Town MDs Jonathan Symonds and Ian Milne say the club has no current plans to build on any part of the club’s training ground. There was speculation that some of the Bent Lane facility might be developed after last year’s accounts revealed it had been sold to another of Blues owner Marcus Evans’s companies.

The Bent Lane half of training ground was sold to Marcus Evans (Guernsey) for £1.32 million during the year 2011/12 with Town now paying an annual rent of £40,000.

“Tax reasons,” Milne said, explaining the move. “It’s been sold to another part of the group. Marcus has put however many millions into the club.

“The ground here at Portman Road is owned by the Borough Council. It’s part of how the group accounts for this and I wouldn’t read anything into that. It’s not gone to any third party, it’s still within the group.”

Symonds says the academy moving to category one illustrates that the facility, which has 14 pitches, is required and that there are no plans to sell any of it or for any development to take place: “It does all get used.

“Clearly we’ve got a commitment to where we’re going with the academy and we need the training ground.

“We’re always going to need a large facility because of the nature of how we’re running the club, in terms of moving to category one and having the first team there.”

Milne added: “All of the playing areas are utilised and I don’t think they’ll ever be sold off. If there was any part that was not used, then I’m sure Marcus would look at opportunities to see if bits can be developed, but there are no plans on that at the moment.”

If the club was sold in the future, would Evans look to keep hold of the training ground? “If he were to sell the club, it would be part of a negotiation like everything else,” Symonds said. “We can’t predict what would happen in the future.”

Former chief executive Simon Clegg revealed that the club tried to buy the freehold at Portman Road in October 2011 but Milne says there have been no new developments on that front: “I discussed this with [IBC chief executive] Russell Williams and they’re not interested in selling at the moment, so nothing’s going on there.

“It would be nice to buy it, we’ve been very public [that we’d like to] buy it but I think it’s all part of a political football, whether to sell or not.”

The ground was recently made an Asset of Community Value which means it can’t be sold without fan groups or other community bodies being given the first opportunity to make an offer for it.

Milne outlined the club’s view of the move, which was instigated by Ipswich Town Ist, the supporters trust: “The club took the view that we don’t own the land and it was up to the council to do it.

“It’s quite interesting that they own the land and ended up saying ‘Yes, it’s got to be [considered to have] community [value]. I think they were as confused as everybody else was.

“It was quite an interesting situation. It’s not for us to comment on, but I did say to Russell ‘Is this a conflict of interest?’.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

theobald1985 added 21:44 - Oct 17 really dont trust these 2 or evans not to sell the training ground. I certainly dont want them to own the ground as think evans would sell and we would end up with some soulless out of town stadium. Think evans intends to sell the club in the next 5 years and will then sell off the training ground
0

Dolly2.0 added 21:55 - Oct 17 Why do you think that? Do you have any reason to think that or are you just an eternal pessimist?
0

Binner added 23:17 - Oct 17 I think we'll sign Aaron Ramsey in the January transfer window and I think Paul Jewell will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
0

Hegansheroes added 23:38 - Oct 17 Dolly Verbiage-really think that you should have a look at some of the posts on the net re ME & his business empire. ME is a hard nosed business man with no interest in football other than financial. My information comes from the horses mouth & I trust it. I really can see where Theobald1985 is coming from & think he has a very, very valid point. No I'm not a pessimist but a realist and an eternal optimist that ITFC may start to play football again.

0

ChurchmanBlue added 07:48 - Oct 18 I really don't think that ME would be investing time, money and effort into getting category 1 status for the academy to then sell off the ground. If they even sold off the Bent Lane part, it would cause a problem, due to Playford Road side being for day-release by academy boys most days, so where would the first team train?
0

bigtimecharlie added 12:06 - Oct 18 I was fortunate enough to sit next to Marcus Evans and his family in Ipswich's 3-0 win over Millwall .... to say that Marcus Evans is not in it for football reasons is pure folly. Any owner who jumps and punches the air, or who holds his head in his hands after a near miss is a true fan and loves the club, i didnt see him as a man just protecting his investment or looking to make a quick buck off the back of it - but saw him as an Ipswich Town fan just like the rest of us .... give the guy a break.

0

BlueVelvet added 12:14 - Oct 18 Its called asset stripping. The club used to own a valuable piece of real estate, it sold it, gets to pay corp. tax on the business proceeds of the sale and also gets to pay £40k a year to ME(Gurnsey) - the income for ME is tax free. Meanwhile fans have to pay expensive seat prices to see games
0

murraybrunning added 14:04 - Oct 18 @Hegansheroes maybe your opinion would hold more weight if you hadn't spouted earlier tosh about Marcus Evans being abroad and not attending games, I know for a fact that he has been at at least 3 home games this season and was at the Col U friendly away. I understand people's suspicion but if you're going to make a point do so without using fiction to back iy up!!!

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls