Blues' US director Berke Bakay says Saturday’s promotion-confirming 6-0 victor over Exeter City and was the most meaningful event he has ever been a part of.

Bakay was joined in the directors’ box for Saturday’s match by fellow Three Lions Brett Johnson and Mark Detmer, as well as Ed Schwartz from the CEO of ORG, the US investment firm which manages funds on behalf of the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), which owns more than 90 per cent of the club.

“It has been over 48 hours and I am back home with emotions still running high,” Bakay wrote on Twitter. “Since I was a little kid I cared so much for this sport and it meant everything to me.

“I had the honor of talking to many supporters that told me ‘You will never understand how I feel today’ and ‘Thank you’.

“I was at one point the kid that was in tears on his father’s shoulder because of happiness and emotional overload.

“When I got back home I told my family that this is the most meaningful event I have ever been part of during my entire life.

“I put it up there with the day that i got married and birth of my four children. To see in the eye of thousands of Ipswich Town supporters the sparkle and to see them so happy meant the world to me.

“How lucky I am to have a life experience like this and play a part in it! It is a very humbling experience. Thank you!

“A massive thank you to all of our supporters, coaching staff, our players, every single member of our front office, our management team and our board! I can’t wait for the opening match! Our journey is just starting!”

Detmer added, also on Twitter: “We are going up! Days like these don’t just happen, they take focus, dedication and relentless hard work.

“Thank you to every Town supporter, player, coach, staff, and fellow board member for believing we could do it.”

Johnson vowed to make good on an earlier promise should the Blues win another promotion, while Schwartz spoke to TWTD after the match.

Photo: Matchday Images

BlueNomad added 09:50 - May 2 We are so lucky to have these guys. So many owners appear to have little emotional investment - it is clearly not the case here.
20

Bluearmy_81 added 09:52 - May 2 How fortunate we are to have owners now with such passion for and commitment to our beloved Ipswich Town Football Club. The future is bright, the future is blue 💙
18

MVBlue added 09:54 - May 2 You chaps have awakened a beast. We are legion we are many, onwards and upwards.
8

midastouch added 09:55 - May 2 Gamechanger really have been a Gamechanger for ITFC! The difference in where we are now compared to when they first arrived is huge. They have been good to their word and the future seems infinitely brighter!
14

itsonlyme added 09:57 - May 2 As I've said many times - the most wonderful owners any club could have. Nothing is too much trouble or expense to right the wrongs of the previous regime! Good bless America!
11

kiwiblue added 09:58 - May 2 Has anybody heard from Evans?
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Suffolkboy added 10:06 - May 2 Good men, good owners ,good characters , and great commitment ! They're starting to understand the well of latent passion and loyalty which has all my life characterised ITFC supporters ! Onwards and upwards ; let's keep it ALL going ! COYB
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Bazza8564 added 10:14 - May 2 I watched the post match events unfold from the rail directly above the directors box, and I can tell you those three directors were beaming with pride, they soaked it all up and took so many videos and pictures they literally recorded everything. I was so delighted for them, the have done so much. On the other side of the DB I'm pretty sure Ed Schwartz was actually wiping away tears. It's absolutely brilliant, we should embrace these guys as heroes. The financial value of the club will rise after promotion, so the Pension Fund will be delighted, it's now onwards until we get back to the PL. Long may these delightful people be at the helm

8

AbujaBlue added 10:24 - May 2 I can scarcely believe what has happened over the past couple of seasons. As a town fan I've been conditioned to expect a mix of mediocrity and abject misery. I was convinced that we would be stuck in League One (or worse) for years to come. These guys (with special mention to Frank Yallop for intoducing us to them) have changed absolutely everything. I live the manager, I love the players, I love them togetherness of they players, I love the football we play, I love the community feel of this club again. Wrexham be getting all the glamour and media attention with their new American owners, but these guys have been a godsend.

18

Razor added 10:41 - May 2 How about a game of Wrexham v Ipswich say in Rhode Island----that would be fun¬¬!!!!
5

bobble added 10:56 - May 2 wonder at what point they sell out ?
0

rfretwell added 11:07 - May 2 Bazza's right, I was up above them in the Magnus - they were clearly over the moon to be at PR, very smartly turned out, took selfies and loads of photos. We are so lucky to have them.
3

braveblue added 11:16 - May 2 Bobble. Don't worry. Pension funds only invest long term.
3

churchmans added 11:25 - May 2 BOBBLE! They have said when we are firmly established in the Premier leauge! I'm happy with that! So should everybody!
4

TimmyH added 12:13 - May 2 Great stuff!...they really do care, we're seeing what American veneers look like! :)
1

backwaywhen added 12:20 - May 2 These guys get it …… don't they …. COYBs
2

brendenward35 added 12:31 - May 2 Booble, Remember 3 lions have their own money in this so think they will be with us in the long term it's now in their blood like any ITFC fan. If and when the club is sold the 3 lions will make sure its to a good genuine buyer who has the money to invest and want to invest otherwise all the work they have done will be wasted so can't see that happening. Think we are in safe hands for now and he future.

4

Bluefish11 added 13:44 - May 2 Its not over yet gents, Port Vale are Plymouths bogey team. Over the last 12 years they have met 9 games, Port Vale won 8, drew 1. Plymouth have only won 10 off 22 away game this season and we just need a better result than them on the day! Aside of that, a MASSIVE THANKYOU to everyone involved in the ITFC resurrection.
4

JimInGreensboro added 16:17 - May 2 And to hear Ashton say it, player expenses are balanced outgoing versus incoming. They are not only passionate football execs, they are smart football exes.
1

therein61 added 17:15 - May 2 Our club is in safe hands the owners haven't bought us as a toy(Chelsea anyone?) they really want to experience more of what they have just witnessed not just Saturday but over the season they have seen(thanks to their astute planning and Mr Ashton carrying it forth) us achieve the first phase of the plan while entertaining and the whole emotion coming out of the fans has really got inside them.

4

Lightningboy added 18:01 - May 2 They've been a revelation since coming in - long may it continue. Thankyou 👍🏻💙
5

KiwiBlue2 added 03:31 - May 3 They have more than poked our bear, they have got it up and moving. I hope that they stick around for the long term but it would be naive to think that we would not be sold on if they ever receive an offer that is just too good to turn down. The great thing about getting automatic promotion so quickly is that it provides tangible evidence that we are on the right track and I am expecting us to be challenging in the top half of the table next season with a small number of additions to the squad we currently have. In the meantime let us hope that the experience that the new owners/directors had on Saturday does keep them tied to us for as long as possible. A great day in the club's history of which everyone can rightly be very proud.....

1

filobiz added 05:04 - May 3 @bluefish11 you are spot on mate - portvale have beaten plymouth 7 times in their last 8 meetings with 1 draw!! roll on sunday! COYB happy days!!
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