Town owner Marcus Evans has broken his silence for the first time since the end of last season, insisting the club is not currently for sale but definitely not ruling out that it could change hands in the future.

The owner’s interview on the club website also features his views on the appointment of former boss Paul Hurst, the decision to dispense with his services after just 149 days and the way forward under his successor, Paul Lambert, whose run of two wins in his 14 games in charges sees Town seven points from safety at the bottom of the Championship.

Evans, who has been at the helm for 11 years, pledges his ongoing support to Lambert, who has introduced six new signings in the January transfer window. He also responds to fans who complain about a lack of investment in the playing resources, as well as joining the manager in praising supporters for their loyalty in the most trying of circumstances. The full interview can be read below:

Marcus, let’s start with the past before discussing the future. You tried something different last summer. You went for a younger manager from the lower divisions in Paul Hurst. Do you regret that decision?

"No, I don’t regret the appointment as I think it was the right decision for the club at the time. It was the decisions made after the appointment that I regret and in hindsight, which is a wonderful thing, I am sure both myself and Paul Hurst - who is a totally decent and hard-working person by the way - would make different decisions if we had our time again. However, we are where we are. ""

Where do you, personally, think it went wrong then?

Again, with hindsight, I think we should have been tweaking a squad that proved to be competitive last season rather than making wholesale changes so quickly.

The addition of players inexperienced at Championship level mixed in with a group of experienced ones may well have succeeded but it takes time to adjust to making that step up to the Championship and that step up becomes even harder when so many are making it at the same time.

So you regret signing so many players from the lower divisions?

"The obvious answer is yes because of what I have just said about the time it takes for players to settle in at Championship level but I recall asking Sir Bobby [Robson] at one time ‘what if anything in your opinion is the one thing that I should do as an owner to support the club’ and he said ‘back the manager 100 per cent until you know it’s time for a change’. That’s what I’ve always done and will continue to do as best I can .

What is the strategy going forward then?

"The long-term investment I have put in place has made us competitive in the past and the ongoing consistent investment to support the strategies of stable management, a strong academy and competitive wages for experienced players I believe will make us competitive again.

In terms of the club’s immediate outlook, it’s a massive kick in the teeth that we are struggling this year because I feel behind the scenes we, as a club, are providing the best service since I became involved that we have ever done for a manager.

We have put a structure in place that provides us with continuity in the way all the teams play from academy to first team; we have improved scouting and sports science support; we have appointed a general manager football operations in Lee O’Neill who is working closely with Paul and myself and in Paul we have a manager not only focused on winning football matches but doing so in an entertaining style.

This season has been the most challenging one for me as owner but working alongside Paul and Lee, I’m determined that the rebuilding process that is now taking place will get us going in the right direction again.

I’ve already released a statement with Paul clarifying that Paul and I have agreed that this journey will continue wherever we play our football next season, which provides the vitally important stability and management that I’ve spoken about so many times.

We have a progressive, experienced manager determined to play football on the front foot with a support team and owner completely behind him. Let’s see where it takes us.

You are clearly backing Paul. Six players have arrived this month. Will you continue to back him in the transfer market?"

I think we have done some good business in this window with players who can make an immediate impact and we are already looking ahead to the summer. So yes I will.

Do you feel that the levels of investment that you are prepared to make can enable the club to be competitive?

"There is always going to be a wide range of the level of investments in clubs each year and I ultimately believe that the strategy that I have in place for Ipswich can make us competitive.

Every year there are likely to be six or seven clubs with parachute payments; this year it’s seven with parachute payments ranging between £25m and £50m per annum. In addition there will be clubs with new owners or relatively new owners looking to invest £20m or so a year for a few seasons in the hope of promotion.

So from a financial perspective, Ipswich will be at a disadvantage to at least half the clubs in the Championship. However, and this is the key point; none of these budgets are sustainable. It tends to now be a different 10 or 11 clubs each year, within reason, that are in this position.

The likes of Bolton, Hull, Wigan, Reading, QPR and Sunderland have all been in the ‘money club’ in recent years. None of those clubs started the season as likely promotion contenders and Sunderland started the season in League One.

"What do you say to those who argue we are in the position we are in now because of lack of investment?

"I don’t agree with that at all. We are in the position we are in due to last summer’s unbalanced transfer dealings. This is not to knock the players we brought in as I believe all of them can settle into playing at this level, however we needed more experience to help bring our new players through.

And if you look at the last five or six seasons before this year, we did just that with a similar level of budget and we averaged a league position of ninth or 10th so in fact we have eaten into the top half of the table which from a financial perspective would be reserved for those clubs with increased financial clout.

So during the last six years, a strategy of stable management, developing youth mixed with bringing in experienced Championship players alongside some developing players and all within a sustainable budget did make us competitive.

Are you not tempted to throw £15m, £20m at it for a season or two and see where it takes you?

"I did throw a lot of money, if you want to use that term, at it in the early years of my ownership and it got us nowhere. The key word here is sustainable. If I were to invest £15m to £20m per year at the club over three, four, five years, I would, like we have seen with other owners, tire very quickly if not successful. Some fans would say that’s worth the risk but I don’t think so.

If I were to take that risk and then decide enough is enough, where does that leave the club? With zero investment each year the club almost certainly ends up perpetually in the lower regions of the Football League.

There are plenty of examples of clubs that have done that. I am simply not prepared to leave the club in the lurch and my investment is based upon keeping the club competitive long term, not just with a roll of the dice for two or three seasons. I would rather provide consistent and steady investment and try to breakthrough using the strategies that nearly worked under Mick.

""When you spoke in an interview with iFollow at the end of last season, you said you would ‘do what’s right for the club’ if there was an offer to invest in the club. Is that still the situation??

"I would like to be very clear, the club is not for sale and nor do I want to sell the club. I will continue to do my absolute best for Ipswich Town.

However, if someone comes along who wants to follow a higher risk route, then if that what’s best for the club and the incoming party show they are in for the long haul, I would step aside if it is best for the club. It has to be the best for the football club though.

Finally what do you say to the supporters who are here through thick and thin?

"I was talking to Paul about the fans the other day. He has been amazed by the club’s support given our position in the table. I want to thank everyone of them for making Paul and his staff so welcome and I want to thank them for getting behind the team so much.

The atmosphere at the Rotherham game was amazing. The fans seemed to keep the ball out of the net on occasions, such was the noise from behind the goal in the North Stand.

So if there is a message, it’s please stick with us. It’s a team effort and the supporters are the most important part of the team. Owners and managers come and go, fans are forever and I will do everything I can to see those fans see entertaining football in return for their loyal support.

Photo: ITFC

blueboy1981 added 21:17 - Jan 23 ..... fat fingers, modern phones ...... should read :- Alternatives.
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Carberry added 21:29 - Jan 23 Blue oh, you know it's ok for people to have a different opinion to you so stop abusing them and calling them fools. Don't know if you fancy yourself as a bit of a keyboard bully but just cut the cr@p will you?
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blueboy1981 added 21:37 - Jan 23 Evans just cannot win with some of you - if he says the Club is for sale - he's not interested ! - if he says it's not, and says all we can realistically expect - he is still wrong ! If I had his wealth, and been the subject of constant criticism - I would have got the hell out of the place long before now - and so would many others. You're all better businessmen than him - that's why a critic hasn't come up with an alternative, or offer to buy ..... !!! ..... as yet !

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blueboy1981 added 21:45 - Jan 23 Truth will always hurt with some whether it's Evans, or whoever. Some of you just don't deserve Ipswich Town Football Club.
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Gcon added 22:10 - Jan 23 Out of interest Blueboy, are you married?
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eddiespearitt03 added 22:57 - Jan 23 Will always be a town fan but to be honest all this nonsense is wearing thin these days. Tired of it all. Just want to go and see a good game of football, win or lose. As far as Marcus Evans is concerned it is only a rallying call again for supporters to stick with it. Of course he does not regret the "poor decisions" he has made and then he quickly mentions a ridiculous amount of millions that he will not throw at recruiting players. He has little clue about building a team around the better players because he prefers to cash in . Now we watch the usual influx of loan players to try and salvage our season. Evans is a poor football club owner and we have him .

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Bluearmy_81 added 07:43 - Jan 24 We will rise again? What with Evans as owner and investor?! And I'm the fool?!! Ok!! What evidence from the last 10 years leads you to that conclusion, I'm puzzled. No difference between Evans apologists on here and Norwich fans, they both love Evans! I heard of at least one Norwich fan who had a picture of Evans at the top of his Christmas tree, to them he's the saviour! Has there ever been two divisions between Town and them?! If so how long ago? Ssshhhh don't criticise the owner if you can't buy the club... He's a stand up guy, give him time.. 😂😂😂

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pennblue added 08:22 - Jan 24 Loving the fact that Evans is now engaging more with the fans and more hands on at the club, this is going to help massively. There is no doubt, he is learning. However, I wish he would consider taking on extra investment. The fact that there are 12 clubs each year with a far bigger budget means our chances of getting back intp the premiership are significantly reduced. You just have to look at the Waghorn situation and how Derby played down at Southampton the other night, we are miles apart.

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Kirbmeister added 08:40 - Jan 24 Pennblue - get back in Premiership? I think it will be years before we even see the Championship again.
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rabbit added 08:41 - Jan 24 Bluearmy_81 I admit I am no fan of the way your almost namesake Bluearmy81 writes, his over bearing righteous attitude is offensive so very often and he has no right to, his un-intellectual, his is the only sensible opinion, but hey, you often get that when there is anonymity available. However he does make a valid point and frankly your assumptions and opinions are just as flagrantly excessive in your own righteousness, again very easy with anonymity, but simply speaking whilst your criticism is so vehemently against Marcus Evans please,as you have been asked, tell us what you consider is the alternative for ITFC, simply slagging off all and anyone who gives an opinion is unacceptable.

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Bluearmy_81 added 09:14 - Jan 24 There is no alternative currently until a buyer comes along!! That doesn't mean I will just sit back, happy clap and pretend we're not disappearing into the abyss though! Seriously no other clubs fans would have given Evans the ridiculously easy ride he's had. It beggars belief. He should have been put under pressure and held accountable for his poor investment years ago. Had he been maybe we wouldn't be in the pathetic mess we are in now. At least Coventry, Blackpool etc fans have some passion and fight in them. Town fans on the whole are in comparison poor...

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rabbit added 09:54 - Jan 24 Well I am sorry to hear that you have no alternative, it makes your opinions less valid and by and large quite offensive to anyone who has an alternative opinion. What in effect you are saying can be aimed at the vast majority of football clubs in fact just the very few that sit at the top of the football league pyramid. Even the likes of Arsenal who finished in the top four season after season were not satisfied, let alone those teams that struggle on season after season trying to achieve anything but relegation from the Premier League, it applies to every league professional or amateur. So for the most part whilst a team is being financially supported, despite the horrendous state of its finances, we as supporters should be pleased we have a team to support. You see by and large with the more mature people there is no choice with who we support it is part of our lives through good and bad. Futile posturing and believing that everyone out with the same opinion as yours are fools is divisive, unacceptable and unnecessary. Unless you can come up with a sustainable business plan that can be discussed with relevance that may be the key to the upward spiral and successful longevity achieved by those very few teams then in my opinion derogatory statements made toward others will only lead to disharmony and not the unity that any team, football or otherwise in business and sport will suffer from.

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Bluearmy_81 added 10:06 - Jan 24 Two divisions between us and them soon rabbit!! Evans at the top of Christmas trees in Norwich! Keep happy clapping 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
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beornioblue added 10:18 - Jan 24 To his credit he has owned up and said the transfer dealings with Hurst were completely wrong. It seems to me that he put all his faith in the Manager which is admirable but it has come back to bite him...and us obviously. But however much faith you put in the manager, the Martyn Waghorn situation is the one that hurts (anagram of hurst how appropriate) there was no need to sell him.

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rabbit added 10:21 - Jan 24 If NCFC is your biggest worry and you are worried about what others purport is in other peoples lounges at Christmas time then I fully understand that your age and experience have not yet matured sufficiently. Bear in mind opinions are only valid if there is an alternative, which by the way, is not a pipe dream, and you can articulate them without the derogatory insulting of others that actually have a considered opinion.

