Legend Matt Holland has expressed his concerns regarding the current situation at Town with the Blues sitting at the foot of the Championship with only one win all season under boss Paul Hurst and says he has heard that owner Marcus Evans has been sounding out potential new managers.

“It’s a horrible situation that’s panning out at Portman Road at the moment. Bottom of the table and not playing particularly well,” former skipper Holland, 44, said on talkSPORT.

“Crowds have held up pretty well, to be honest, there was 18,000 there against QPR at the weekend.

“But speaking to lots of friends and people that go to the games, they said that was probably the lowest they’ve been watching it.

“A close friend of mine left at half-time, he said it was that bad. He said it was the worst he’d seen as an Ipswich Town supporter. It’s really worrying what’s happening to the club at the moment.”

Holland says the club’s summer business is a big factor behind the present predicament.

“The recruitment has not been good enough, simple as that,” he said. “You look at the players who have gone. Martyn Waghorn, £5 million to Derby, Adam Webster to Bristol City, Joe Garner to Wigan, David McGoldrick on a free to Sheffield United. That’s four quality players that you’ve lost.

“In have come a number of players from League One and League Two. Now, I’m not saying that players in League One and League Two can’t make the step up to the Championship, but to ask, say, eight or nine of them to do it at the same time is asking an awful lot of those players.”

😢 “I’m so upset. It’s really worrying what’s happening at the club.”

🗣 “I’ve heard Marcus Evans is talking to other managers about the job.”

Ipswich hero @MattHolland8 opens up on problems at his old club. #ITFC pic.twitter.com/Ex5CORH3S6– talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 22, 2018

Evans was widely believed to have been considering whether to change manager going into the international break and Holland says he had heard that other potential bosses had been talked to.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen and whether a change is going to be made,” he added. “You hear one or two things when you’re involved and you’re close to the club. I’ve heard that Marcus Evans has spoken to other managers and there’s a possibility that something might change.

“I don’t know whether that will change or not. That was a couple of weeks ago I heard that, that he had spoken to other managers. That will be interesting to see.

“You also hear about what’s going on on the training ground and things and by all accounts perhaps man-management has been lacking.

“I’m at a loss really because I’m so upset, a club that I’m so close to. I still live down the road, I go as much as I can, I work on Saturday generally so it’s difficult to go and see the on a weekend, but I go to midweek games.

“I saw them in the first game of the season against Blackburn when they were probably a bit fortunate to get a draw that day as well. It’s a tough right now.”

Very sensible comments by @mattholland8 got his point over very well. A Manager’s job is hard these days, there’s more emphasis on man management skills than on coaching, that’s why you need a good ‘man manager’ and a good ‘coach’ to work in partnership! Hard to learn on the job! https://t.co/DLwSRIQeR7

— Russell Osman (@RussellOs5) October 22, 2018

Photo: Action Images

warktheline added 20:27 - Oct 22 Hapless Hurst Circus of Horrors! For ‘Evans' sake turn him into a pumpkin before Halloween !
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warno added 20:28 - Oct 22 I do wish Matt Holland had gone into Football Management as I think he would have been excellent. Still could be.......
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cornishblu added 20:33 - Oct 22 ....the piece I am most saddened about is that we took a punt in a lower league man.,..who brought in lower league players...hopefully hungry for success.....at present because there were far too many of them this appears to have back forged......all clubs will now be looking at us and if the experiment doesn't work then I fear for managers and players in the lower leagues as we will be used as an example of why clubs shouldn't go down this line. Up then comes the worry go round of ....proper blokes, mercenaries , 32/33 year olds on their last paypackets .....and worse the selection of a manger from the usual suspects. AP, MM, SA, DM, etc that drains the life out of any club post the initial boost .....it's been said SI Amy Times....but if hurst goes ME must sell up ...otherwise he will be even more cautious than ever before ....and if possible ..even less interested in our wonderful club COYB

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prebbs007 added 20:35 - Oct 22 It's easy. Play your BEST goalkeeper. Play your RB at RB. Play Pennington at CB. Drop liability calamity Chambers. Stop playing 2 holding midfielders Skuse is well past his best. And find forwards who can score goals (oh no you sold them all). We are in big big trouble and while we continue to select cr&p players not even in their correct positions then we are doomed to relegation without any doubt. Our demise is firmly at the door of our shocking owner who STILL only uses our beloved ITFC as a tax haven for washing his dirty cash. Foxtrot Oscar Evans you're an utter joke !!!!

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cornishblu added 20:35 - Oct 22 .....my bloomin iPad kills me ....how on earth does it come up with some of the words it does !! COYB
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Karlosfandangal added 20:43 - Oct 22 The problem we have now is if a new manager comes in....... he has got to work with the players we have got and hope Evans give him some money in Jan. We need a manager who has some tactical awareness. Not only did Matt Holland see the problems we all did from day one Except the Mick haters
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MickMillsTash added 20:58 - Oct 22 Looks like Hurst is going - maybe the Swansea result gave him a few more weeks but the results are not improving or going to. After Leeds we have 3 crucial games against clubs who will be near the bottom - if we can get the right man maybe time to act now. BUT Would the right man take the job with what we have as striking options ? Maybe just not being Paul Hurst would be enough to lift the players to a better performance

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Reecex28 added 21:00 - Oct 22 I never thought our great club would even consider sacking a manager after just 3/4 months but....... Something isn't right and something has to change
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Dog added 21:03 - Oct 22 We have players. We have dozzell, lankester, downes and kenlock. If possible recall nydam and morris. I dont mind jackson and edwardsbut with someone alongside. Get Bart back. Sort the defence into correct positions and we may turn the corner. As for Matt Holland - what a lad. Says it how it is. It is not the players left from the previous regime but the poor players signed . Yes it would help if skuse and chambers were on top form week in week out but they are not and they cannot carry this team. Hurst out. Evans out.

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vanmunt added 21:05 - Oct 22 I am at a loss how it seems to have gone so wrong.. I had high hopes after the West Ham friendly, pressed and passed with youth and not lack of skill. Then you get that Saturday performance where it looks to me as though they are not playing for hurst anymore. Really wanted it to work for hurst but this cannot go on.
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Blocker123 added 21:07 - Oct 22 How come our young talent are doing well as a team on all levels , individually being sort after, doing well internationally, but still can't get still have to come behind under performing div 1 and 2 level players who are not producing any results worth putting faith in. First neg comment this season. Just frustrated. Albert Einstein is broadly credited with exclaiming “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”. Maybe PH should come out and say something like..... I thought to come in and change everything, and I've got it wrong. Give me time, I am going to rip it up again and feed club up from inside, it's going to be painful, but in 18 months time with youngsters having the experience we are going to be fantastic. I'd be with him on that. Just a ramble, that's all.☺

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Northstandveteran added 21:30 - Oct 22 Come on sourdough. He clapped at the end of every game. Just like in the picture 👏 A fairly decent player but 'legend'? No.
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planetblue_2011 added 21:34 - Oct 22 Can even an experience manager sort us out!! He won't have the players to turn us around. Look at our strike force.. say no more.
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Pedlarjak added 21:50 - Oct 22 This experiment has failed. It must now be stopped immediately to prevent further damage to the club.
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Gazelle added 22:28 - Oct 22 Has it occurred to anyone that Evans let players go to make money and save wages and left Hurst with little choice but to buy lower league players.
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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 22:30 - Oct 22 Good honest statement by Holland that reflects what many of us are thinking. @planetblue 2011 You have highlighted the real issue here. Any new manager is going to struggle to turn results around with the squad of players that have been signed. Three of them (Edwards, Nsiala-at times, and Edun seem capable of being squad players at this level. January is still a fair distance away and even then any new players we bring in will need time to settle into the team. I am also uncertain of whether or not there are any good free signings available now. We lost too many quality players after the exit of MM and haven't replaced them. The team is lacking in multiple areas. The only positive here is that there are four other teams also playing poorly at present. Though we may be bottom, 3 lucky results (like at Swansea) would shift things considerably.

1

Suffolkboy added 22:47 - Oct 22 I wonder if any of the players who came to train & look at joining saw through the inadequacies and decided this wasn't the place to be ? McCauley would have been a mature influence ! At last it looks as if the glare of the spotlight might just illuminate ME's observations and then his action ? He needs to do something before sadness turns permanently into bitterness and desertion .ITFC should make every effort to return to the happy ,family oriented ,safe and good humoured stadium it always used to be ,but the arrows all point in the wrong direction right now . Come on you Blues !!

2

pazzy added 22:47 - Oct 22 just get rid of the static clown we want our club back only trouble new man has a host of very poor players to work with the team does not line up or play as we were told they would utter dross wont be many season tickets sold next season to watch this CRAP
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Warkys_Tash added 23:10 - Oct 22 SuffolkBoy, I'll mark you up for the "Peter principle' - good shout there. However, I dont think Hurst is a disgrace. A decent guy it seems just our of his depth. Bully boy Doig on the other hand...
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Warkys_Tash added 23:13 - Oct 22 Surco bit harsh on Skuse, he saved the scoreline at least twice on Sat. I think he is better protecting the back four but I dont think we need two defensive midfielders at home. Chalobah is also out of position as he is actually a centre back at Chelsea AND has not previous Cham experience before coming here! What was Hurst even thinking? Agree too many players well out of position. Plus Chambers and NIsala were woeful in their 'passing'. Niasla dropped for me for the Leeds game. Total liability. The QPR fans report that Harry From Bath put a link too, was true but a total embarrassment to read as a Town fan.

0

64Townman added 23:16 - Oct 22 Matt why don't you take over the managers job at Ipswich town you would do a better job than Paul Hurst
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Vanisleblue2 added 23:36 - Oct 22 Play Bart, play midfielders who are capable of at least scoring a goal, play strikers who can score a goal. Release players who are sitting around with injuries for months on end. I am sorry Adyemi and Bishop but we can use your wages. Hire a good coach like when Burley brought in Gorman, Houston, Hamilton etc. Bring in Matty Holland or Terry Butcher someone who knows the Town and bleeds blue and white.

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TimmyH added 23:41 - Oct 22 It really isn't rocket science why we're in trouble as Holland pointed out selling the quality and gambling by bringing in inexperienced league 1 and 2 players at a higher level, who on earth with any ambition would do this other than this club?...I know in hindsight this is easy to say but the warning light was there right at the beginning of the season. Evans has to sort this out and quick...he is part of the problem and certainly aided and abetted what is happening at the moment.

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algarvefan added 23:57 - Oct 22 Matt was a great skipper and player and his assessment sadly is right. I wasn't aware of the training ground problems but running any team, no matter what they do, is all about getting the balance right and it clearly isn't right. My heart says get a 'Town Man' in but my head says differently, the next (if there is to be one) manager must be experienced and a good 'man manager' and as I have said previously Mick did a half decent job on shoestring and fresh air, we need his type again to steady the ship.

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Kirbmeister added 00:12 - Oct 23 With this squad we could have Pep Guardiola as our new manager and it would make sod all difference.
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