Town owner Marcus Evans has given his backing to manager Mick McCarthy and outlined the five-point, “sustainable and consistent” long-term strategy he believes will provide the Blues with “the best chance of promotion out of the Championship” in a lengthy column for today’s match programme.

Evans says he has every confidence that McCarthy will get the Blues back on track, despite the disappointing first half of the season.

“No one is more frustrated about that than Mick and the players and no one is working harder than Mick, his staff and the players to turn it around,” Evans writes. “Mick is vastly experienced and I’m confident he can get us progressing again.”

He adds: “Plans for the club to move forwards are always at the front of my mind.

""This has been a tough season so far, and, no excuses, we haven’t lived up to our potential with results and on occasions performances being below the standards of the last two seasons.

“That said, I am not the only one who has seen bright points and I believe if we follow the strategy outlined in this article then we will not be that far away from competing, once again, at the upper end of this league.”

The Blues owner, who is entering the 10th year since his takeover, says Town are competing on a “non-level playing field” with eight Championship clubs with parachute payments following stints in the Premier League and others having the benefit of very substantial - if often temporary - funding from their owners.

“My view, based on the finances available to us compared to those with parachute budgets and the small group with, often short-term, huge owner investment, is for your club to maintain a sustainable and consistent strategy, which I firmly believe provides a foundation each season for a promotion challenge,” Evans continues.

His five points are a “significant financial commitment to the Academy”, providing a sustainable and competitive squad salary budget, making funds available annually to buy younger players who can be developed, a stable management team and producing a side which will play “attractive and exciting football”.

You can read Evans’s column, in which he goes into each of these points in greater detail, in full on the club site here.

Photo: TWTD

MicksZzzTactics added 11:58 - Dec 30 !!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
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shortmarine1969 added 11:58 - Dec 30 Sad to say Norwich are even beatin us at getting shot of the manager - They have over 7000 votes for AN to be dropped...our polls that are about have around 300.!!..says it all..unless the NS get vocal en-masse at both ME and MM nothing will change
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rickw added 11:59 - Dec 30 A lot of people saying Evans out, but until we have someone who can pay £50m or so to buy the club and then invest £5m+ every season then it's just fantasy. Evans 5 points are all good, and yes Mick is an experienced manager, but he doesn't have a track record of developing, promoting and playing many youth team players and he doesn't have any history of playing entertaining attacking football!! I personally think all of Mick's signings he's paid for (Mings, Sears, Knudsen, Webster and Grant) have all been good value for money (OK I'm ignoring Polish Pete) and he can organise a defence but all players who play in midfield for us quickly lose confidence and creativity - we need someone to coach these players to play better football - as Mick has no idea how to do this!!

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TimmyH added 12:04 - Dec 30 If this is all Evans is going to come out with I'm quite happy not to hear from him for a long time or otherwise when we hear the immortal words 'we've decide to let Mick go' (which by the way will not happen reading this and as I thought will see his contract out). Evans keeps on making poor decisions and once again backing McCarthy is another one...
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TimmyH added 12:10 - Dec 30 Hahaha...just to add to my above post, long term stratergy? he's been here over 4 years and we're going backwards!!
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Marshalls_Mullet added 12:14 - Dec 30 Honestly, what do people expect ME to say. Pretty valid points, although would work better with a fresh manager. Embarrassing how any poster with a reasoned view gets shot down on here. Sorry folks, but it's perfectly valid to say that parachute payments have an impact. I'm a fed up ITFC supporter, but that's football these days, ruined by Prem money. I hope a China continue to grow their league and become the most popular league in the world, taking all the TV money as they go.

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heathen66 added 12:26 - Dec 30 I have read the article and I am unsure as to exactly that the point ME is making You can invest in the academy all you like but if the manager refuses to play the youngsters then there is no point. It seems ME is just hoping it will turn around which I am afraid follows in the same guise as MMs team selections. Just keep doing the same thing time after time and hope things change !!! I was hoping to see a real strategy, but actually have more questions than answerrs Even ME has recognised there are issues but has no answer as to how he is going to address them. Unfortunately it is still the conductor of the orchestra playing the wrong tunes that is the underlying issue here

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DirtyOldNodger added 12:55 - Dec 30 Would much rather the club continue to follow the cautious and slow building approach so we don't end up like we did in 2002/2003 where the club were on the brink of extinction. Burley had YEARS to perfect his team, which he then after several false dawns. It all went wrong as soon as silly money was thrown at transfers and a stadium expansion we quite clearly couldn't afford. Yes the entertainment on offer at the moment isn't exactly riveting, but then maybe i'm one of very few people who can see past the chaff and realise that even if we had Klopp in charge, and a £50m a year war chest it guarantees us nothing. Still fully behind the owner and manager and I do believe that given time they will both turn things around and take the club to where we all want it to be! Up the town!

