Former Town boss George Burley has revealed he has applied for his old job at Portman Road and would have fellow Blues legend Terry Butcher working alongside him were he to be appointed.

Burley, 61, enjoyed a successful spell in charge of the Blues between 1994 and 2002 during which time he took Town into the Premier League via the play-offs and to fifth in the top flight and consequently back into the UEFA Cup.

“Everyone has kept asking me about it and, after much consideration, I’ve applied,” Burley told the EADT.

“And I’d have Terry Butcher working with me too. Just like me he’s got the club in his blood, lives in Suffolk, and is desperate to see better times.

“People might say I have been out of the game for a while, but I have lived in Ipswich for the last four years and been at virtually every home game so I understand the current mood and what is required going forwards.”

Burley, who had previously said he’d like to work at Portman Road again but not as manager, was last in a management job at Cypriot club Apollon Limassol for a short spell in 2012.

Despite his illustrious history with the Blues both as a player and manager, the former Scotland boss would appear an outsider for the current vacancy.

Photo: TWTD

BrettenhamBlue added 12:09 - May 4 Now this is interesting.
23

shefkuqi32 added 12:09 - May 4 Can think of a lot worst! Would be nice to hear "Burley's!! barmy army" echoing around Portman Road again.
31

BlueMachines added 12:10 - May 4 Loved him here and a lot of the football we played under him. But time for something new in my opinion, Paul Hurst please.
9

12th_Man added 12:12 - May 4 It's a no from me just think he has been out of the game too long and we need a fresh start move forward not backwards
1

boroughblue added 12:13 - May 4 Not too sure about his. Would be very nostalgic and as he says, no doubt suffolk and Ipswich is in his heart. but I can't help but feel this would be a massive gamble, and he is a bit out of touch with the modern game. Paul Hurst is by far my first choice.
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 12:13 - May 4 Not for me this. I love George but his time has passed, has been out of the game to long. Rember when Keegan went back to the Geordies? Dalgliesh to Liverpool? As a DID maybe but Steijn, Hurst and Cook all have far more appeal than George for me.
3

TomJamesLW added 12:15 - May 4 Maybe. Not exactly the young manager with fresh ideas that we've all be talking about, but a good option.
3

cornishnick added 12:18 - May 4 Heart says yes, head says no.
18

oldbri added 12:21 - May 4 Yes please .Proper Ipswich men
9

midastouch added 12:22 - May 4 I would of been against this appointment thinking it was time for the club to look forwards rather than backwards, however, after reading his fantastic piece in EADT fairly recently I have to say I think George would be more than just a safe pair of hands. Judging by that article George totally gets it and therefore I wouldn't be against his appointment whatsoever.
20

BigOlBlue added 12:23 - May 4 Not for me, I'm firmly in the moving forward with a younger manager camp. Hurst or White are my favourite choices personally. Wouldn't mind Burley having a DofF role or similar but would then be worrried he'd be quite interfering, based on his comments to the EADT
4

reyes added 12:24 - May 4 **Copy and pastes comment from same article in Oct 2012** I don't care about the saying 'never go back' get Burley in!
10

emiratie_blue added 12:24 - May 4 This would be the dream team . Both love the club and know what needs doing to get us playing good football again . Please make this happen
12

RobbieBobson added 12:25 - May 4 Interesting one this. Ipswich through and through, both Burley and Butch, and the previous days under Burley were the best of my 30-odd years as a fan, but I think past achievements are a barrier here, and I agree with others that Burley has been out of the game for too long. Cornishnick, I couldn't agree more with your post. unfortunately.
0

Vic added 12:25 - May 4 " I have lived in Ipswich for the last four years and been at virtually every home game so I understand the current mood and what is required going forwards.” He might understand the mood and what is required, but is he the man to change it and take us forward? I'm not sure. Would give a huge adrenaline rush among many of us, but if results don;t change I think it could turn sour quite quickly.

4

muccletonjoe added 12:25 - May 4 My heart says yes to these to. Of course it would, I remember them both as players. But my in all honesty , it is time to move on with a fresh young manager.
1

Europablue added 12:26 - May 4 I'd be really happy if Burley was part of the new team as a mentor for a less experienced outsider as the manager.
5

supasmiler71 added 12:29 - May 4 I would actually go along with this. You're either a good manager or you are not, and he has proved that he can be. Yes he has been out of management for a while, but you cannot doubt that he has always set up his teams to play attractive, progressive football which is exactly what we are craving. Although he has been out of management, he has not been away from football during this time, he knows his stuff, he knows how to handle players and he knows what it means to live and breath Ipswich. I say why not!

17

midastouch added 12:30 - May 4 And would love to see something positive for Terry to get stuck into after the tragic loss of his son, these guys love Ipswich with a passion and they'd move mountains if possible to get Town back on track. If they didn't succeed I promise you it wouldn't be without them first giving every drop of blood, sweat and tears they had had in order to try and make it happen. You'd be hard pushed to find a pair that care as much about Ipswich as much as these two gentlemen do. I'd welcome them with open arms and wish them all the luck in the world. If it didn't work out then nobody could say it wasn't because they didn't care deeply for the club. We know how George likes to play football. We know he likes to promote youth, that's plenty good enough for me. I'm rooting for George and Terry. COYB!!!

25

64Townman added 12:34 - May 4 With Burley and Bucther i n change i think town will do well ,Evans give these two a chance their have towns interested at heart even when their played for town.
10

midastouch added 12:36 - May 4 At the very least they deserve an interview, and please Marcus if you're reading, please read George's piece in the EADT if you haven't already, it was absolutely fantastic. He nailed the recipe for taking Ipswich forwards. With that sort of footballing philosophy Ipswich would surely regain their lost soul again.
14

micky_1560 added 12:36 - May 4 Saw them both speaking last Friday at Lowestoft Town FC and they both spoke a lot of sense and from the heart. Both could see what has been wrong the last dew years and would bring a connection with the club, back to the fans. Could do a lot worse than appointing Burley, but feel Evans won't want any of the old guard. Can understand why fans wouldn't want him either, something fresh, but surely we shouldn't turn away experience like this and use it somehow in the club...

20

christiand added 12:40 - May 4 Based on ME's 5 point plan GB ticks a lot of the boxes and having TB as his number 2 he'd get that defence sorted out, so Bart is less busy. Can see a lot more of the academy players getting the opportunity to play and having that natural progression from the youth, U23 and then first team where the style of play is consistent throughout. This would be a good appointment from where we currently are and think of the style of football that GB would encourage. How to play good football is never forgotten regardless of how long you've been out of the game!

16

cat added 12:44 - May 4 Never go back in life, but would love to see ‘El Tel' involved in some capacity. Would not be the end of the world if they were appointed as we know what we are getting. As others have stated though, it's the heart verses the head scenario and you should always go with the latter.
5

Southamptonblue added 12:44 - May 4 I'd be very happy to see Burley back at PR, as long as he's sorted out his problem.
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