Owner Marcus Evans remains as committed to the Blues as ever, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Town and his other businesses, says general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill.

“Absolutely, he’s still as committed as ever,” O’Neill said. “I still speak to him a lot of the time, he’s still on the phone to [manager] Paul [Lambert].

“OK, he can’t be here as much because of the current situation but he’s still actively involved in everything that’s going on.”

O’Neill says that Evans’s other businesses have inevitably been affected by the situation over the last 11 months.

“I’m not going to go into details on it because it’s not my area of expertise, but it has affected his other businesses, like it has done with everybody and every business,” he said.

“It’s restricted a lot of the things he could do, especially the corporate hospitality business with not having events, that’s a major part of his business.”

However, he says Evans remains in a position to help the club through what is a tricky period for all football clubs.

“Absolutely, and people will have their opinion on the situation but Marcus has been absolutely brilliant in still continuing to fund and still continuing to strengthen the squad where we can,” he said.

Asked about Lambert’s increasingly frosty relationship with the local media having opted not to take part in a number of recent press conferences and limiting his post-match comments to the games and nothing more, O’Neill reiterated the support previously given to the manager.

“I think the club has made it very clear that we’re supporting Paul through that process,” he said. “We can’t stop people writing what people want to write and how they want to feel, and I get that people are frustrated, but I’m not going to go into that situation or the way the club is. The club has supported Paul and the management team, and we will continue to do so.”

Quizzed on when next year’s season tickets might go on sale and what the club’s thinking is regarding refunds on this campaign’s season tickets, O’Neill added: “That’s being dealt with directly with Marcus. Obviously with the current bail-outs and bits and bobs Marcus is going through all those areas.

“As you can imagine, the things I have to cover daily and are ranging right through from the U9s all the way through to the first team, so Marcus and the team are picking that aspect up and that’s something that will be reviewed over the next few months and when decisions are made they will be communicated by the club.”

Similarly the club accounts, a snapshot of which is usually released at the time of the PLC AGM which is normally held in November or December, are delayed.

“All on hold at the moment with the current situation,” O’Neill added. “Those financial matters are dealt with the FD [financial director Mark Andrews] and Marcus directly and there are things that he’s going over and looking at at the moment.”

Photo: Matchday Images

dirtydingusmagee added 12:36 - Feb 9 ohhhhh dear,
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Pencilpete added 12:43 - Feb 9 "as committed as ever" = still doesn't give a fcuk !
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istanblue added 12:49 - Feb 9 Owner Marcus Evans remains as committed to the Blues as ever - lmfao! The very reason we are in such a mess as a club is because Evans is completely clueless when it comes to running a football club. Him being ''actively involved in everything'' is the cause of our downfall. Get out of our club you clown. #EvansOut
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smellmycheese added 12:51 - Feb 9 O'Milne says “he's as committed to the club as he's ever been” like that is a huge reassurance for us all. He's never been committed to this club. Nobody committed to this club would allow the stadium to run into a state of disrepair like it has under his ownership. Very much living off the history of the club and living off the legacy of incredible men like Sheepshanks and the Cobbolds and the way that they along with Bobby and Alf put this club firmly on the map.

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Monkey_Blue added 12:57 - Feb 9 Evans has committed over £100m of his money to the club.... some of the comments on here are ridiculous and devoid of connection to the real world. Those wanting him gone are the same Ones who wanted Mick out.... without Evans this club would be lower in the pyramid and without Mick we fell out of the championship.
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Suffolkboy added 13:01 - Feb 9 There's always lots to be attended ; always a priority list for attention and never ever quite enough money to do everything at once. We're all wanting just that little bit more , but times are hard and the cloth has to be cut etc ! ITFC will have a future ,and that'll be down to commitment and planning ,plua lots of thought from the likes of L O' N AND Marcus Evans ; so we should allow some slack and realise there are reasons to be both cheerful and grateful . Let's stay positive : COYB

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Bluearmy_81 added 13:11 - Feb 9 That's my laugh for the day!! 😂 The gullible will treat this like gospel of course...
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Bluearmy_81 added 13:16 - Feb 9 Monkey, staggering there are still town fans who defend Evans. You share your defence of Evans with Norwich fans, you'll find them sticking up got him and having words of support for him too, just think about that for a minute.. He's got us into 100m of debt you mean?! He's added about 60m of debt in 14 years... Unbelievable acquiescence...
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Radlett_blue added 13:18 - Feb 9 "Marcus has been absolutely brilliant". Now, where have I heard that before?
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BeattiesBackPocket added 13:24 - Feb 9 Monkey_blue he has more than contributed to that debt we have approx 20 players out of contract in the summer with no talk of extensions anything players we have paid money for and will now lose for nothing? Evans has done this as far back as when leadbitter and Norris and many others we initially paid good fees for had their contracts run down and we got nothing for, add to those players like Webster who went for 5 million to go for 25 million plus only one season later, substantially underselling and letting players go for nothing we paid money for is one of the reasons we are in debt and that IS HIS fault or of the people he manages. I'm pretty sure in all his other businesses he wouldn't let assets he's paid for go for zero money. He has had offers for the club so why not sell?? He's no affinity to the club so why not sell?? He won't EVER see a penny back unless we go up and at least challenge for the top of the championship so why not sell?? He's a clever man theres no doubt otherwise he would be the 6th richest owner outside the premier league just not very clever when it comes to football clubs or unless there is a reason he's keeping us. There are teams in higher leagues than us calling for their owners to put up or ship out or for managers to be axed even a small club like Bournemouth so why shouldn't fans demand more from a guy who has stripped the club of any assets and our best players a team challenging in the championship with a good squad and passionate ex player in charge to languishing in league one for how ever many years with the only way of getting out looking more likely league two than the championship?? Why's shouldn't we want more?? Why shouldn't we blame him for his poor management decision he has even admitted to?? Too much apathy from some of our supporters IS WHY we are where we are also and we should demand more or a plan that at least looks like improving but even under his 5 point plan there is no improvement only decline in 5 years so clearly not working?? Why after all that shouldn't fans demand more.

