Former Blues striker Darren Bent says something’s got to change at Portman Road with fans telling him that “the soul’s been ripped out of the football club” and people he knows at Town also unhappy.

Independent supporters group Blue Action staged the protest at which a flare led to a small fire causing training to be interrupted for 10 minutes, a development which Bent feels is untypical of Town and its support.

“People are obviously not happy with the football that they’re seeing,” Bent said on talkSPORT. “Last season, they completely fell off, were in position to get promoted and it didn’t happen.

“And listen, Ipswich Town is a club which is close to my heart, I started there, I still look back at their results, I still speak to a number of people associated with the football club, and they’re clearly not happy.

“And we’re talking about people at this football club that are some of the nicest people you’d meet, they’re not people who are argumentative, all they want to do is see what’s best for Ipswich Town and Ipswich Town hopefully get themselves back promoted.

“And they feel like the core of the club is being ripped out, whether that’s the owner or the manager, they’re not happy. To be fair, they’re not happy with both.

“As I say, I still speak to a number of people there, the fact that we’re seeing flares and they’re having to suspend training, people are protesting, this is not something which is usually associated with Ipswich Town Football Club, that is for sure.

“There’s always been a nice relationship between the club and the supporters. Well now it’s gone completely sour.

“So, I think in order for this situation to get resolved something’s got to change because this can’t continue.”

He added: “I think right now, the number of Ipswich Town fans that I speak to, they’re basically saying that they feel like the soul’s been ripped out of the football club.

“And I think when people start using those sorts of words, it’s not very good at all. It’s not good and somehow something needs to change because this is a club that shouldn’t be sitting in League One, they’ve been down there for far too long.

“The fact that this is going on, they’ve had a couple of cracks at getting promoted and it hasn’t quite happened, is sad and obviously these are where people’s frustrations are coming in because for a club like Ipswich Town, flares and protests, this is not something that used to being seen.”

Asked what he thinks will change, whether owner Marcus Evans will sell up, he continued: “It doesn’t seem like it, it doesn’t seem he’s going anywhere. He seems to be quite friendly with Paul Lambert.

“The general consensus amongst supporters and the people associated with the club is that Lambert’s got to to go, that they’re not happy with him.

“That’s not just coming from supporters, that’s people associated with the football club. As I said, if you ever speak to some of these people that are involved with Ipswich Town Football Club, they’ve not got a bad word to say about anybody, and they’re not happy.

“When you start going to the core of a football club, all football clubs have got their mainstays that have been there for ages, that were there when I was there when I was a kid, even if I went back now the same people would be there, whether that’s security or whatever.

“And when those people are not happy, something’s got to change because that can’t continue. The worse it gets, the further and further Ipswich will keep going down, and that can’t happen. For a club that size in League One, that’s not good enough.”

Photo: Action Images

Michael101 added 15:39 - Feb 16 "People not happy with the football there seeing " well Mr bent that's been happening for 10years now and it's taken that long for something to happen .any other club there would be riots .
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wewerefamous added 15:41 - Feb 16 How much longer can this situation go on for before Evans addresses the fans. It's unbelievable that an owner of a business gives absolutely no feedback/response to its customers concerns (us fans/financial supporters). I'm absolutely gutted with what's going on with OUR club. Sad times.
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Bluearmy_81 added 15:43 - Feb 16 To everyone saying "Evans has put a lot of money in.." Has he?! Wickham, Creswell,, Mings etc sales never reinvested. Tax saved on losses vs other areas of the group. It's all debt owed to him. He turned down 2 offers in the last few years... Why is he still here? Some here seem to think it must be because he is some sort of super fan... 😂😂 Why is he still here? He could drop the price and sell, there would be a buyer at the right price. If he's losing 6m a year why is he still here?!!

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Broganonthewing added 15:53 - Feb 16 Not wanting to upset anybody but I think it is time the fans woke up and smelled the coffee! Things may well have to get worse before they get better? I am sure Evans would love to sell the club but who would buy it? Unfortunately history and tradition is worth nothing in monetary terms. There is no asset to sell. Downes, Dozzell, Woolfie may generate a few million but nowhere near enough to cover the debt owed to Evans. Evans must be suffering badly at this moment in time. His core business cannot possibly be making any money and the football club loses money at an alarming rate! I doubt he can afford to sack Lambert and all his staff? I think our only hope at the moment is that Evans says 'enough is enough' and decides to cut his losses and then hopefully someone will come in and steer the club back to some kind of prosperity. I am not holding my breath!

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dirtydingusmagee added 16:29 - Feb 16 DARREN BENT IN
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Pencilpete added 16:33 - Feb 16 Its nice to see Darren Bent using his platform in the media to highlight our plight the more attention it gathers, the more pressure will be put on Marcus Evans to do something to change it. With several games coming up against top half sides which we have been woefully pathetic against for 2 years i can see us dropping into the bottom half of the table before too long and when the play offs are out of reach Evans will at last pull the trigger, by then of course it will be way too late to save the season and a 3rd year at this level will be the result. My only hope is Evans at last gets a managerial appoint right, uses the salary cap being dismissed and spends a bit of money, i'm not talking £20m or anything stupid just £3-4m to get us enough firepower to blow this p1ss poor division away and at least get back to competing in the Championship which is the bare minimum we should be aspiring to

2

cat added 16:59 - Feb 16 They say actions speak louder than words and in blue actions case they certainly have. Look lamberts finished, it's only a matter of time. In Evans case until quite recently, I've taken the positive out of the situation (Financial security) but not any more. The bloke is destroying us. Sad part of the situation is he must be acutely aware that when he does come out and speak he wins the fans over, so what does he do now? Sweet FA, he simply ignores us. This shows nothing more than utter contempt for the paying supporter, so from now on its Evans out.

1

Kropotkin123 added 16:59 - Feb 16 Thank you Darren. Good to see someone listening to the supporters.
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Karlosfandangal added 17:10 - Feb 16 A win against Northampton,Oxford and Hull will put us in the mix and Lamberts here to stay But I hope we lose the lot
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istanblue added 17:32 - Feb 16 Nice one DB. Good to get some attention not just on Lambert, but Evans too. ''The soul has been ripped out of the club'' are my thoughts exactly and there is only one man to blame for that: Marcus Evans. Would be good to see Bent doing a bit of coaching at ITFC one day if he fancies it. Great striker.
1

Bluearmy_81 added 17:55 - Feb 16 If the "soul's been ripped out of the club" that is down to one man, the owner, ME. Managers don't kill clubs or "rip their souls out." Only owners have the power to do that...
2

Carberry added 17:55 - Feb 16 Why is the club £100M in debt under Evans' stewardship? We have consistently had one of the lowest wage bills and have recouped millions of pounds from transfer sales. Can anyone explain?
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Edmundo added 18:13 - Feb 16 Can't see it changing now until fans are back: we'll need to do a funeral march to the ground once fans are allowed in again. RIP ITFC.
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bernie added 18:22 - Feb 16 Surly if we don't win tonight
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Linkboy13 added 18:24 - Feb 16 Im not really in favour of having ex players running or managing the club just for sentimental reasons, although it worked with George Burley. But i think this might be the only way to get the spirit and passion back into the club.
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moggasnotebook added 20:06 - Feb 16 OK - let's consider this. Whatever we were doing for 5 years prior to Lambert was getting us no where near the Prem. In fact when Lambert came in we were near bottom of Championship and in a muddle with new signings. Something needed to change within our make up, Lambert is employed as a boss, bosses have to identify areas to change and occasionally need to ruffle feathers whether it makes them popular or not. Senior players coming out of contract, physios under review, academy staff and others who suffered a pay drop due to relegation may not like what they are hearing from the boss - therefore they will grumble and moan and it will be heard on the grapevine or even repeated to the likes of Benty. Benty is a nice chap but is he experienced as a a boss, manager, department head, share holder expecting a return or similar in any business? No..... yes, there will be staff fed up but I wonder if any that is because they've been told they are underperforming or not getting new contract or offered less money or been told to up their game in whatever department they are in? In fact if all the staff at ITFC were happy right now I would say that's a bigger problem and concern for club and fans to consider than having unhappy staff right now.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 21:03 - Feb 16 Bazza8564 evans has Had two offers in the past so there are people out there! Also two other buyers originally when he bought the club. Also do you go to someone's house and offer to buy it or wait until you know it's for sale??
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