Town have announced that managing director Ian Milne will be stepping down at the end of the month after six years in the position.

Having been a board member since Marcus Evans's 2017 takeover, Milne, 66, was appointed joint-MD alongside Jonathan Symonds in February 2013 following chief executive Simon Clegg's departure, before taking the role on alone in the summer of 2015.

“We have discussed for some time Ian’s role ending in the summer,” Blues owner Evans told the club site.

“However with a new manager recently appointed and Lee O’Neill taking on a wider role across the club as general manager football operations, it feels appropriate that we bring Ian’s departure forward.

"""In due course I will be considering the appropriate appointment of a new MD, however I already have a close and growing relationship with the manager, the academy team and Lee on the football side and this change will mean I will also, for now, have the opportunity to work more closely with the key people running the off-field parts of the club to help them carry out their own plans for ongoing improvements for the benefit of the club and our fans.

“Ian has been a great support to me in his role at the club as well as in my wider group over the last 20 years and he will always be welcome at Portman Road. We all wish him well for the future.” ""

Milne added: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the role of MD at such a great club and working with all my colleagues who have such great talent.

""“I would also like to thank Marcus for the support he has given me in carrying out this position over the years.

“Despite the club currently having a difficult time on the field, I know with Paul Lambert in charge and the continued backing from everybody at the club, Ipswich Town will be successful again.”

In addition to O’Neill’s new role, owner Evans has been playing a more hands-on role at Town in recent months.

Photo: TWTD

BlueArrow added 12:46 - Jan 10 There must be an auto biography coming out soon. Then we will know what he really did at the club
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Kirbmeister added 12:56 - Jan 10 BlueArrow - it will be the shortest book since The Book of Italian War Heroes.
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brittaniaman added 12:56 - Jan 10 What about getting Bowden back ????
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RRanger added 13:05 - Jan 10 Reading between the lines regarding ME's comments about Milne leaving and the good relationship he (ME) has with PL it looks to me that both PL and ME are planning for League 1 next season which if that is the case would almost certainly mean that PL is not going to jump ship if (when) we get relegated and has been promised funds to rebuild the club in whatever division we are in. This doesn't mean that PL has given up but that he is being realistic. Remember he did that at Norwich with a double promotion from League 1.

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Gcon added 13:07 - Jan 10 Odd timing. Given that ME has declared himself open to offers, you would think he would want one of his own at the helm to facilitate a sale.
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blueboy1981 added 13:11 - Jan 10 Another opportunity for the critics to criticise someone without having a clue themselves as to what remit he had within his role. Sometimes I feel the critics get pleasure out of being that way inclined. Give the Club,and it's servants a break critics - and join the revolution of moving the Club forward. Milne, in my book, has always been keen to be sociable with the Fans - and his role has to be understood as Club spokesman. Some would never, or want, to understand that. Thank you Ian Milne, and as a true ITFC supporter - I wish you well.

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warktheline added 13:23 - Jan 10 @blueboy, jeez you've got some front! Slating others for being critical! 😂
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blueboy1981 added 13:31 - Jan 10 People need to ask themselves this :- Is it the Owner, and the maligned Milne, that has let the Club down over the years ? - OR is it consecutive MANAGERS that have done the most damage in our Club demise. In my opinion, certain Managers have had much to answer for. Evans has again appointed what we consider (most anyway) to be the right person - and has obvious intentions of being more involved. So easy to criticise - but logical, sensible alternatives seldom put forward. Think about it ..... !! COYB - onwards, forward and upwards.

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inghamspur added 13:37 - Jan 10 What exactly did he actually ?
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blueboy1981 added 13:37 - Jan 10 warktheline .......... over the years this Club has never hit such a low, now is the time to support, and not criticise. I have, and will, making no apologies either, criticise when due and justified - NOW is not the right time. Where are the alternatives ? - I welcome suggestions from the critics. The future of ITFC is at stake here, probably like never before - constant criticism of everything from some will solve NOTHING.

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BlueArrow added 13:38 - Jan 10 Kirbmeister. I'll set em up you knock em into touch
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Dissboyitfc added 13:44 - Jan 10 Phil is that right? Having been a board member since Marcus Evans's 2017 takeover.
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IpswichFuture added 13:55 - Jan 10 There was very little that Ian did that involved either managing or directing. Evans and the managers run the club and make all the key decisions. Poor old Ian's job was to do all the stuff that they didn't want to which mainly entailed trying to keep the "customers" quiet with some inane drivel about how well we're doing and what a great and generous guy Marcus is. Presume that now Lambert appears to see fans as an asset rather than as ignorant and ungrateful numbskulls, Ian's job is even more redundant. At least after 6 years of doing very little, retirement shouldn't come as a huge shock to his system.

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TimmyH added 13:58 - Jan 10 As much use as a cat flap on a submarine...adios!
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warktheline added 14:14 - Jan 10 @blueboy, sorry but apart from Roy Keane ( who he allowed to systematically dismantle the ethos of the club with no regard or respect for sundry ) the biggest mistake ‘ your man ‘ made was not backing McCarthy financially after the play off season! Your ‘excuses' and pushing blame on McCarthy really are implausible ! The bottom line is Evans is clueless when it comes to football matters and boy are we ruddy paying the price!!!!!!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:15 - Jan 10 If you read the piece carefully, one or two probabilities come to mind: a) “Ian has been a great support to me ... in my wider group over the last 20 years": ITFC was not really a priority. b) Lee O'Neill and PL can easily cover whatever it was that Milne was supposed to be doing anyway. c) Milne is 66, so it's time to retire. I'm sure he's a decent guy and I wish him all the best, but he didn't really make much of a mark for the only bit of the Evans empire that concerns me!

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dubblue added 14:36 - Jan 10 I think Milne was a decent guy as many have posted here, but as MD he was not very effective. Are we to be reassured about ME playing a more hands on approach - think best leave it to PL and L'ON - with ME signing the cheques!!
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rugbytomc added 14:41 - Jan 10 Can these three: MattinLondon rabbit solemio Explain why they are down-rating all comments showing displeasure with Milne? Or should that be Uncle Ian?
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Gcon added 15:10 - Jan 10 Blueboy - Pot Kettle & Black are three words that spring to mind. Warktheline - Spot on!
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:39 - Jan 10 i think we needed someone taller to be honest
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JimInGreensboro added 15:48 - Jan 10 I do love his Winnie-the-Pooh stories, however.
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RegencyBlue added 16:30 - Jan 10 Evans is the organ grinder and Milne was just the monkey! No changes from this change alone!!
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itfchorry added 16:30 - Jan 10 Happy Days - Back to Stamford Bridge with you.
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itfchorry added 16:34 - Jan 10 Liz Edwards and Tottenham Timmy next please
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Popeye added 16:55 - Jan 10 Wasn't sure what he actually did at the club seemed to be just a spokesman for ME and was wheeled out to try and appease the fans when things weren't going well but didn't know what was actually going on. It's good to see that ME is taking a greater interest in the day to day running of the club but I feel it's several seasons too late!
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