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

Arthur added 20:59 - Oct 29 Wellens was our leader on the pitch on Saturday. I thought his control and time on the ball was another level. I would love him to be signed as club captain. I feel for Edwards, yes he was crap on Saturday .. he isn't a captain ... (we haven't has one of those since J d V.) But he is a class winger and still can do a hell of a job for us.
1

bourneblue73 added 21:16 - Oct 29 .... if he's right .. he should be player of the season for exposing this even if he ends up going straight back to his parent club when our new manager arrives.
0

Talbs77 added 21:17 - Oct 29 Arthur, I agree Wellens is a good player, but theres no chance he will sign, why on earth would he after expressing this opinion on (which I agree with by the way) players here including the club captain. And moving onto our so called Captain. He comes out the day before pj leaves to say he doesnt know if the players are all with him, I'm sure that helped the situation. He has a gold membership at Hawk Express after another drink drive misdemeanour which he's still doing community service for. He then goes out with a small group of players and gets hammered literally hours after pj leaves and the club is in meltdown, apparently for his birthday without a single thought of how it would look. Couldnt he have waited until the weekend like all the rest of us? Couldnt they have afforded a taxi and night out somewere a little less conspicous? No because that involve thinking about people other than themselves. He's still a half decent player and I have no doubt will be needed in the coming months. But should he be captain for our club? Is he leading by example? In my opinion he cant hold a light to Jason De Vos, David Linigan or Matt Holland who bled blue when they were wearing that armband. I would give the armband to Chambers. Ok he's hardly been Paulo Maldini since coming here but he's the best of an awful bad bunch.

0

Taricco_Fan added 21:32 - Oct 29 Nothing to lose by giving the armband to Wellens for the next match.
0

Morgan added 21:33 - Oct 29 I would bring loach back and make him club captain, that would sort out his confidence problem
0

bluefeast added 22:31 - Oct 29 Read this Chopra. Your liviing in the clouds if you feel supporters havnt clocked you.
0

ITFCJacob added 22:34 - Oct 29 I can understand why people like him saying this, but having said that, as a loan player, I don't think he has the right to make such statements, regardless of the situation.
0

BuckieBlue added 22:35 - Oct 29 Can't believe he came out and said this publicly unless he knows there is a new man coming in who getting shot of him (plus some othe loanees?) before Saturday, otherwise why alienate your teaMdm
0

BuckieBlue added 22:35 - Oct 29 Can't believe he came out and said this publicly unless he knows there is a new man coming in who getting shot of him (plus some othe loanees?) before Saturday, otherwise why alienate your teaMdm
0

BuckieBlue added 22:39 - Oct 29 ...team mates? Hardly the way to improve the team spirit he is keen to see improved.
0

Strikes added 22:57 - Oct 29 Just a thought, if we paid Chopra off (as we did with Bullard, Bowyer etc) would he actually end up owing us money? "Before you go Michael, do you have that quarter of a million we lent you?"
0

TractorTrog added 15:37 - Oct 30 Well said it takes guts to come out and say that about your team mates why cant we sign Wellens his got passion....also I hope Mick brings in a policy of NO TWEETING about the team or politics ...it really bugs me some of these players think there some sort of A listed celebs grrr get on with the football you pamperd idiots and get goals I dont go to see you I go to see Ipswich town win reason being your not Ipswich that I know and love the players of the past had pride in the shirt and loved being part of Ipswich Town so far all I see is a bunch of Ryland type spoilt little Bs tweetuing about how hard life is I hope MM kicks your arses out of the club back to wence you came..get the message!!!!

0

Ipstones added 17:16 - Oct 30 Well through all the strife and i dare say there's more to come as i feel we haven't hit rock bottom yet. Brighter days will cometh... I for one would love to see Alan Sugar have a word with our Cleggy and Evans it would make for great viewing!!! Then let Barry Fry and eil Warnock give our players a few home truths in a darkened changing room. One by one. Still COYB FFS.

0

Ipstones added 17:18 - Oct 30 Eil Brother of Neil Warnock
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls