Managing director Ian Milne believes there’s got to be “some massive rebuilding” at Town over the summer with owner Marcus Evans and manager Mick McCarthy having held their first meeting to discuss their plans for the 2017/18 season.

“Marcus has indicated and we’re indicating that there’s got to be some massive rebuilding over the summer and that’s starting, there’ll be more after the end of the season so they’ve started looking at the options,” he told Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk (47mins 00secs).

“There are loan players that I think we’d all like to keep, so they’ll be working on that. It’s always difficult to say precisely who is going to be here because it’s up to the players, they will have other offers, there will be some players who may go because they’ve got a better offer somewhere else.”

Does this rebuilding mean Evans will be spending some money? “He continues to spend a lot of money, £6 million or £7 million a year. I know fans want more spent but we all have budgets we have to cope with.

“As we’ve said before that squad, the basic squad is good as it proved against Newcastle, but it keeps going up and down, that’s our problem. We had bad day at Rotherham, which was very upsetting. Marcus was there and he knew our thoughts.”

Milne confirmed that McCarthy and Evans met last weekend to get their summer discussions under way: “They did, they had a good meeting, but it was the start of many.”

The MD says Evans is well aware that significantly more money is now being spent elsewhere in the division than was the case in previous seasons.

“He fully understands that,” he added. “At the moment he doesn’t know how much he’s going to spend because we don’t know who’s coming in and going out. But I’ve got no feeling that he’s going to spend less and hopefully he’ll spend more.”

Having said in January that he would make a decision on his future in the summer, McCarthy has more recently stated his intention to remain at Portman Road.

Asked whether McCarthy would still be in charge at Town next year, Milne added: “That’s a question we’re going to have to wait [to hear the answer to]. He’s got another year on his contract, I have no further news on that at the moment.

“At the moment he’s here, he’s going to continue for the season and we’ll see what he says.”

Milne isn’t yet sure when Town will announce their matchday prices and says the club have been discussing more flexible ticketing arrangements.

“Not at the moment, we’ve got a review with Marcus to go through that,” he said. “We want to get that right.

“Basically, it’s around the idea that we’ve got to understand that people’s lifestyles have changed and maybe they can’t come to every match and they want to pick and choose which matches they want to come to.

“I’m not a golfer myself, but they tell me golf club memberships are difficult to sell now because people don’t have that time every week to go and play.

“The same with us, they can’t come to every match, so I think we’ve got to give more options on that and that’s what we’re working on.”

Season ticket numbers are expected to dip to just below 10,000 for the first time since the Blues’ stint in the Premier League at the start of the century - a drop in revenue of more than £1 million - and Milne says the precise total sold before the recent early bird deadline should be known soon.

“We’re processing those at the moment, the DDs [Direct Debits], so we will be coming up with that shortly,” he continued.

“It’s lower than last year but I don’t know the actual figure at the moment. But we’ll come out with that shortly. Of course it is lower, we understand that because of the entertaining football issue.”

Regarding the new kits for the 2017/18 season which are yet to be unveiled, he said: “I think we’re a bit later this year, part of it is because of Adidas and the marketing.”

Milne expects the home strip to go down well with supporters: “I’ve seen it and it’s traditional and I think fans will love it.”

Photo: TWTD

MickMillsTash added 08:47 - May 1 Total Joke What does Milne know ? Who interviewed Milne and why didn't they press him for detail Why haven't the conversations about next season already taken place and why wasn't Milne involved? The club looks like it is being run on a part time basis and this was a half-arsed interview answered in a half-arsed arrogant way Whatever you think of McCarthy he is no fool and his motivation must dip when having to deal with these prats. If Evans going to spend someone would have said it by now -Ipswich are 9/2 for relegation next year - only Burton, Bolton and Barnsley are more likely to go down.

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warktheline added 08:49 - May 1 Jeez! Swn is now highlighting favourable comparison with ROTHERHAM! Spain beckons you good fellow, off you trot, there's a good chap! Blah blah blah. What a shameful state of affairs! Milne , obviously, like the rest of us, hasn't a clue what Evans may, or may not, want to achieve next season! Direction and drive starts from the top, it isn't there, this inept season supports as such! Milne knows nowt about football, highlighting a 'one-off' performance against Newcastle as evidence to suggest positivity! McCarthy doesn't give a tuppence, happy to pick up his 'easy money' every month. Swn, our club needs supporters like you! So says Evans, Milne and McCarthy! Work that out for yourself...or on second thoughts, maybe not!

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kallyweed added 09:07 - May 1 Either Evans invests heavily (and I mean spending 10m on Lawrence etc) or leaves. If this doesn't improve over the summer then protests will be the least of his worries. I can hear the chants for next season "We know where you live, we know where you live. Marcus Evans, we know whwre you live" "Stand up, if you have Evans" I hate when this rich business people who have no clue about the club take over and ruin things.

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leahcar88 added 09:13 - May 1 The one thing I don't mind about Evans is he leaves the tactical and team selections to the manager. Now we know mick lost the plot come December 14/January 15. I would rather an owner to leave the job in the hands of the man he's appointed. I wouldn't welcome a venkys at Blackburn or doctor know it all at Birmingham. Having said that a lil involvement with the fans from time time would be beneficial I feel. Definitely transfer funds as well mate. £10m will do nicely this window.

