Town boss Paul Hurst says he had a positive conversation with owner Marcus Evans at their Tuesday meeting.

Evans was at Portman Road all day prior to the match against Brentford speaking to staff from throughout the club in long-planned meetings.

“We had a good chat and we went through a lot because it’s the first time we’ve spoken properly in terms of everything we’re trying to do here and just checking on things, and I have to say it was a positive conversation.” Hurst said.

Asked whether anything out of the ordinary was discussed, with the Blues currently bottom of the table still without a win under their new manager, he said: “No, no headlines for you!”

Previous Town managers have said Evans has been patient and calm in similar circumstances and Hurst says he has found him much the same during the current winless run.

“Yes, I have to say that,” he said. “He’s employing me for a reason, which ultimately is to try and win games of football, which we haven’t done, but to do that in a certain way, and in time.

“What I would say is that he mentioned the fact that we need to do what we need to do short term if I feel that’s changing [the] overall [situation], but we know we’re in a clear direction, there’s a plan there and he’s fully supportive of that.

“I think that’s always nice to hear, he hasn’t made me feel any different at any point, in truth. It’s more just being in football and seeing what happens sometimes.

“We spoke on Wednesday morning as well about the game. I think he said the second half was as well as we’ve played and I disagreed with him, but it was nice that he was in a positive mood and nothing’s changed in truth, so we carry on and hopefully we’ll start to see the results that we want.”

Hurst says meeting with Evans face to face only rarely isn’t a problem: “I think as long as we speak often. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when it’s nice to sit in the same room and look someone directly in the eye and I think you get a better feeling, but overall it’s not an issue.

“As I say, we talk often anyway. I think we were probably both ready for a little breather from each other after the transfer window because we were on the phone constantly and probably both relieved when that did shut and could just concentrate more on what we have got and how we’re going about our business.”

Photo: Pagepix

jackson added 01:18 - Sep 21 I never felt Mick McCarthy was the problem, but rather Evans miserly attitude, now we see Hurst getting a measure of the same penny pinching nonsense. Petty squabbles over a few quid here and there prevented ITFC from acquiring a much needed defender + thats a lot of the reason why we are sat rock bottom. If Hurst really does have a magic wand - as Evans clearly hoped - that he can wave over seriously under financed teams to push them up the table, then he needs to wave it soon.

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Popeye added 02:30 - Sep 21 All the people that moan about Evans are stupid. He's put over £80million quid into town and still continues to pump in £5m every season just to cover the losses. Waghorn wanted to leave and was reluctantly sold for less than we wanted, hardly Evans fault was it. Evans has invested year on year into the academy, paid for a new pitch to be laid. Where would we be without Evans investment, bankrupt thats where we would be because if we owed money to a financial institution and not Evans then they would have sold everything of value off to get their money back, look at the mess Bolton are in?As I understand it Evans has also contacted the council about buying the stadium so he's hardly an asset stripper is he. Hurst gave Evans a list of players he wanted to buy and Evans went out and got most of them, don't think I can ever recall more players being brought into club in one season. Evans isn't a faceless absent owner he just chooses to stay out of the limelight which is his prerogative. Would you rather have an owner like Evans or the Oystons? The Cobbolds were probably the best owners the club has ever had, but if they were alive today and still owned the club, they wouldn't have invested the sort of money Evans has because they just don't have that sort of money. Who cares if Evans uses town for tax deduction purposes, do you think The glazers etc own Man Utd because they love the club and are true supporters, no they own the club to make money pure and simple, something Evans cannot be accused of because he's made fook all.

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GTRKing added 08:19 - Sep 21 I like what Hurst is doing, I know we are bottom. Apart from Hull City Brentford (First half) Derby Sheffield Wed (2nd half) we have played well... We will get our win soon. Evans got his Pockets Burnt by Kean & Jewell, too scared to give Mick money & can't afford to give hurst money. He is better than some owners... Let's get Portman Road Rocking tomz show the team we fully support them & hopefully we will get 3 points 👍

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rabbit added 08:25 - Sep 21 I just wish that all of the people that know that Evans is only using ITFC as a tax loss would explain how this works, I have asked on here before but the same people keep saying it so clearly they know so please please explain it.
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Swn98 added 08:45 - Sep 21 Get the bed sheets ready.
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midastouch added 08:50 - Sep 21 Steve Gibson net worth is around 165 million. Far less than Marcus Evans. Yet compare the resources Gibson makes available to Boro for transfers and wages. Could it be that Steve Gibson is far more passionate about Boro than Marcus is about Ipswich? To get out of this league your heart has to be in it 100%, not even 90% is ever going to be enough. And to be honest I'm not even sure if Marcus's heart is up towards the 90% scale! I think he set a budget to try and get us promoted and when that got burned through by the likes of Jewell and Keane he's now retreated into survival mode. You've only got to look at the measly budget he gave to McCarthy to see that. I'm not saying he doesn't care about Ipswich, but I am saying if he cared as much as a passionate diehard in the North Stand we'd have a team to compete far better (or even challenge) in this league.