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MonkeyAlan added 13:45 - Feb 9 Same old spin. Evans as commited as ever. That means not at all then! Lambert is done here. You know that O Nelly. When fans get back you will hear how fed up of your mess they are. Mind you, that's if you can sell any season tickets. People are fed up, don't you get it O Nelly? You Evans and Lambert have royaly fckued it up, and that was all before covid, so please stop using that as an excuse.

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IvorFeeling added 14:07 - Feb 9 He's absent as change is coming. Expect some news by May, can't say anymore
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eddiespearitt03 added 14:10 - Feb 9 The only thing Evans is committed to is to increase the clubs debt and making more money out of the club. He is only here, hoping to make another fast buck by selling an asset,promotion or selling out to a consortium. Clinging on to the club like many others.
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TBT added 14:15 - Feb 9 League 2 here we come then! By the way he hasn't lost any of his own money in this venture, his corporate entity has absorbed a debt and in recent seasons. Furthermore having sold off every available asset but still having a loyal following through the turnstiles, even the club has got onto a more even financial footing. He will keep that strategy going at the expense of our beloved football club. Committed as ever, LOL.

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TBT added 14:17 - Feb 9 Sorry typo (too cross) 😀 League 2 here we come then! By the way he hasn't lost any of his own money in this venture, his corporate entity has absorbed a debt. Furthermore having sold off every available asset but still having a loyal following through the turnstiles, even the club has got onto a more even financial footing. He will keep that strategy going at the expense of our beloved football club. Committed as ever, LOL.

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66notout added 14:25 - Feb 9 smellmycheese Very much living off the history of the club and living off the legacy of incredible men like Sheepshanks and the Cobbolds and the way that they along with Bobby and Alf put this club firmly on the map. Mentioning Sheepshanks in the same breath as the Cobbolds. Really?
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:37 - Feb 9 IvorFeeling, I assume you are talking about the weather, ! lol
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blues1 added 14:50 - Feb 9 Eddiespearitt. Just shows how ignorant some of you lot are. Marcus Evan's never has, nor never will get a penny out of itfc. Indeed, has put in, in excess of £100m. And, actually, the club has no real debt. The debt is on paper, and owed to marcus Evan's, by Marcus Evan's. Thus,when he sells, the new owners will have a debt free club, as that debt is written off.
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blues1 added 14:54 - Feb 9 Beattiesbackpocket. Spouting rubbish without reading the story correctly as usual. They cannot talk to those players out of contract at the end of the season, because they dont know yet, what division we are going to be in, and/or if the salary cap still gonna be in place. Depending on both those things, what they can offer the players will differ somewhat. But why let facts get in the way of slaggibg the club off constantly

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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:09 - Feb 9 Blues1 you don't half talk some tosh and as per pick out what you want to pick out like a politician do you want me to go through the past 14 season evans has been here and the people he let go for nothing that we paid fees for?? Or the underselling of players?? What is your excuse for the players like leadbitter etc at the start letting their contracts run out?? They cost us money let go for zero money? We weren't under threat of a different league then or selling Webster for 5 million or mcgoldrick for nothing or waghorn responsible for 30 odd goals go for peanuts or the best keeper we had in many years go for a couple of hundred thousand but don't let facts get in the way of you constantly support the decline of the club! Oh and there is no salary cap so keep up but hey I'm sure all these players will be negotiated with now that's not a reason?? It's also NOT slagging the club off it's just the owner I want better for the club not constant decline that's SUPPORTING THE CLUB

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Onenil added 15:12 - Feb 9 The fall of a once GREAT club........70 year old (supporter since 1966 ) with sound effects by wife. "C:UsersUserVideosVID-20210209-WA0004.mp4"
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prebbs007 added 15:25 - Feb 9 Blues1 talking utter rubbish AGAIN. The club has £100m of debt, it doesn't just disappear, he hasn't given it to ITFC for free. It's only owed by Marcus Evans to Marcus Evans while he owns the club. If he sells he will want to recover that plus any “value” in the club so the price will reflect that.
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Onenil added 15:27 - Feb 9 Sorry. Not technical enough, video does not play.
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therein61 added 17:52 - Feb 9 Companies do not as a rule continue to pay(managers and over the hill players) big money to employees to fail big time!! I have always been grateful for his continued financial support but have fully vented my views on his ineffective decisions re hiring and firing, unless he starts unloading the expensive deadwood in the building we are going nowhere.
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herfie added 20:45 - Feb 9 “Actively involved in everything” - exactly sums up why we are where we are!
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