Owner Marcus Evans remains as committed to the club as ever, according to general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill.

Evans took over at Portman Road in December 2007 with a swift promotion to the Premier League the aim. However, 13 years on the Blues are in League One but with Evans still unwavering in his commitment to the club.

“Yes, very much so,” said O’Neill. “He’s still working very hard behind the scenes and obviously here a lot.

“And still challenging both Paul and myself and other key members of the departments at other parts of the club that are constantly striving to be better.

“You’ll have seen things, whether that’s the training ground or the stadium, he’s trying to address areas of the stadium to improve the matchday experience.

“Again, it’s not all going to be done overnight but if you look at where it was 12 months ago and some of the things that we’re doing now, there is change.

“If we fast-forward another 12 months you’d hope to see some more change and follow-on, so we’re gradually getting the club back to some of the better times that we all want to see.”

"Asked why the stadium was allowed to deteriorate in the manner it was, O’Neill said: “It can be a number of reasons why and it’s not for me to comment as to why certain things haven’t happened in the past, it’s not about what we were doing at a particular time, it’s about recognising that it needs to be improved and doing things about it moving forward.

“It’s unfair for me to comment on what’s happened in the past. There can be many reasons why, for me it’s more important that we’re recognising what it is and trying to make it better going forward.”

While the Blues have one of the biggest budgets in League One, Town’s wage bill in the Championship - just under £19 million last season - was around the 18th highest and about a third the size of some of their competitors.

In order to address that imbalance, has owner Evans looked at attracting outside investment? “I think when Marcus did the interview two seasons ago and he was talking about that he said that if an offer ever came in that would look at it from that point of view.

“I think people think there’s someone going to come in with X amount of money and invest into the club here and now, but as far as I’m aware those things haven’t happened, as much as people wish that to happen.

“Marcus puts in a lot of money every year. He puts in what he can do and he works incredibly hard in other businesses to allow him to put the money into this football club.

“Money isn’t the answer to everything, again you can see that at other football clubs. There has been money spent on transfers and players and facilities and stuff like that, but it’s not always the answer. It can help in some situations, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not the answer to everything.

“So, from an investment point of view, if there was an investment on the table, I’m sure he would look at things. But at the moment, as far as I’m aware, those things don’t exist so they’re not options that we can even consider.”

Ed Sheeran’s regular appearances at Portman Road have led to suggestions that he might take a financial interest in the club with rumours having circulated that meetings along those lines may have taken place.

However, O’Neill poured cold water on such claims: “No, not as far as I’m aware. Ed’s a good supporter of the club, which is fantastic and if he were to do that it would be brilliant, but I don’t think that’s on the horizon.”

Photo: TWTD

BeattiesBackPocket added 20:30 - Feb 6 Blueboy1981 well said! Our gate at the weekend was higher than a lot of championship games and higher than two games in the premier league as well and we still don't invest in the team. Brentford get 10000 gates and are competing every season in the championship for promotion and always outplay us. All this debt yet an average league one team to show for it
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Dolphinblue added 20:53 - Feb 6 Actually higher than 3 prem games..more proof of Lambert genius...attracting fans back to club for glorious promotion season..COYB...as well as proof of jow awesome itfc fanbase is!
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cat added 21:13 - Feb 6 No. 73 - The catering ain't improved either (lol) Tried one of them Portman pies (think it was the Lincoln game) and it was tepid at best If you'd have ate one of them back in the 80's your mouth would have been blistered and you'd have talked with a lisp. Pukka's every time and a third of the price.
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ITFCsince73 added 21:15 - Feb 6 The reward for off field work was a huge contract extension for Lambo. It would appear that's the only way to succeed at ITFC. Chambo and Skuse got likewise extensions. The only reason I see for this, is being great blokes. If only the club rewarded for what happens on the pitch. We might not have got in this mess.
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ITFCsince73 added 21:26 - Feb 6 Your lucky #Cat. I went down 5 mins before half time. Missed our goal. Only to find “sold out”. Got sort of lucky at the posh game, got my pie. But it was cold, semi frozen in the middle. Very much like our team that day.
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PSGBlue added 21:52 - Feb 6 No coincidence that this article came out following probably the worst two results of the season - still makes a change from a player being pushed in front of a mic telling us that there is still a buzz going round dressing room. Fed up with all this "political speak" nonsense. O'Neill must believe he is talking to a bunch of idiots judging by the way he talks down to us, pretending that everything will be ok. No it won't, not under the present system. The few million ME does put in only keeps the club ticking over. Although if he spent more wisely, i.e on a manager who is more tactically aware and can motivate his players, then this may not be such an issue. This is just the prelude to the usual April Marcus Evans interview where is promises so much and for a while we feel he is one of us, but ultimately he fails to deliver! As for Ed Sheeran, I don't see why he should bail the club out, why would anyone with a brain give money to ITFC at the moment. Best thing he can do if he wants to help, is to have a concert at Ipswich and donate the proceeds to the club.

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blueboy1981 added 21:57 - Feb 6 ...... didn't really expect anymore from some - same old dour down clickers, nothing changes there either. Maybe they'll come up with a better suggestion - wouldn't hold a single breath on that though, I wonder why ?4
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madmouse1959 added 23:03 - Feb 6 That is 13 years too long under Evans and most supporters just can,t wait for new ownership and informed leadership. This club does not need speakers, ambassadors, injury-prone players or new roles created in the corridors of itfc . We need to build a team around the good players and initiate a turn-over of players past their best , asap. To even think of renewing some of those contracts that have been mentioned is just poor leadership. The probability of selling our young stars highlights the direction Evans is taking this club.Too many people taking a wage for contributing nothing.

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jong75 added 23:03 - Feb 6 Lowest league position for over 60 years and still over 20,000 fans. Most other clubs would be protesting. The money evans puts in are running costs, ie, the bare minimum. The only way things will change is if the fans stay away. I know 20 years ago, 15,000 gates was the break even point. I cant imagine much different now?
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braveblue added 05:11 - Feb 7 Mouthpiece.
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Doctor_Earman added 06:17 - Feb 7 Remember when many on here were praising Lee O'Neill as a breath of fresh air as a front for the club as opposed to yes men like Clegg and Milne? Yeah, look how that's tuned out. O'Neill is yet another Evans yes man. Anyone one who believes anything that comes out of his or Evans' mouth is a part of the problem. We need Evans and his cronies OUT of our club or we will continue to either stagnate or decline.

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PortmanTerrorist added 08:41 - Feb 7 Define committed
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muhrensleftfoot added 08:41 - Feb 7 Ed Sheeran may be mega rich compared to the average man in the street, but certainly not enough wealth to rescue Ipswich Town from Marcus Evans. ME has around 4 times the wealth of Ed Sheeran if the Sunday Times Rich List is to be believed. We need a Russian oligarch, a Saudi royal or a Chinese tech billionaire and I can't see that happening!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:02 - Feb 7 Blue boy u make me laugh . "Come up with suggestions." We don't need to , it's you and your crownies that criticise everything and everyone without suggesting alternatives. Oh, and I'm not dour thanks either , once again , kettle , pot !
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Linkboy13 added 09:08 - Feb 7 Can not see us going up this season which means players will be sold and not replaced with quality team gets weaker every season. Unless more money is put in we're in this league for a very long time just like we were in the championship dreaming of the premier league.
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r2d2 added 10:19 - Feb 7 Just a puppet that Evans pulls the strings to. Another mouth piece. Utter crock of sh! te as usual.
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Carberry added 12:11 - Feb 7 Unwavering in his lack of commitment to the club.
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senduntd added 14:17 - Feb 7 I have said it before and I say it again. Without Marcus we would be bankrupt.
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LonE17Blue added 17:57 - Feb 7 If things don't change for the better soon, we could be playing non league in 2 to 3 years. Thankfully he doesn't own the ground as its regarded the by Council as "Asset of Community Value"- So that makes it difficult for Evans to completely destroy Our Club.
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BlueBanana added 01:49 - Feb 8 He's nearly a billionaire running the place on a shoe string Makes the Club rely on his money rather look to generate revenue commercially or via player sales He couldn't give a f*ck about the average ST holder or staff member
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