Caretaker-boss Bryan Klug is pleased with the number of players currently emerging from Town’s youth system with Marcus Evans having the academy at the heart of his plans for the future and says he and his colleagues at Playford Road have given the owner their thoughts regarding the club's next manager.

“It’s a work-in-progress,” said Klug, whose regular job is as head of coaching and player development at Playford Road.

“The manager was supportive of it, as is the owner now. We have plans in place that we hope will secure that [progress].

“I’m very pleased with the number of players that are coming through and we have a real plan of how to get them to where they need to be.

“For some of them this year has been a little bit disrupted because we’ve not been able to deliver the programme we wanted for them because they’ve had to be involved in the first team, probably before they should have been.

“I think the academy staff and [academy manager] Lee O’Neill have been absolutely first class and we are making progress. Value for money is what [it’s all about], we have to justify everything but we’ve put in place a value for money academy.”

When owner Evans outlined his five-point plan in December 2016, a “significant financial commitment to the academy” was one of those points and Klug says that remains a key part of the club’s strategy going forward.

“I think it is,” he said. “When circumstances change, we have to work really hard. That’s what we’re doing, we are working really hard. There’s been a lot of effort put in and we’ll continue to do that.

“That is a big part of Marcus’s plan and it’s the best way to get the football club back on line but it takes a lot more patience.

“The whole world is about everything having to be done now, quickly, but what we’re fighting for is to get boys into environments where they’re tested, but it is a question of patience.

“Again, going back to people saying ‘You will play kids’, I think you have to find the right time and the right circumstance but in this end of the season spell I think Mick would have been dipping them in and out, I think that’s where we are with them.

“There’s not one who I think [is ready to be a nailed-on starter]. If I was at Fulham and I spoke to Steve Wigley at Fulham and he said we’ve got this boy Ryan Sessegnon, he goes and knocks on the door of Mr Jokanovic’s office and says, ‘You’ve got to play him’.

“I would love to be doing that but they’re not there, I’m actually saying, ‘Let’s give them a chance because in two years’ time he might be [a regular]’. We have lots of players in that bracket, given the chance, given 50 games in men’s football, judge them then.”

He admits that the positive message regarding the academy’s progress isn’t always conveyed as well as it might be.

“I think the club needs to communicate that plan probably better,” he said. “I think that’s something that Marcus is going through at the moment. I know he’s going through a process to find the right kind of manager for how we want the club to develop, but that’s not for me to talk about.”

Klug says he and his Playford Road colleagues are making owner Evans well aware of what they’d like from the club’s next first-team manager.

“We’re trying to chew his ear off, we’re doing our bit,” he said. “I can tell you that from a football point of view he is doing it a way that makes really good sense about how we’re going to take the club forward.”

Back in 2006 when Klug was appointed assistant boss to new incumbent Jim Magilton there was a lot of talk about bringing the academy and the first team closer to one another.

He says at the current time there is the sort of cohesion they were aiming for during the Northern Irishman’s time in charge: “This club is more together, more joined up compared to many other clubs.

“There are different types of managers he could look at but that’s his choice and he’s putting a lot of thought into it and I’m sure he’ll let people know that.”

But he says that’s not always been the case: “I think we lost our way a little bit on what we were looking at probably at academy level anyway, there were a few years.

“When I came back [as academy manager in 2012] - not ringing a bell that it was all me - but for a few years before that the priority at this club hadn’t been on the academy, so you had a big gap.

“I think the only one we had at that time was probably Jack Marriott and I we don’t want to go into that one.”

Photo: TWTD

wokingblue added 17:41 - Apr 12 I'm sure there's no quick fix for us but already I'm liking what I'm hearing from Klug and Co. I want my old Ipswich back. Not only one that plays and promotes good entertaining football but also one where outgoing managers do not have to be escorted to the coach. There's no place in our club for that. Let's look forward. Feeling happier already........
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peteswindon added 17:54 - Apr 12 There is not one who I think [is ready to be a nailed-on starter] well that will be the moaning brigade wanting Klug sacked as he is disagreeing with them that we should play all our youth team. Wonder when reality will kick in and they realise they are not playing FIFA18
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SouperJim added 17:55 - Apr 12 In one press conference Klug has told us more about the direction our club is heading and what the plan is than anyone else has done in the last 18 months. Ridiculous really, so much of the discontent amongst the fanbase could have been avoided just by keeping us in the loop. ME really is shocking in this area and needs to improve fast. Hopefully his upcoming on-camera interview is a step in the right direction but there is a lot more to be done to start communicating effectively with the fanbase.

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BotesdaleBlue added 18:21 - Apr 12 Well said SouperJim
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armchaircritic59 added 21:47 - Apr 12 wokingblue, as sensible a summing up of the whole situation i've read, in a just a few sentences!
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Bert added 23:18 - Apr 12 As with everything else, it is the singer and not the song that people either hear or do not wish to. MM was a total distraction because of his belligerence but he was not a million miles away from what Klug is saying. Who says it really does matter doesn't it.
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smithy0981 added 07:01 - Apr 13 I think it's time to stop digging our own supporters out! The moaning brigade as people keep saying have the right to voice their opinion and so do the people that wanted McCarthy to stay. We all support the same team so time to stop bitching and move forward together. My opinion is that McCarthy done a good job making our team competitive and together so thank you for that. However mick moving on is the best thing as it became stagnant and the relationship with the fans was never really there. And that's not the fans fault that was nicks fault. Mick would only ever talk about him and the players, never the fans or the club and it needs to be all about the club and the club is nothing without the fans. Klug comes across well and he has explained more about the academy which the owner and mick never did. I personally am excited for the future and looking forward to finding out who our new man will be. Again everyone is entitled to their opinion but I would like steijn, I think he would be the best appointment. If not I would be happy to take a gamble and give it to the cowleys

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blue75 added 07:58 - Apr 13 Well said smithy0981
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frantblue added 10:10 - Apr 13 It's amazing how you get a non ego based person delivering the company line in a cleat and concise manner with out the need to self promote can make so much sense. It also shows how protective he is of our baby starlets how many have been ruined and lost over the years through over playing them. It is also interesting that he obviously has some big thoughts on jack Marriot situation at town. I am hoping whoever we get will be a manager which learns where they are coming before they get here they need to know the philosophy before walking into the club

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Cloddyseedbed added 11:27 - Apr 13 I've watched U23's, U18's and U16's this year and I'm very impressed with the young players and how they play, this is down to the quality of the boys we have on our books, their potential being encouraged and coached to play football the correct way. It was unfortunate that the 1st team were coached and set up in a very different way and when called upon a lot of extra pressure is put on the lads as it must have seemed alien to them what they were asked to do. Hopefully the coaching staff of the academy are in close contact with ME and are advising him of the way football should be played and the new manager will be a progression which these players will fit in and feel at ease with and go onto thrieve. The right manager and this club has a very bright future after stagnating with the wrong manager. I know I'm supposed to be eternally grateful to the special one who has now departed. I most certainly am not.

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Suffolkboy added 17:39 - Apr 13 So ' cloudy etc '. do read what else BK has said about M M s commitment and unbroken enthusiasm for all that went on at Humber Doucy Lane. Please don't let the obvious desire and emotion to cast about blame ( chiefly it seems to MM & TC) & blanket your evident love for ITFC. Lots of us., and I go back to1954 , share the wish for better things all round , but our last Mgr and his Asst in fact patiently and stoicly got on with the job of resurrecting the Club after the truly ckueless ,mentally unsuitable predecessors in Keane and&Jewell( they were disastrous appointments ,and proved so : ill equipped poor judges , coarse manners and eticet ; simply NOT what we needed ! Keane unreliable , mercurial ,not to be trusted and Jewell a totally insecure and improper candidate ) . Let's hope ME ,who's obviously intelligent and worldly wise , will decide upon a diamond to grace our Club ,and bring back the values ,standards and promise we have long sought . BUT we do NOT want further idiocy and uncontrolled remonstrations from those who ought to examine their behaviours and soul and character-- they believe they are the majority , every current pointer indicates MOST want a different attitude ,AND the prospect of a pleasant family atmosphere .where we can all attend without feeing threatened by what has been appalling behaviours !! Finally , as always , up the Blues !Lots of us still believe !!

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