Former Town boss George Burley has revealed that relegation meant that he faced a 50% pay cut last summer. The Blues are still paying their sacked manager but the two sides are currently negotiating a settlement.

Burley was speaking on Thursday night on the subject of players and wage cuts after relegation, an idea he advocates wholeheartedly: "Why not? I was on a contract that reduced by 50% when we were relegated, and I was very happy to accept it.

"That is the way it should be. It should be designed correctly... because you can't keep paying the same money if you are in a different division.

"One year, in Ipswich, you are earning £16 million from TV and then the next season you are getting £700,000, and that doesn't add up."

When Burley signed his contract in May 2001 reports indicated it was worth £500,000-a-year and was due to end in 2006.

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