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Bluearmy_81 added 11:05 - Jan 24 Opinions are only valid if there is an alternative? What rubbish!! I think it may be you who is imature with that mindset. So people in nazi Germany couldn't believe the ideleology was wrong even though at the time there was no alternative to a far right dictatorship?! What utter rot!!
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drewcudders1963 added 11:55 - Jan 24 With the great crop of youngsters coming through if Lambert can find a blend of home developed youngsters and experienced pro's then we have a chance next season or the year after.... first we have to stay in the Championship though !
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rugbytomc added 12:10 - Jan 24 Wussinwhite boots and Truebluesince82 To address a couple of your points. https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/itfc-owner-marcus-evans-fifth-on-list-of-east-anglia Apparently Evans net worth increased by £35m to £800m. I agree with you Wussinwhiteboots he clearly is a very successful businessman, Beyond these figures though (and who knows how accurate they are and how much of it is just the value of business etc etc) we know nothing about his finances nor the finances of the club - so Trueblue i'm sorry but just like the rest of us, you don't really know what is going on with the clubs finances so no point in mentioning them. The reasons i posted his net worth and the increase in it, is to highlight how successful a businessman he is - so how come Ipswich have lost money every year he's been in charge (if this is to be believed) and we are a less successful team and business since he took over - so how come he can be such a successful businessman but can't make a success of us? He had no real interest in ITFC before he bought us nor was he a particular football fan (he's said this before) so what did he want to achieve with Ipswich, has that changed since he took over and what (if it has changed) does he want to achieve now? As for the appeal to fans based on location and comparing us to Cardiff - utter nonsense i'm afraid, we had full stadiums last time we were in the prem, we've had big crowds for some big games since and even if we had no fans - the money comes from Prem TV or owners these days anyway so it's irrelevant. Sunderland have loads of fans - it hasn't helped them. Bournemouth have no fans - it hasn't hindered them. What do I want? I want the owner to be clear about what he will invest to the manager before each transfer window then just leave Lambert to it as he seems to know what he's doing. I want him to let Lee O'Niell make any football related decisions such as approving transfers and hiring and firing managers as he clearly understands football, evans doesn't and all of his "football advisors" in the past have helped him cock up. As for Hurst - I'm sympathetic to him. On paper, the right appointment. But he was given no support or advice from above and his inexperienced showed when he was first allowed to go cavalier in the transfer market (seriously what was evans smokinng when he signed off on £750k for Donacien?!) and then when results didn't go his way at the start of the season, he completely lost the plot and abandoned his formation, playing style and had no clue who he wanted to pick and what position - a man clearly crumbled under pressure, he might not have if he had experienced help. Ultimately the right decision to let him go

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rabbit added 12:16 - Jan 24 What an amazing and sad analogy you have sought, not only historically and factually incorrect but desperately offensive to those poor proud Germans who lost heir lives to the Third Reich because of their proposed alternative views. Sadly these foul comments say so much about your self indulged opinions, I genuinely hope for your sake you take time out to review your comments, although from your knee jerk missives I hold little hope out.

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Bluearmy_81 added 12:51 - Jan 24 How was it factually incorrect? Yes the alternative was death. Obviously I'm not comparing things at ITFC to Nazi Germany just using it as an example to show how utterly ridiculous your assertion is. If there is no alternative you cannot complain!?? It would be funny if it wasn't so ridiculous and tragic!! 😂
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rabbit added 13:05 - Jan 24 You win young man, good luck for your future.
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Northstandveteran added 13:15 - Jan 24 I wonder if any Fortuna fans are reading this and scratching their heads? We've gone slightly off the subject here haven't we? 😂
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Carberry added 13:56 - Jan 24 Rabbit, 'come up with a credible business plan', are you having a laugh? Have you noticed the way football works in the Championship? It's all about owners putting money in. And if you have an owner who doesn't manage or when he does get involved makes the wrong decisions you end up where we are. Can we just stop these attacks on people who have a different view to the people who only want to accept and hope.

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Bluearmy_81 added 14:58 - Jan 24 Hear hear Carberry. Wouldn't be so perplexing if they were backing and defending the cause of success!! It's baffling to me but good job we're all different
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madmouse1959 added 15:47 - Jan 24 Unfortunately we have never really recovered from going into administration and Sheepshanks simply walking away from the club after making his small personal fortune. Now we have another businessman giving it a go to see what he can siphon off with player sales. I did not buy the 5 year plan waffle and i,m not fooled this time round either. The standard of football had been patchy under Sheepshanks but has certainly been mostly abysmal since Evans took over. Ipswich FC should never be in this position and Evans can gloat all he likes when he looks at the empty seats in League One.

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