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Northstandveteran added 08:54 - Sep 21 Won't Mick get upset if you steel his half of the duvet again Swn?
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midastouch added 08:56 - Sep 21 The argument I am making is I think Evans takeover was driven more by opportunism rather than it being guided by a true labour of love or connection with Ipswich Town. He set a calculated budget to get Ipswich promoted and saw the opportunity and couldn't resist rolling the dice knowing what a status symbol a Premier League Club would be for his business empire. Yet this was one business gamble that didn't pay off but as numerous businessmen have found out before Marcus, what works in the world of business often doesn't translate nearly so well to the weird and wonderful world of football.

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Bluearmy_81 added 09:16 - Sep 21 "Who cares if Evans uses town for tax deduction purposes..." Wow. Just wow. I care!! Mystifying attitude.
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bugledog123 added 09:22 - Sep 21 COYB!
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BrettenhamBlue added 09:27 - Sep 21 I'll be old and grey at this rate by the time we win a game of football. Run out of expletives for how desperate I am for us to put 3 points on the board and slightly ease the relegation anxiety. Slightly. Surely this is a must-win game?
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TimmyH added 10:11 - Sep 21 I think you'll find the majority of owners in the Championship and lower leagues make operating losses sadly, not sure Evans has put in £80M since he's been here but I know over the last 5 seasons he's made £18M+ from player transfers...as for the academy he might have invested in it but no signs of players coming through to the 1st team, ask some of his managers why.
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stewartm added 10:11 - Sep 21 He is doing the job on the cheap, so ME will love him.
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TimmyH added 10:14 - Sep 21 Well said Midastouch...that about sums it up for me too.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 10:19 - Sep 21 Sorry but people already moaning about Hurst. He is our manager whether the Mick lovers want it or not. I have seen flashes of what he is trying to do second half against Brentford (Who will probably be one of the best sides we play at PR) 60 minutes against Villa with 10 men. Yeah we lost at Rotherham (As you'll find Derby did) well we lost there last game under Mick having been dominated during that game, we lost at Hull where we haven't won in ages so please get some perspective. We are having in most games the lions share of possession instead of being dominated to teams like Burton at home. He is trying to change the style of play which doesn't happen overnight neither does gelling 9 new players into the team! Under Lyall's half a season when he came in the football wasnt pretty but you could see glimpses and he bought players in like Goddard and Whitton who some people moaned about but the season after we were promoted. IF we keep playing like we do in flashes like the second half against Brentford we will have no worries about relegation. I would like to see more ambition from Evans! Yes like Mick he came in at the right time and saved us but now what? He will only EVER see a comeback on his money if we go up surely? So what is he doing why is he here to what end hes not making any money and for an extremely successful businessman worth over 900 million you do have to wonder why? I dare say hes paying alot less tax whilst he has the club losing money season on season but hey thats just my opinion.

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Lightningboy added 11:33 - Sep 21 Evans is very patient...unfortunately he's not very good at making managerial decisions. 1 sacking Magilton 2 employing Keane 3 employing Jewell 4 employing McCarthy (but that was because of 2 & 3) 5 employing Hurst...?...time will tell but he's making a right pig's ear of things so far. #10WastedYears #unforgivable
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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:04 - Sep 21 @Lightingboy you forgot Simon Clegg as well!! What a disaster that guy was! Between him and Evans a successful businessman buys assets (Leadbitter, Norris etc etc) then lets their contracts run out and loses money on those assets for absolutely nothing and WE as fans are supposed to be grateful! Like that has contributed to the debt!? Why is he still here if hes losing money!? Regarding your point about Hurst I dont agree hes only had 8 games the others on your list had alot more! The buck does stop with Evans I want to know what he wants to do going forwards because he sees no comeback on his investment unless we go up so if hes happy us being in this league and losing money I have to wonder how he made so much money or if theres another motive

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wayway added 21:05 - Sep 21 Evans contacted Ipswich Borough Council about buying the ground??? It would be sold for re development within 18 months and we would be groundsharing with Colchester
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