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Owner Evans Issues Statement
Thursday, 3rd Dec 2020 19:19

Owner Marcus Evans has released a statement giving his view on some of the issues which have impacted the club since the start of the pandemic and the season up to now as Town prepare to welcome fans back to Portman Road in just over a week’s time.

I am looking forward to welcoming our supporters back to Portman Road against Portsmouth next weekend.

It’s nine months since we last enjoyed each other’s company against Coventry back in March. What a different world we are in compared to that spring day when none of us had any real idea as to what was coming just around the corner.

I know that all of us have much bigger issues currently to worry about than football, however I truly hope that a return to the debates (fractious or not) as well as the pleasure and pain of watching our team will bring some much needed distractions from the economic and health issues that surround us.

The team at ITFC from groundstaff to cleaners as well as players to coaches have been incredibly supportive in keeping the club afloat during these very hard times and like yourselves we have had to dig deep to get through what has often seemed like a never ending series of obstacles.

From the farce of the EFL/PL rescue package that has finally materialised to the stop/start of the fans’ return, the odds have been stacked firmly against clubs without the TV income safety net but now with supporters back, although initially in very small numbers and a vaccine around the corner, we can start to look forwards with some hope and optimism.

I am truly humbled by the support of our fanbase over this period with many supporting the club, and I know many others who would have done so if economically possible, with season ticket purchases despite the Government stadia restrictions. I thank all of you for this assistance which has been absolutely vital for the club’s finances.

We will be looking to get as many of you as possible into matches as quickly as we are safely able to do so.

I am also pleased to report that our ITFC Community Trust infrastructure continues to grow (even during Covid) in and around the local area. This is helping us build our relationships with businesses and charities as well as schools and we are currently working with more schools than ever.

On the football side it’s been very difficult to really get a feel for matches on iFollow and I look forward to fans getting back into Portman Road to see for themselves what I believe are the green shoots of a style that will reap its rewards in the years ahead.

After a strong start to the season we have stumbled a little over the last few weeks but that needs to be put into the context that we currently have an entire team of players who are potential starters on the injury list.

It’s not a coincidence that our early run was achieved with few injuries and as always seems to be the case; our sick list grew as we entered a run against what are expected to be some of the best teams in the league.

That said there is always a silver lining and on the plus side it has provided earlier than expected first-team game time for the next promising group of academy products whose performances have strengthened my resolve to ring fence the funds needed to keep our excellent academy running during these hard times.

A good percentage of the first-team squad are homegrown, which is great, but we also need external recruitment and the double whammy of Covid and the very late salary cap introduction made this harder than normal but we still brought in the additions we felt were needed.We also could have easily sold players during the transfer window but decided against it.

I am sure that the combination of the promising young homegrown players that we have - and of course they are still learning the game - combined with the players we have added to the squad plus the desire to hold on to our best players will over the course of the season - as injuries subside - put us in a strong position.

To get out of this league a lot of hard work will continue to have to be done with those younger players, as well as first-team regulars, by drilling our playing styles and patterns of play into everyone at the club as we look to improve both individually and collectively.

We are a big club in the division but that means nothing now with financial fair play rules basically putting everyone on the same footing. We will progress through skilful team management; academy development; financial stability and soon the much needed return of fans as our 12th man.

The manager, coaching staff, captain and players are all doing everything that I have asked of them in building a foundation for the future and as long as I see progress being made I will not be swayed into making the mistakes neatly summed up by the term ‘be careful what you wish for’ which caused our demise a couple of years ago.

I have a detailed view of all of the facts as to what is best for the club, both financially and team development-wise and I will use that unique and privileged access to make the decisions which I believe to be in the best long-term interests of Ipswich Town.

Everything I have seen close at hand, behind the scenes and on matchdays this season gives me confidence that, despite what is always a bumpy path, we are on the right track.

