Blues legend Jason Dozzell is leaving his role as Town's U18s coach in order to follow his son Andre's progress with QPR in the season ahead, a transfer he says was best for all parties.

The 53-year-old has coached at various levels in the Town academy in recent years and last season assisted Adem Atay with the U18s.

However, after Andre’s move to QPR earlier this summer for £1 million, Jason has decided to stand down.

“Saturdays were going to be a problem because I couldn’t commit to them,” he told TWTD. “The U18s play Saturdays and I’m going to be following Andre for most of it, especially the home games.

“Plus Andre’s gone, so it’s a little bit different for me. I’m a little bit disappointed in how it all [went], but he had to go.

“It’s been a part of my life since I was nine, I went to Wembley to watch them in the FA Cup final.

“I’ll always be an Ipswich Town fan and I’ll be going back to watch, it’s just I’m a bit sad that my boy’s not going to be there, which had to be done for both parties.”

He admits he was a torn to some degree following last season’s successful campaign with the U18s, who finished second in their league and reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup where they were defeated by Liverpool

“We had a great season, we got to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup and I did really enjoy it,” he said. “With Covid, I wasn’t going in as much as I would have been, but it was a great journey for the boys and for the coaches.

“It was great for Ipswich Town as well, especially with the disappointing season, we carried a little bit of hope for the fans that we’ve got some good young players coming through.”

His involvement with the club isn’t completely ending as he’ll be doing some work with the Community Trust.

“That will be happening in the week so that doesn’t affect me too much,” he added. “That will be starting in a couple of weeks, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Reflecting on 22-year-old Andre’s Town departure last month, Jason says it was something the midfielder needed.

“One hundred per cent, and that’s no criticism of anybody,” he said. “He’s come into an Ipswich team which was on the slide from when he first got there, to the position we’re in now.

“But I do understand that they did need change. That is very important for me to say that, they did need change.

“Collectively, they just weren’t good enough. We’ve got good individuals, they’ve had good individuals, but collectively the mechanics of the side just didn’t go together in that division.

“I doubt the academy players would get you out of League One, you need a different type of player and a different type of mentality to get out of this division.

“It’s been hard. It’s been hard for me to watch what was going on down there in the last few years.

“I’ve not seen anybody thrive, I’ve just seen a lot of players going out there defeated, maybe because they were not scoring enough goals. If they went behind they knew they weren’t coming back because of the lack of goals.

“I think it was mentally a tough challenge for all of them in the last few years, and also for the fans.

“He’s not kicked on. That’s no criticism of anybody but the environment they were in, I don’t think anybody could. I think mentally going out on to that pitch for the young players was a grind.

“The academy boys are coming through, it’s not for them right at this minute, it needed a whole change because the dynamics of the team in the last few years wasn’t going to get them up. I wish them all the best and I’ll be willing them on.”

He added: “No young player was going to thrive in the environment they were in. From top to bottom it was a bit of a mess. No structure, no nothing, no identity.

“To put the pressure on the young lads, they needed help rather than the other way around.

“By that I mean good experienced players. It was a shame [Luke] Chambers and [Cole] Skuse were coming to the end of their careers. If they could have had them as they were four or five years ago when they were in their prime, they maybe could have helped the younger ones a little bit more.

“When Skuse was at his prime four or five years ago he could have helped Andre getting in. That’s the way it goes. When I got in the first team, I had lots of really good characters around me who helped me through it.

“Honestly, it was hard to watch in the last few years. He needed to get out for many reasons, being my son and everything else, he just had to go away be his own man.”

Was there extra pressure on Andre, who famously followed in his father's footsteps by scoring on his debut aged only 16, at Town because of his surname? “I think so. I think he got some unfair criticism from people, relating him to me.

“This is a kid who has been here since he was eight years old, turned down Liverpool when he was 16 or 17. Got a bad injury and then came back and it’s just not happened for one reason or another.

“So I’m disappointed, also because Ipswich could be on to something big in the next few years and he’s not going to be part of it.

“But it’s a win-win for both situations, they got a million quid or whatever for him, he can go away and strive somewhere else and I can come down here and I can enjoy my football again without that added pressure!

“I’ll always go down to the odd game here and there. I’ve been an Ipswich fan since I was nine years old. I can come down there and support the team without the added pressure of what was happening over the last few years.”

Jason says Andre has done well in pre-season with QPR so far: “He played 70 minutes against Man United [last Saturday], he looked really, really comfortable. QPR are a very exciting team and the game looked very easy.

“There were people very comfortable on the ball, knew what they were doing. It wasn’t hustle, bustle, kick from front to back, they had a style about them which you would see from the outside looking in. You could see what they were trying to do.

“They beat them 4-2, it wasn’t their strongest side, but they still had a lot of experienced players in there, [Jesse] Lingard, [Nemanja] Matic, [Juan] Mata, [Mason] Greenwood, so it was a great game to start for him.

“That was always the plan, to play against those players when he was 16. He needed to get away from Ipswich because he just wasn’t thriving, for me. He’s a certain type, I get that, I can see why people say things about him, he’s a certain type.

“He needs a game playing around him and people to trust him, not necessarily without the ball but with the ball.

“In the Man United game there weren’t many tackles going about, he had time to shine, he had time to pass. It was so different from bloody League One.”

Various ex-players and coaches have said that Andre will be a better player at a higher level and his father agrees.

“That’s it, that was always the case,” he continued. “I’ve seen it all the way through the England teams. When it was just based on possession he would be the best player on the pitch.

“The transition to League One is bloody hard because it’s just not the same football. He’s got to adapt and he’s got to learn how to play through that.”

Looking forward to the season ahead, he added: “Between QPR and Ipswich I’ll be flying about everywhere I think!

“I can go down to Ipswich and relax being an Ipswich fan, which I was before I started playing. Everyone knows I’m a huge Ipswich fan and I will be taking some of the games in.”

Photos: Matchday Images

Ipswichbusiness added 12:58 - Jul 30 I wish both of them all the best. However, he tends to confirm what Alan Lee said about the chaos at the club under the Evans regime, it started at the top.
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Nobbysnuts added 13:32 - Jul 30 Once he got convicted of drug driving he should of been sacked anyway for gross misconduct.....
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budgieplucker added 14:24 - Jul 30 Andre quite simply has the talent to become another Arnold Muhren, I have no doubts about that. I occasionally watch a YouTube clip of some 5 years ago of England under 17's in the euro finals against France and a superb goal, with the assist coming from Andre and the scorer none other than our own Ben Morris, two lads now having been left behind through no fault of their own especially when you see the likes of Mason Mount, Ryan Sessegnon and Reiss Nelson also playing that day. Jason I believe has certainly hit the nail on the head and I will be rooting for Andre to go on to much bigger and better things.

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thechangingman added 14:36 - Jul 30 Again, we get yet another glimpse into the problems behind the scenes over the past decade. To Jason's eternal credit, however, he offers his insights without negativity or recrimination; this is a good lesson for everyone at the club, from the owners to the fans - i.e. learn from the past, but don't let it consume us with bitterness. Along with everyone else on here, I wish father and son well as they embark on the next stage of their journey together. As for the rest of us, I hope we can grasp the era and its opportunities. Personally, my quietly positive feelings continue to grow, and although I don't want to get triumphalistic, I confidently believe that whatever the new season holds, it'll be more upbeat and enjoyable than what we've suffered in recent times. Onwards and upwards always, and let's be like Jason and Andre - honest and realistic, but maintaining dignity and positivity every step of the way...

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Karlosfandangal added 14:40 - Jul 30 It was always going to be hard for the youngsters, however look at Dobra , he has got the right mental attitude. I think Dozzell and Downes don't have that attitude and that can't be good for the club or them. Maybe if they had they would be in the the team like Dobra and Woolfenden
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Bazza8564 added 15:08 - Jul 30 Great interview and very well articulated. as the thechangingman says (i think you nailed it fella) insight without recrimination. I think the most interesting bit was the extra time Andre will have out of league one. Many people have said for ages he has quality to play at a higher level where the pace will be different, thats probably true. We will see. Disappointed to read comments about drink driving convictions (I think you will find he has two now) and Terry Butcher filling that role, why cant any story go by without someone having a snipe back at the club or the individual. Im sure I speak for the majority on here who want to look for and enjoy the positives in our club. Remember what Cook said last night about the Pompey Crowd becoming the oppositions 12th man? I admire the way Jason has spoken and good luck to you fella and to your lad!

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Jugsy added 15:21 - Jul 30 This transfer hurt the most for me, but it feels a lot better reading Dozzell Sr's views. And if you have to say Lambert's parting shots about the club we're pretty spot on with what Paul Cook saw when he came in and everything that's happening now. Always hurts when we lose one of our own because we can't match their ambition/potential but as Jason says, the move was right for everyone in a lot of ways. Best of luck Andre (and hopefully in reading this interview some of his doubters may reflect a bit differently on the player).

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Nobbysnuts added 15:22 - Jul 30 @bazza8564.... I think your find it was drug driving and anyone on drugs should be nowhere near our youth set up or our club. Get your facts right.
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DifferentGravy added 15:22 - Jul 30 Good statement by Jason, a proper town legend. I was critical of Andres performances....a decent passer of the ball who worked hard but just couldnt see what he brought to the team. Wasnt a defensive midfielder, often caught ball watching and picked up too many bookings for rash tackles........and wasnt an attacking midfielder as he created few chances and didnt score goals. But totally agree with Jason.....it became evidently clear that it wasnt a conducive atmosphere for young players to improve and shine. A struggling side with certain senior players.... season in/season out taking a big wage for doing very little...it must have been very difficult Very best of luck to both Dozzells and really hope Andre proves me wrong at QPR

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greenkingtone added 16:38 - Jul 30 Excellent interview! All the best to Jason and Andre.
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happybeingblue added 17:13 - Jul 30 Jason sums it up spot on what most old school ipswich fans would have thought i think re Andre and the last couple of seasons,i remember being so excited watching him v Birmingham that fateful day when he was motm and running the show until the dreadful injury. you can take the boy out of suffolk but not suffolk out of the boy :) heres hoping we move forward as does Andre and all being well he returns to us later on down the road.

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Linkboy13 added 19:51 - Jul 30 Watched the highlights of the Friendly against Man United saw Andre run out onto the pitch and that was it didn't see him touch the ball once. I hope im wrong but i think the pace and physicality of the championship will be too much for him. Wish him and his dad all the best for the coming season.
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istanblue added 21:00 - Jul 30 This is a shame.
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Tractorboy1985 added 21:03 - Jul 30 @budgieplucker… gotta be a joke.. you can't talk about Arnold Murhen and Andre Dozzell in the same breath!! Unfortunately I never witnessed the great 2 Dutchmen live but the videos I have seen it's like comparing a super model to Gemma Collins! Andre has talent.. no doubt about it!! His injury hindered his progress but he never set the world alight for me and a million quid is great business! We move on! We wish him well.. but I don't think he will be missed! COYB

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Eddie1985 added 21:08 - Jul 30 Andre would have been superb amount new recruits as would downes, Bishop and lankester, the rest needed to go but can't help but think we have indiscriminately thrown these babies out with the bathwater
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ArnieM added 21:32 - Jul 30 Was he talking about our academy or the pathway from the academy to the senior squad….. ie the U23's ?
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bluered26 added 03:01 - Jul 31 Shame to see them both go Credit to the difficult decision made by them though Many stories of coaches being half committed at various clubs not being there on matchdays Wishing them all the best
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tetchris added 09:20 - Jul 31 I get the impression he was only at the club to keep an eye out for his son etc. If you take a job as a coach you are there to develop all the players not just your own son. Can't he watch his son play and still do the coaching role at town? I suspect he will wangle himself a coaching role at QPR so he can keep an eye on him there. For me Andre isn't as good as his dad was at that age and he's right it was time for him to leave but I can't help but think he will be back in league one next season on loan. He has a certain amount of talent but he is light weight. Think it is make or break time for him in his career he will either improve and fly and potentially play in the PL at some stage or he will end up back in league one or lower

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ElephantintheRoom added 09:40 - Jul 31 A very thoughtful and thought-provoking article. And sadly confirms how rudderless and directionless the club was allowed to become. Whether anything has changed is a moot point. I doubt any academy players will be in Cookie's plans when he can dip into the sweetshop and chase short term success. And the same lame excuse will be trotted out IF Town can actually get promoted. So no change there either. For me the most depressing thing is that QPR, so recently a joke club themselves, in chaos on and off the pitch, can be eulogised as a good footballing team at a higher level. One wishes Dozzels minor and senior well.

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Marinersnose added 10:58 - Jul 31 Dozzell has hit the nail firmly on the head. Andre will thrive in the Championship as the game is totally different. It's a poorer version of the Premier League whereas League one is a better version of non league football more direct and more physical. Personally I don't like to watch League one football as it's not particularly entertaining. I'm hoping along with everyone else that we can get out of this poor league. The type of players PC has recruited are more suited the the task that young lightweight skilful academy lads. Good luck Andre and Jason.

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