on the razz and play like a poor pub team on Saturday and get away with it,reallt storng leadership Clegg,good man,nothing has changed at this club in three years when Shane Supple retired with being dismayed by Ipswich players not caring and its still happening.
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Gazelle added 15:42 - Oct 29 I think a few of you ought to send Jewell an apology.
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StowTractorBoy added 16:22 - Oct 29 Cannot understand those stating Wellens has not played well as for me he has been one of the brighter lights since he has been here. Always gives 100% and plays in a competitive way unlike most of the others Hyam being one exception. Sadly with this dressing room unrest it is very probable that we will be relegated as whoever we get in getting rid of Chopra, Edwards JET and co will not be easy especailly Chopra who has been a complete and utter waste of time money. This outburst by Wellens although I respect his honesty will not help in the cause to get a new Manager who not only has a mammoth task on the pitch but off it as well. I still hope for McCarthy but I know for a fact he was on a plane earlier this afternoon coming home from Portugal. Lets hope he calls in at Portman Road before going home to the South London area.

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runningout added 16:26 - Oct 29 dont think so!
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runningout added 16:33 - Oct 29 that post was for the apology millarky
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Blue041273 added 16:35 - Oct 29 Gazelle What planet are you on? The current mess is of PJ's making. Us offering him an apology? You clearly don't get it. Whether or not you agree with Richie, he is simply highlighting the inadequacies of the management of the club.
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Seasider added 17:08 - Oct 29 This club is in a very bad state indeed.Fans owning only twelve and half pc,and the rest by an owner who because of business commitments cannot devote the time needed especially at present time. I still feel that alot of the problem is Clegg who comes over as self opinionated and arrogant,not just to me.In the 50 years I have been following Town,only since he has been here have we had players actually at the club who have then not signed ie Charlie Austin.Roy Keane was not enamoured with him,and this also happened under Paul Jewell.Had the Managers obtained these players we would not have been scratching around after the window closes.Under previous regimes once they were in the door it was almost certain they would sign(Apart from that Crook from Norwich). Having said all that PJ has been an absolute disaster,changing course all the time,and going against his stated aims several times;o like many I fear relegation to 3rd tier for first time in my living memory. I know of several people who have met the owner and speak highly of him;but I feel he must reintroduce a board structure again for the whole club,and involve locals again(As far as I know The Major lives in the Stockbroker belt along with a lot of other ex public school types,and likes rugger as well as athletics. The most important thing of course is to get a strong character in who can stand up to not only the players;but our former para CEO!

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