We have a tough but I hope enjoyable season ahead of us but it’s just not the same without you being here for the ups and downs and I look forward to seeing some of you - 2,000 at least - back at Portman Road next weekend. "


Photo: Matchday Images



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Bluearmy_81 added 21:16 - Dec 3
Treating fans with utter contempt. He's basically saying it's your fault (the fans) for hounding MM out, whereas the fault lies with him starving the club to the extent where decline was inevitable. If only fans had turned on Evans years ago, when most other clubs fans would have, before he did the damage he has...
18

Swailsey added 21:17 - Dec 3
Heartbreaking.
4

TimmyH added 21:20 - Dec 3
Go back to supporting Kings Lynn or whoever you 'now' follow! - londontractorboy

The real numbskull is the owner of the club and his continuous poor decision making (obviously not letting MM go due to the boredom factor).
8

Help added 21:26 - Dec 3
Well let us pray that players come back from injury and that the team start playing well and winning games, climb back up the league and even dare I say win promotion. I hate to see what the fans will say if we fail.
0

Wishing4arightback added 21:27 - Dec 3
If you look up Patronising in the dictionary you will see the latest update which says 'How Marcus Evans speaks to insignificant Ipswich Town fans'

Why didn't he save some ink and time and just say ' I own the club so only mu opinion matters' or ' Uts my train set so piss off '

What a TWUNT !!!!!!!
7

hadleighboyblue added 21:28 - Dec 3
Saxonblue the poll is on the TWTD site and currently the figure is 90% voters that want a new manager .
7

northernblues added 21:29 - Dec 3
I'm up for protesting outside his company and home address as Blackpool did with oyston
1

cat added 21:33 - Dec 3
You know what, I've been fairly quiet on the M.E front, kinda of trying to see it from both sides. Grateful for the stability and disappointed with the 10+ years of a slow declining fall, but the day he rewarded that ‘wee' jock strap with a 5 year deal was the day the scales tipped.
It's one thing being unlucky with his managerial appointments but rewarding failure simply beggars belief.
21

Carberry added 21:37 - Dec 3
Evans, 'I'm going to make a statement to put an end to this annoying criticism from the paying customers. I'm not having those punters telling me what to do. I'll put something in about welcoming them back but I won't be going anywhere near them.'
O'Neill, 'That's fantastic, we wont hear another peep out of them. Oh, and I've compiled that list of developers interested in buying the training ground.'
7

BromleyBloo added 21:37 - Dec 3
May be “sorry” would have been a good word to start with?!?

“I have a detailed view of all of the facts as to what is best for the club, both financially and team development-wise and I will use that unique and privileged access to make the decisions which I believe to be in the best long-term interests of Ipswich Town.”

13 years on in all seriousness he has the audacity and arrogance to say something like this - unbelievable!!!

God knows how he was lucky enough to make his money because he comes across as a completely deluded tool......................
11

Trickster added 21:46 - Dec 3
Deluded, absolutely deluded.
5

WorcesterBlue added 21:48 - Dec 3
Be careful what you wish for! McCarthy had to go - he, the football and the results were crap. The mistake with Hurst was honestly made but don't blame us for it (I'd have had Parker). Lambert started well but his turgid football and petty treatment of players (just spk to Villa, Wolves and Stoke players) doesn't bring results. Other managers can play attacking passing football but they need the players to do it.
8

Help added 21:50 - Dec 3
So was it the fans that chose Roy Keane, Paul Jewell, Mick McCarthy, Paul Hurst and Paul Lambert to manage this club. No. Was it the fans that supplied the money and decided which players to buy, pay and play. No. You sanction and gave the final decision on everything that happens at this club. Every decision is given the final nod by you is it not.
The ultimate blame for the position this club is in lies with you. Everyone else is just a bit player. Why is it that at least 3 of the managers you have chosen have failed to lift this club. One tried but eventually gave it up as a lost cause and one is still trying. It is the fans that pay to be entertained, entertained ME. If one is not entertained then one has the option to complain or not go again. How many fans have stopped season tickets. how many have stopped going to games as regular or at all. How many spend their Saturday afternoon doing something other then watch football who used to watch ITFC. Your a figures man, compare your club to others around and in a similar situation and see how you compare. Why are you not selling more season tickets, more match day tickets compared to the early part of your takeover of this club. It is not the fans who have destroyed this club. The demise of this club ultimately lies with you and no one else.
16

runningout added 21:55 - Dec 3
And we didn't have a strong start. It was fortunate!! It's blatantly obvious our coach cannot motivate. What has Mr Evans or his pointless oppo been looking at to see any sign of improvement on match day. Injuries are used as a weak excuse by teams lacking football ethics
6

Saxonblue74 added 21:56 - Dec 3
Hadleighboyblue, is that the poll that currently sits with 32 votes? As I said in my previous post I have elements of all arguments that I agree with but to claim 90%+ of town fans want Lambert out is up there with Trumps claim that he won the presidential election!
3

BeattiesBackPocket added 21:58 - Dec 3
Suffolkboy all we want is progress? That's not too much to ask from the 6th richest owner outside the premier league is it? When Burley was manager he had a five year plan introduce some of the kids and maintain some progress which he achieved Evans' five point plan hasn't even began as has been said before you cannot implement the academy products with real quality like Wright, Dyer, Scowcroft, Bent, Ambrose etc as the kids with quality can now be stolen from us due to the category one clubs which we will never be due to the elitist club it is. The category's status' are not evans fault but his relying on it when we know it can't work as part of his plan which has been regurgitated and started afresh every season for past 5 years is his fault. No ambition and now hasnt got to due to the wage cap. Will you class league two or national league as success before calling him out?
1

BeattiesBackPocket added 22:01 - Dec 3
Grumpy old man and suffolkboy do you really believe we are on the right track? If so why? I'm just curious not to call you out just your thinking as where the progress is being made? Relegation form started before losing all the players as well?
4

allezlesbleus added 22:01 - Dec 3
Dear Supporters and Season Ticket holders (Mugs)

Thanks for the 9,000 of you that forked out for a season ticket, when you knew that it wouldn't be possible to attend many matches. Unfortunately, because thousands of other "fans" couldn't be bothered to support the club and spend a few quid on non usable season tickets, we haven't been able to afford a decent physio team, hence the numerous injuries that we have had to deal with. So the long injury list is the fans fault.

It is also all your fault for making me get rid of Mick, who was happy to keep us in the Championship, with very little funding. His departure is all your fault.

The players are all so upset about you saying nasty thing about Paul and Lee, that they struggle to perform for their inspirational manager, (who also played in a Champions League Final, did you know)?

I have seen many green (and yellow) shoots this season, which fills me full of hope for the remainder of the season.

Mr Marcus Evans

PS: Any chance you can all go online and buy plenty of Christmas goodies for your family, because I am hoping to send Paul and his hard working team on a well deserved mid season break, once the travel restrictions are lifted?
7

Vancouver_Blue added 22:04 - Dec 3
You're deluded Marcus
4

braveblue added 22:08 - Dec 3
The combination of this and O'Neil earlier takes incompetence to new levels
6

runningout added 22:09 - Dec 3
MM's time was up and well gone. I still think a lot of him and not bothered one little bit with the swearing at fans! He's entitled! We all agree it's been cr*p from then on but it was a must. If this time next year we are playing well in the Championship. I'll streak at PR
2

RegencyBlue added 22:12 - Dec 3
Corporate bullsh1t and nothing more!

We've had 13 years of this Mr Evans and it won't wash anymore. This is your mess and you show no sign of having learned anything from your endless mistakes.

Do not be surprised when season ticket sales collapse next season!
7

Dmodeboy added 22:18 - Dec 3
Under this guys ownership we have gone from failure to failure, plummeting down the league, showing no ambition whatsoever. He may well have saved us, but hes seemingly happy to watch us decay. To defend our rude, graceless manager is a disgrace. And to insult fans who pay money to watch is unforgivable. A massive massive own goal which shows he just doesn't understand the depth of feeling as he chooses to look down on us.
I have supported this club for 40 years, and he has managed to drain any enjoyment out of it. Appalling misjudgment.
10

Kropotkin123 added 22:33 - Dec 3
Not good enough. Not addressing the pertinent issues.
4

Ryorry added 22:35 - Dec 3
Saxonblue74 - The poll referred to was run by Phil Ham (the one I linked on a forum thread yesterday) & resulted in 534 votes wanting PL sacked (90.8%) and 54 votes for him to stay (9.2%).

When ME referred to our injury list in that statement, he somehow "forgot" to say that not just this season, but last season & several previous seasons, our injury list has been over and above the norm, esp with the long-term injured, who keep mysteriously failing to recover here, but are able to miraculously rejuvenate, start & play 90 mins elsewhere. Then this week we learned that our fitness coach (Henry) fell out with PL, left the club, and returned to Scotland, from where he is expected to carry out the role on a *consultancy* basis - from 400 miles away!! This would be 😂 if it weren't so tragic for the players, ourselves as fans, and the club. It also highlights the monumental irresponsibility, incompetence and lack of care of ME as an owner.

As for him seeing "green shoots" of some kind of long-term attractive playing style, I can only assume that his iFollow simply doesn't work, just like it doesn't work for the majority of fans who paid good money for a broken product (an apt summary of the whole situation for us fans atm).
13


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