The Town academy has been accused of not adequately supporting the mental health of a former scholar having allegedly mishandled an injury by an independent medical review commissioned by the PFA and conducted by a leading sports physician. However, Town have resolutely defended the claims.

According to a lengthy report in The Independent, the unnamed youngster, then 16, was diagnosed with lower-back complications in August 2015.

Following a programme of rehabilitation, the player attempted to return to training seven weeks later but the pain persisted with the club unable to ascertain the true nature of the problem.

By Christmas 2015 the injury had worsened to the extent where walking was at times difficult.

Town had not provided an MRI scan by this point but in January 2016, six months after the injury was first reported, on the advice of a private chiropractor, the club was asked to provide one by the player's parents, which revealed two prolapsed discs.

The PFA’s independent medical review found that Town had “fallen below the standards expected of a Championship club academy”.

However, it added that the club was not legally liable for his injury as the player had a pre-existing back condition not compatible with training full-time. The expert felt the player would struggle to play professional football but ought to make a full recovery.

There is further criticism of the way the youngster was left unattended while undergoing epidurals at the Lister Hospital in London and the subsequent failure to provide a programme of exercises after the pain returned in the 2016 close season.

The young player ultimately stopped playing in 2018 having spent the rest of his scholarship sidelined with injury or on loan in non-league locally.

The review “identified a number of apparent failings” regarding the injury, among them “poor communication … [the] delay in obtaining an MRI … [a] lack of written plan for pre-season 2016 and inappropriate loaded squat exercises for his medical condition.”

The club was urged to “lead a critical incident review into these matters and ensure appropriate systems are in place. Investigations into the safeguarding issues would possibly need to be undertaken with the agreement of the local social services department.”

The youngster, according to his parents, became “withdrawn” and “morose” during his time suffering with the injury, and the review felt his “psychological health” should also have been addressed.

The player admitted he struggled mentally in his time at the club and while there were “weekly informal approaches were made by Ipswich’s welfare officers and coaches to inquire about his well-being”, he says he never had a one-to-one with the academy’s psychologist.

The player is quoted as saying of Town’s physios: “As it was going on over the two or three years, I don’t think they really 100 per cent knew what they were doing. They were trying different stuff, and it wasn’t helping at all…They kind of ran out of ideas. They were just doing the same thing.”

Additionally, he said that no plan regarding his rehabilitation was ever given to him and that he’d be left alone for long spells with the physios busy in the mornings.

The players’ parents took the dispute to the FA - who have said it falls outside their jurisdiction - the PFA and the EFL in 2016.

Town say the three bodies have “found no substantiation to such allegations to warrant any action,” although The Independent says it understands an EFL investigation is still ongoing.

The PFA told The Independent: “The PFA treats its members’ welfare as paramount and we have supported the player throughout this situation, both in terms of pursuing his complaints and also to assist him with medical and rehabilitation assistance.

“This case has highlighted the urgent need for greater clarity as to the process players should follow in regard to safeguarding issues.”

The Independent adds that “the chief executive [sic] has not responded to the parents’ formal complaint nor offered an apology for the club’s treatment of their son.”

A spokesperson for Town said: “The academy staff, including the director of football operations [Lee O’Neill, also academy director], have done everything possible to assist the player and his family over a prolonged period and have given full co-operation to the football authorities.

“Our academy has an outstanding reputation in the game for not only developing young talent and providing a pathway into the first team but even more importantly, for ensuring the welfare and general well-being of all the scholars.

“The player concerned was provided with that same expert support from the academy both in terms of the physical treatment of the injury — including guidance from one of Europe’s leading consultants in spinal surgery — and the mental challenges surrounding dealing with a long-term injury.

“The club has acted to the highest standards in the player’s medical treatment in line with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and in his general well-being.”

The Independent reports that the player currently coaches at the academy for two hours a week at a site away from Playford Road.

Photo: TWTD

SamWhiteUK added 09:35 - Jul 30 Sad to hear. This quote is very telling, I feel: “As it was going on over the two or three years, I don't think they really 100 per cent knew what they were doing. They were trying different stuff, and it wasn't helping at all…They kind of ran out of ideas. They were just doing the same thing.”
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SaigonTractor added 09:37 - Jul 30 This is actually embarrassing. All this talk from Evans last season of investing into sports science and we seemingly can't even rehabilitate our players. No wonder our injury lists are so long.
9

JackSted added 09:48 - Jul 30 This would explain why all of our players with short-term injuries end up being sidelined for 1-2 years!!
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SimonCleggsNeck added 09:56 - Jul 30 This explains everything! well done PFA! sad its come to this to realize our medical care is not adequate!
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ITFCsince73 added 10:11 - Jul 30 Come back Clegg and Milne....all is forgiven.
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pegasus added 10:17 - Jul 30 It cannot be overstated how serious this is. It could have an effect on everything that Paul Lambert has tried to do since he was appointed, and it gives a perspective to everything he has said. There has to be an internal enquiry, not least to give re-establish confidence in the Academy. Would a parent with a talented footballing son want him to come to Ipswich Town afer reading this?

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ITFCsince73 added 10:19 - Jul 30 Players who were sicknotes of the highest order ie McGoldrick and Webster are now fit as fiddles. Bishop back on the treatment table, where he's spent vast majority of 3 years.... Something fishy going on...
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Razor added 10:22 - Jul 30 Yup---this is not good news but explains a lot!!
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blues1 added 10:34 - Jul 30 Itfcsince73. Just typical of ur posts. What have the injuries to mcgoldrick, webster, got to do with the academy? Likewise, bishops latest injury? Its not good that this has happened, but it's a one off thing, as far as it seems, and I'm sure it'll be dealt with to make sure it doesnt happen again. Also, if you read the story, it states that none of the 3 bodies to have investigated this have found no substantiation to the allegations as to warrant action which suggests this is nothing more than a newspaper making more of it than there was. Plus, the player already had the injury prior to coming to the club, so not a problem caused by our coaching staff as some accusing on here. But then theres those who wont waste any opportunity to slag the club off. Also, it has to be said, the player himself clearly doesnt have a major issue with the club about this as hes coaching at the academy a couple of days a week. So surely we shouldnt be making it out to be more than it is.?

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algarvefan added 10:50 - Jul 30 Every club has injuries, but in this day and age both the care and treatment given to potentially very expensive assets should be top level. Players are the club are deserving of the highest level of care and that includes the mental issues that can arise from a long term injury. I hope the club treat this report very seriously, especially where young vulnerable people are involved, the club often being 'parents' whilst the young people are at home a long distance away. It is a shame the club lost it's true family feel many years ago, where managers like Sir Bobby were like fathers to the clubs youngsters.

3

TractorRoyNo1 added 11:06 - Jul 30 sounds to me like parents looking for a big pay day
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ITFCsince73 added 11:09 - Jul 30 Blues1. Typical of your posts....full of words with no substance.
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braveblue added 11:12 - Jul 30 Still see so much defending and happy clappy. We need to realise that all areas of the club are slowly deteriorating under the disaster that is Evans.
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Paulc added 11:18 - Jul 30 Ok, careful here people. There are 2 sides to this story and so far people have only come down on the side of the player. I do not trust the PFA at all and Gordon Taylor has a history to answer to in my opinion. The fact that they have chosen to play this out in the media speaks volumes. This could (andI'm not saying Is) be a case of a disgruntled player/family being upset that the career did not go as planned. Having said that, IF there is any truth in any of this, the club has a lot to answer for too. They have a duty of care for development of talent as well as the physical and mental welfare of all staff (not just players).

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Ryorry added 11:19 - Jul 30 This is absolutely shocking, couldn't be more serious really both from the safeguarding of minors and rehab of injured players generally, points of view. The club needs to conduct a root and branch internal review of its medical side, both for the sake of the players, esp minors, and for its own sake.
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Ryorry added 11:21 - Jul 30 Paulc - it was (and I quote) "an independent medical review commissioned by the PFA and conducted by a leading sports physician."
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ThatMuhrenCross added 11:22 - Jul 30 This explains two things. 1) Why we have so many injury problems at the moment - the club is cutting corners on the players medical well-being. Any surprise that McGoldrick all of a sudden completed a whole season without injury? Webster too. 2) It also explains why the player in question was released. Clearly we can't name him for legal reasons, but any fan who follows the academy closely knows exactly who it is. Needless to say, he was considered a real prospect and many hoped he'd make the first team. His release was blamed on our relegation - evidently it was for other reasons.

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62WasBest added 11:32 - Jul 30 Phil - "However, Town have resolutely defended the claims" poor and confusing use of language. You presumably mean they have rejected the claims. To defend them means they supported them.
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Bert added 11:38 - Jul 30 I do hope that most of the posters on here never serve on a Jury. Without the reports and evidence from both the PFA and the club it is impossible to make the assertions that some are making.
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terry_butchers_twin added 12:16 - Jul 30 Bert, you seem to forget that a substantial number of posters on here believe they are “judge and jury”...!!!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 12:36 - Jul 30 itfcsince1973 - again you bring SBR into your arguments, I think some of the dubious injections that our great/greatest players had during that era would be banned at Newmarket yet alone Ipswich. The care our boys get today is miles better than in the 70's.
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runningout added 12:42 - Jul 30 Our reputation being dented year on year. Hope Investigation is full and thorough
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LuciBlue added 13:01 - Jul 30 Did the boy ever go to a GP?
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JewellintheTown added 13:12 - Jul 30 We live in a day and age where perfection is expected as the norm. Anything less means ammunition for those drama queens who get turned on by blowing things out of all rational proportion. Shame they don't run their own lives with the standards they expect upheld of all others. Sad for the lad, but there's only so much that can be done.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 13:29 - Jul 30 ITFCSINCE73- whereas yours are short and full of s*"t
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