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MicksZzzTactics added 13:01 - Dec 30 ?????????? ?????????? :-):-) :-) :-) ????????? !!!!!!!!!!
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grubbyoik added 13:30 - Dec 30 You can have the best academy .. the most competitive wages.. and be a patient owner.. BUT IF THE 1st TEAM IS PLAYING RUBBISH FOOTBALL AND LOSING THEN QUITE FRANKLY THE REST IS IRRELEVANT. ITS NOT ABOUT YOUR 5 POINT PLAN YOU MUPPET.. ITS ABOUT SACKING MCARTHY AND GETTING IN A PROGRESSIVE MANAGER WHO LIKES FOOTBALL TO BE PLAYED WITH INTELLIGENCE AND CUNNING..NOT JUST MCCARTHYS 1 TRICK PONY KICK EM OFF THE PARK TACTICS! WHEN WILL THIS PANTOMIME END.

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toxtethblue added 13:48 - Dec 30 "This has been a tough season so far, and, no excuses..." Then rattles off a list of easy, lame excuses...
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Walk_the_Wark added 13:55 - Dec 30 This is turning into a power struggle. The fans have the power. Only by no one attending will this power be exerted. I urge everyone to boycott Portman road
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Walk_the_Wark added 14:17 - Dec 30 Unfortunately we can't oust Evans however much it needs to happen. We can however oust McCarthy. He has proved he is not capable of achieving success in the prem anyway. We are awful. A new modern manager can't possibly be worse, funds or no funds
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:52 - Dec 30 nothing going to change while people are prepared to go the games . STAYING AWAY is the only form of protest that will get noticed. moaning on here and booing at matches is a waste of time Evans and McCarthy live in bubbles I'm afraid
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sixtyblue added 14:57 - Dec 30 It is time McCarthy and Connor resigned .Send for Geotge Burley and Brian Klug people who know what quality football is all about.Get some of the youngsters in who have been coached by Brian and who know what the wants,instead of them maybe getting a chance in the first team only to be told by Mick and Terry you do it my way.
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Alfiesboys added 14:59 - Dec 30 A 5 year plan is all well and good...... but the football !!!!!! Is rubbish... shots on target would be nice...... entertainment would be lovely...... I will go and support our team till I draw my last breath.... but mm has to change his ways.... but I can't see that ever happening...... . Will he walk NO..... Will he be sacked No.....
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grubbyoik added 15:39 - Dec 30 Evans must have a plan B.. he's not that stupid.. It depends on our next 3 results.. if we lose tonight and the next one I think he will sack McCarthy.. if we win tonight and lose the next 2 he won't sack him.. it's all about pressure.. if it becomes too toxic he will have no choice.
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htb added 16:00 - Dec 30 There is nothing wrong with the plan but everything wrong with the manager at the helm. When will Evans wake up MaCarthy has never played exciting football, even when we were top of the league, and he is incapable of change. Please get rid of him now and employ a progressive manager who may at least try and help implement your plan. It will soon be too late with a whole generation of supporters lost under your ownership

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alfromcol added 16:03 - Dec 30 Just had a good read through the Plan. Not very inspiring. ""When you add in loan fees and wages needed to attract Premier League clubs to release Tom Lawrence, Jonny Williams and Conor Grant, as well as signing Leon Best for the year, then the outlay becomes around the £4m mark on new additions to the squad. "" Goes to show how MM is wasting ME's money. Grant couldn't get a game and went back to his club and Best hardly gets a look in. Money well spent, I think not.

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martin587 added 16:13 - Dec 30 Lets just be honest,This club is in Termoil and Mr.Evans cannot accept the fact.Get rid of MM.
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geminimustang added 16:21 - Dec 30 "grumpyoldman added 09:04 - Dec 30 Geminimustang when trying to support MM how can you include in your injured list, Digby & Coke who have never been first team regulars, Knudsen who has only missed the occasional game and is replaced by a better player Emmanuel, Williams who was injured when we signed him and when he was fit not given a chance. A matter of opinion but do Hyam or Smith really improve the team!" I included players within the squad who could be called upon to cover injuries or for tactical reasons.You would only include your best 11?In that case,we don't need a squad.

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blueboy1981 added 16:54 - Dec 30 ......... and we are supposed to be only 10 per cent of dissatisfied Supporters - the other 90 per cent are supposed to be ok with what is going on - WHAT ?? If that is the case - we have no hope as a Club in terms of future success.
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grumpyoldman added 17:29 - Dec 30 Geminimustang of the list how many would MM use instead of his chosen ones, Smith possibly, when does MM give other players a chance to shine. As you say we need a squad which we have had without the players you mentioned, so your argument falls down
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geminimustang added 18:34 - Dec 30 Would it be fair of me to assume that the vast majority of contributors to this forum are multi-millionaires who have the knowledge,skill set and nouse to run a successful Buisness? If that's the case,i don't understand how you can blast ME and his plan.If,as i suspect,the vast majority of us spend our lives keeping the bailiffs away,surely we have to have some faith in ME,MM,TC and Milne?I sincerely hope ITFC win tonight and go on a run to turn the pessimism onto optimism for the rest of the season.Happy New Year to all who support ITFC.Keep believing!

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Carberry added 18:41 - Dec 30 It is totally patronising BS. Did he think of this 5 point plan over his Christmas pudding because the manager doesn't seem to be following it. Does he really think this will make it all better? Evans, this is our football club not your acquisition.
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