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Pip50 added 09:29 - May 1 Only in football can a mangering director get away with this sort of comment. Can you imagine any blue chip business saying...." I'm the MD I know our product is cr@p fewer of you are buying it we might invest some more but I don't know and we will continue to employee those who have failed during the last year" priceless.
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rugbytomc added 09:40 - May 1 So when we came 6th the. 7th there was no need for investment in the squad because we finished that high up the table. Now there's no need for investment in the squad because we beat Newcastle when they had a bad day and we had a relatively good day. So glad the owner and board have a good understanding of football.
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walberblue added 09:42 - May 1 How to announce absolutely nothing while picking up £200k+ for doing absolutely nothing. Bravo Oxfam suit Yes man.
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sereneblue added 09:46 - May 1 Swn98.. looking back at your history of posts ( which you like to do with others!!) I see you have always talked bollxs ) sorry about the naughty swear word!!!!😇
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RobITFC added 09:53 - May 1 So another summer of loads of linked players to us , the club stating they have put in lots of £1m bids only to find that our derisory offer has been rejected and/or players do not want to come here and then we end up getting in 5/6 loans or unknowns and Milne coming out with the crap we have a quality squad.... groundhog day!
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braveblue added 09:57 - May 1 Does he actually know the answer to anything? How this man can call himself an MD is beyond me. If he is going to quote the £6m pa figure he should at least have the good grace to mention the £1 in sales over the past few years. He makes Clegg seem reasonable!!!
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NBVJohn added 10:06 - May 1 Actually Mr Milne, I can't help noticing that whilst our ground has a capacity of 30,000, there never seems to be many more than 18,000 in it. It therefore doesn't take a genius to work out that I can already 'pick and choose' games, and so can everybody else. I can't believe it took this many words to give the same message: The product is poor. We are losing customers. The ground is half empty. The squad isn't good enough. But on the plus side, get ready for the annual new kit rip off. (No thanks) and aren't we all lucky to have a visionary like ME to guide us? More nonsense and unconvincing spin. Go on - prove me wrong - go and sign Lawrence and a quality striker.

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Razor added 10:28 - May 1 Evans is THE problem not his puppet. Mid table mediocrity next season----AGAIN!!
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SouperJim added 11:12 - May 1 Milne is a liar, Evans does not put in £6-7m a year as he has repeatedly offset that with player sales. I no longer trust a word that this puppet says.
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itsonlyme added 11:16 - May 1 We all knew MM was never going! If you think ME is going to spend big, I don't think so!
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:19 - May 1 MilNe comes out and makes a statement, what a f#cking joke.All he said was the things he dosnt know , don't know this yet don't that yet, M E may ,he may not, players may this ,manager may that .THEN he comes out with the gem , peoples lives have changed now they don't have time o go to every match, [ bullsh##ting the turnstile dip and season ticket sale drop ] Nothing at all in his statement that had any substance in it whatsoever , NOTHING , NOTHING that meant anything positive ,that the fans can gain any confidence from .A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME . which sums everything up, and we know that anyway .

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blackcat added 11:24 - May 1 Think we need a bulldozer to shift some annoying obstacles before rebuilding can be effective!
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grumpyoldman added 11:34 - May 1 A rebuild starts with good plans, not just a plan A, it needs an architect who can change the plans when required with innovative thinking. A person who can take risks, not reliant on one tried and trusted formula which worked in the past but others realised the flaws and have superceeded it by counteracting its weaknesses. Some say "be careful what you wish for" these are the type of people who tried to stop the industrial revolution know as "luddites", where would we be if everybody took notice of them. This club used to take chances, Ramsey, Robson, Burley were all unproven managers but look where they took us! No I do not expect us to win the Premier League, the FA cup or a European trophy again but I do expect to go on an adventure, full of surprises and hope, under MM we have become as exciting as a Janet & John book, tedious and repetitive with no real result at the end.

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itfchorry added 11:38 - May 1 Clegg in !
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martin587 added 11:46 - May 1 What I cannot understand is,just why has it taken so long to come up with a statement like this. The club has been in decline for a few seasons now and nothing has been done i.e.;investment or the understanding how supporters feel about the club. Massive rebuilding is an understatement.A total clearout of at least eight or nine players and contracts renewed for a few of the team,Bart,chambers etc. What is happening with regard to MM,is he staying or going as this is a major concern for many supporters with regard to renewing season tickets. It has already been stated that sales will be well down on this season for next season tickets. Until a statement has been made regarding MM I doubt not much will change. It would help if firm intentions were made directly after the Forest with regard to these points and the direction the club intends to take regarding funding and management.

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lightingblue added 12:14 - May 1 Derek Bowden. Now he was our last decent MD. his doing a good progressive job with Essex cricket club since he left us lot. Mr Milne please do the decent thing and move that picture from behind you or make the garden shed your office.
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walberblue added 12:19 - May 1 only a shyster would ask people to invest without being transparent with their financial commitment. MILNE OUT!!!!
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H1960 added 12:24 - May 1 Specialist subject the bleeding obvious......Milne just spouts out the party line and spin from ITFC, I have no faith in anything the man says, the club needs a rebuild from the top in addition to the playing staff and manager!
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OwainG1992 added 12:53 - May 1 Lies
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runningout added 12:53 - May 1 When their already suggesting contracts for under performers, don't foresee much change
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cunning_stunt added 13:04 - May 1 Perhaps the launch of the new kit has been delayed as talks to sell the club are at an advanced stage and a new owner certainly wouldn't retain ME's shirt sponsorship. Such unprecedented uncertainty at the club - manager's position and so many players' futures up in the air - would back up this theory. A new owner, manager and playing squad along with plans to relocate and build a new stadium on the old sugar beet factory site would be the ideal way of consigning this most forgettable of eras to the dustbin. I guess I'm living in dreamtime but clutching at straws can sometimes help you to remain sane.

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