The Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust has called on the club to pay local suppliers whose invoices are currently overdue.

Town have cited cash flow issues as the reason why invoices from suppliers and players’ agents are currently outstanding. The Blues have asked some suppliers to agree to revised payment terms and there is no suggestion that bills won’t ultimately be paid in full.

The Trust wants the club outline the extent of its debts to local businesses with chair Alasdair Ross saying some of the companies affected now will be those who suffered when the club entered administration a decade ago: “Many local people have bitter memories about the amount of money owed to local businesses such as florists and caterers, and organisations including the St John's Ambulance, when the club went into administration in 2003.

“For an organisation already carrying over £80 million worth of debt, relatively small amounts owed to local businesses may seem inconsequential, but for many of these local businesses it could mean the difference between survival or collapse.

“The local community, including those who lost money, stood by the club during the administration period, and we want to know that this faith is being rewarded by the club honouring its debts to local businesses now.”

Earlier joint-managing director Ian Milne said in a statement: “We endeavour to meet the payment terms of the companies and individuals we work with but at times during the year, just like with any business, there are delays in cash flow. This is income coming into us as well as expenditure going out.

“I’d like to reiterate though that the football club is on very sound financial footing with the support of the owner, who remains fully committed to seeing Ipswich Town achieve his and the club’s goal of reaching the Premier League.”

Photo: Action Images

Lord_Mac added 22:31 - Dec 10 Cresswell will be sold to fund the pies.
0

blueblood66 added 22:42 - Dec 10 Not good news, with gates tumbling the club need a better ticket policy to encourage larger crowds and better cash flow! The pre match experience is poor at PR, as when I see away games its a world away from what we offer.
0

sparks added 22:48 - Dec 10 The Trust. Sigh. And lollerskates.
0

ArnieM added 23:12 - Dec 10 Ive been to many away games this season and Town offer no less than these clubs have offered us as visitors.
0

chorltonskylineblue added 23:44 - Dec 10 Well said Alasdair. I run my own business and always pay suppliers. If you can't pay your suppliers then don't buy from them. Folk have said on here that's business and yes it is, the little man at the bottom of the chain always pays the price. But that ignores what this club means to the community and the supporters. Without them the club wouldn't exist. No excuse for a company the size of ME Group not to pay on time. Unless ME Group really is in the sh*te in which case Jack's experience of non-league football could come in very handy when it goes t*ts up.

0

carsey added 09:13 - Dec 11 As I have said elsewhere ITFC like other clubs is no longer a club in the real sense of the word. It is a business and they care nothing for the local community, the fans or anyone else. If they can save a few quid by shafting someone they will. It's he way of the world now.
0

theobald1985 added 09:25 - Dec 11 if ten small businesses in suffolk went bust tomorrow due to our failure to pay does anyone think Evans would give a toss
0

gazzmac4 added 10:39 - Dec 11 Comments such as those on this article once again prove what short term memories we have on this site (myself included). Agree the story isnt ideal but why are we all winging about the club not caring about the local community? We were all winging about the clubs new advertising in the Britannia stand but that deal is with a locally run, family owned convenience store? The club should certainly be paying its bills and it concerns me that we havent in a few instances, but why does the trust show such short termism all the time?

0

carlisleaway added 11:19 - Dec 11 Hang on everyone, where are you getting these facts from. We supply Ipswich Town with Promotional Merchandise www.falcon-promotions.co.uk and we are paid in the normal 60 days as requested. Is this because the team are winning and people cannot find anything bad to write about the club.
0

theblueginger added 11:57 - Dec 11 I don't really care if agents are not paid on time, but there is little excuse not to pay local suppliers and caterers. A football club should be no different to any other organisation, and in fact should represent themselves as positively as possible in the local community. If i was in charge they would be among the first paid, in full and at a decent price. All this talk of bringing local-born talent into the first team won't count for as much if we are already p*ssing off the local community.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls