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

Skip73 added 22:38 - Dec 3 What a load of crap!!
2

Bugs added 22:53 - Dec 3 From Rich Woodwards twitter post: Here's some facts Marcus - Goals scored: 9th Shots per game: 15th Shots on target per game: 12th Goals from set pieces: 22nd Crosses: 11th XG: 15th Own goals for: 1st Wins against teams in top 10: 1/6 Wins against teams in top 6: 0/3
9

ITFCsince67 added 22:58 - Dec 3 Think you will find it's a weed not a green shoot.
3

Notts_tractor added 22:58 - Dec 3 Eyewash of the most staggering proportions. The ‘careful what you wish for' bit is shockingly disingenuous. He didn't sack McCarthy; therefore it wasn't his ‘mistake'! He's just using this as an excuse to not sack Lambert because it'll cost him a fortune. All this man ever does on the rare occasions he ‘says' anything is spout corporate nonsense, revealing his total lack of passion for the game and total lack of understanding of what it means to be a fan.

7

Gcon added 23:03 - Dec 3 He's mugging us off.
3

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 23:26 - Dec 3 I don't know what to say anymore
1

chopra777 added 23:30 - Dec 3 You lot might not like the owner or manager, but how about sympathy for our injured players who did give us early hope. It will get better but the side has a lot of young players who do not need your negativity . Get real and support your team.
-1

Bluearmy_81 added 23:35 - Dec 3 No I won't 'get real.' Reality as a town fan is a joke and it sucks. Time to stand up and say 'this is not good enough for ITFC, I'm not putting up with this dross anymore..' That's being a fan, that's support...
3

Lightningboy added 23:38 - Dec 3 Shame he didn't show Magilton the same backing..where were we when he sacked Jim?..8th in the championship?..few points outside the play-offs. 11 years of absolute drivel ever since about to become 12 years #shameful
8

chopra777 added 23:50 - Dec 3 KEEP CALM AND SUPPORT THE TEAMâš½
-4

bluechelmsford9 added 01:07 - Dec 4 All too PC these days. Say what you are actually thinking Marcus. Maybe if he saw it from the fans' point of view for once we would all come together. Marcus never set out to destroy this club and he saved us from financial ruin and I will not forget that. However, unless there is a miraculous turnaround, both he and Lambert have lost the fans. Sadly, and it's no surprise, I don't see many buyers in the market for Ipswich Town FC at the moment.

1

Henrietta_R_Hippo added 01:51 - Dec 4
1

Henrietta_R_Hippo added 01:51 - Dec 4
1

eddiespearitt03 added 02:18 - Dec 4 LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF YOU DOWN AT THE GROUND ......That is the club owner who has remained anonymous to most supporters since 2007. . What ? Ya going to wave at me behind the window of your executive lounge.
0

Dolphinblue added 06:15 - Dec 4 Er.....Bugs...stat that actually matters.....league position 5TH! #thenegcrew are the ones destroying this club bern whining since Magilton COYB. In Lambert we trust!
-8

therein61 added 06:57 - Dec 4 The soap opera t hat is I.T.F.C just carries on no new episodes just showing repeats on and off the field
2

smithy0981 added 07:19 - Dec 4 Put the club up for sale publicly and pi55 off Evans
2

martin587 added 07:25 - Dec 4 I'm saddened by the terrible decline of my beloved club.The last ten years have been a nightmare for me and all the supporters of ITFC.When Marcus Evans took on the club and listening to his words of wisdom and forward thinking plans we all hoped for good things to come.Yes he has kept us afloat and for that we must be grateful but the support he has given to some managers has been horrendous.He acted quickly on Paul Hurst but has now under PL lost the plot.PL has achieved absolutely nothing during his reign even with the injury situation the teams still play without passion leadership and a will to win.If as the owner says he wants success then SHOW some guts and get rid of PL NOW as I fear we will even with a fit side still stumble along with clueless tactics and the same old words from PL each week.Mr OWNER get rid of PL a and ern some respect.

8

skankerman added 07:41 - Dec 4 Spin after spin ME should be a politician PL should have gone many months ago
6

norfolkbluey added 08:14 - Dec 4 I cannot believe the drivel I've just read this morning. This club is in decline for all to see. ME's biggest failure was not supporting Jim when we were 8th in the Championship. ME should have looked carefully at all Jim's attributes particularly his passion and determination which however ME you have neither of and that is something missing from our club at present. Going nowhere sums us up or should I say down. Where are you in the world? Do you need glasses? Give PL an ultimatum and two games otherwise show him the door for a new appointment to use the transfer window! Time is running out.

7

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 08:43 - Dec 4 I do have something to say. April 2009. The last time we beat Norwich in a derby game. How far have we fallen?
3

MonkeyAlan added 08:52 - Dec 4 What utter garbage. I predicted some stupid statement a few weeks ago and surprise surprise we got one. Evans you are deluded man. The green shoots? There are none, the football is appalling, the manager is clueless and the players are made of glass. Sell the club if you arnt interested, but stop running us into the ground. Utter muppet.
2

Dissboyitfc added 09:03 - Dec 4 Chopra777... feel sorry for the injured players, really why? McGoldrick has done ok since he left, saying words to the effect its too easy at ipswich, dont think KVY was a long term absentee before he came here? I dont have any answers other than a new owner who is rich and passionate about ITFC! But i do know that those of you who suggest we get behind this mess and support it are a as far away from the solution as its possible to be! Support the team, yes condone the mess, NO!!! Very little to smile about in Evens time here! Lambert out!!!

4

ChrisFelix added 09:04 - Dec 4 Biggest mistake sacking Magilton & appointing Keane. Lamberts record at Ipswich ranks with the worst of our managers. Very few fans think we are moving in the right direction & i suspect results will dictate what happens to Lambert. I fear in the meantime we will lose our promising young stars
6

exeterblue10 added 09:09 - Dec 4 That clears a couple of things up for me and I'm grateful to ME for the explanation. Clearly relegation was due to the fans and our current poor form to injuries. That's sorted that out then. The only thing I don't get is what has led to thirteen years of spiralling decline. Thirteen years with only one play off and a league cup semi to look back on. Thirteen years that has seen us transition from regular championship play off contenders to mid table in the third tier. The fans and injuries I guess?

8

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls