I'm staggered by this. How could the club and Ashton be so colossally stupid?

For context, everyone has the right to their own political opinions, and it's completely right that the club engages across the political spectrum. I know this from my own work, past and present, where I have often engaged with politicians that I don't agree with, and that many of my clients/beneficiaries don't agree with. Would I allow such politicians to publicly say they have spoken with my organisation and support its aims? Absolutely. Would I allow such politicians to act like a fanboy and flood their social media with pictures to further their own political ambitions, by implying that I'm a supporter of theirs? Absolutely not. And it's a huge concern that the club/Ashton are incapable of making this distinction.

After the disgraceful EFL decision to ban Leif Davis for 3 games Ashton said he had a problem with the process (vindictive referee re-refereeing the match and the club being denied an in-person hearing), the timing (being decided less than 24 hours before a game), and the result (a ridiculous ban). Well similarly I have a problem with the process, timing and result of Faragegate.

The process - how did this happen? Who on earth authorised such a visit and allowed Reform's social media team to make so much of this? After this happened on Monday, who signed off on the appalling statement that the club released on Tuesday? Why did the club lie by saying that there had been no official invitation? And why have they not said anything since but in effect released a non-statement today as a result of this latest news breaking? It's just mistake after mistake after mistake.

The timing - Saturday was a wonderful display of the Foundation's work, demonstrating how we should be proud as fans that our club promotes inclusivity, and have programmes that support vulnerable individuals, disabled supporters, LGBTQ+ supporters. And yet within 48 hours this is being trampled all over with the visit of Reform. Furthermore, we're reaching the business end of what has been a difficult season at times, but with a decent chance of getting promotion. But this will only happen if everyone pulls in the right direction, so why on earth at such a crucial stage would you facilitate an event that causes huge division?

The result - the actual invitation of Farage and Reform. To reiterate, everyone is entitled to their views, anyone is free to support or vote for him. But the main difference between Farage and other politicians is that most politicians try to appeal to voters through unity. Sure, they get a lot wrong, they make mistakes, they often give mixed messages, they often appear unlikeable, but the main difference with Farage is that he seeks to attract votes through division, blaming minorities, causing mock anger, and this is not something that an inclusive football club should be facilitating.

Nevertheless, if Farage had visited and spoken with the people that run the club at another time, perhaps in the close season, and hadn't plastered it all over social media, and if the club had been transparent about this, then it wouldn't be so much of a problem. But do do things this way is just awful.

As a result:
1. There is suddenly a massive disconnect between large elements of the fanbase and the club
2. There is division between fans. Normally when I go to Ipswich I don't care who I sit near, I don't care about their politics, all that matters is that they support ITFC. But now, suddenly, it feels like it does matter. I won't want to be sitting next to someone who supports Reform in the future, and I'm sure they won't want to be sitting next to me. In other words, for the first time, politics has become an issue within the club
3. The players are upset about it
4. Some sponsors are upset about it
5. Opposition fans will have a field day when they play us, our fans will be on the end of taunts about this
6. It will no doubt be used by opposition managers as extra motivation for when they play us
7. KMcK will continually be asked about this in future press conferences

How could Ashton not have realised this? It's unbelievable that he didn't realise the consequences of his actions. For such a smart guy I literally can't believe that he has been so stupid.

I'm not going to say he should resign, mainly because that may make KMcK more likely to leave. And he's been a great CEO for 5 years. But this is the most spectacular display of self-sabotage that anyone could undertake, and make no mistake, our club is in crisis as a result of this. To say that he has bridges to build and needs to think extremely carefully about what happens next is a huge understatement.

He has to go. Just look at the negative attention brought to the club. It's EVERYWHERE. Look at the anger and derision among the fans here. He can support who he wants- but not in the club's name, and not with all the deceit and lies. Even his leaving won't repair the damage done, but it's a start. 10 years from now, we'll be called Nazis still. I've loved this club since '78, and although irritated at times by decisions and mismanagement, never have I been ashamed. Until now.

Just stop please, this is a football club leave it at that.

Take your political views elsewhere, some of you are as bad as the very thing you are complaining about. The last time I looked this party was clearly in front in the polls, which makes you noisy lot the minority.

Now let’s just get back to football

Wooly74 - On every basis that logic fails.

They are polling around 25%, which means 75% are opposed to them!

Well, I've read all sorts of comments on this over the last week. Some I agree, some I don't. But thats it... Opinions not fact and everyone has the freedom to gob off as they see fit.

For my tuppence ha'penny:

Could the Club have handled it better - probably.

As for Nigel F. Having the next PM visiting PR I think reflects on the rise of ITFC as a good news story - what else in GB has gone quite so well recently? Not much.

A comment on the bile being spouted - R and F words... Really? I think all our Grandfather's sorted real R and F out 80 years ago. My opinion is that Nigel and his movement are nowhere near that and every time I see or hear those words it cheapens what my folks did in the North Atlantic and in Burma.....

Oh and to lighten the mood, if anyone is going to hand their season ticket in, if they happen to be in Bobby Robson I know a couple of young lads who would love to pick up the seats.....

Dark clouds, silver lining and all that.....

This has really made me sad. With all the crap going on in the world, you hope that football can be an escape. Something pure that isn't dragged into the polarised, hate-filled debate that infects every other facet of life. This clearly isn't the case with FIFA, but I had hoped it could be for our proud club. I just cannot understand what Ashton was thinking. Regardless of whether he personally agrees with Farage's awful views, he must know that the club's values, as an inclusive family club, are absolutely opposed. Letting Farage use the club as a tool to generate publicity for his hateful agenda is so disappointing. To then mislead supporters and imply that this was just Farage doing a stunt without club involvement adds insult to injury. I expect a grovelling apology. He's put he club in a bad situation when it is his job to avoid them. He's certainly got some adversity to run towards now.

@PaxtonBlue - superb. Bang on.

I just don’t know how to explain this to my son. That’s the saddest thing of all for me.

The original press coverage was odd. The clubs reaction has been terrible. The values on any level are questionable. I don’t understand why the lies, why the politicisation of football, why allow division to fester.

I know the club are probably in a PR damage limitation exercise but the worst decision in a crisis is no decision. Please someone, grow some balls and take a position that we can discuss sensibly, agree or disagree with, and make our choices accordingly.

The club WILL lose revenue and credibility over this, from either side of the argument. I don’t think that’s in doubt now. But we will all lose more by trying to brush this under the carpet.

This week for the first time in a long time I'm not very proud of my club. The club has been used in a publicly stunt for a political party and it seems some people in the club were involved or let it happen. That's pretty sleazy.

I don't want to bring politics into football, but this made me mad. I can understand using a conference room, but letting Nigel Farage have his name on an Ipswich shirt and not just 1 but multiple shirts! Mark needs to come out and make an apology, ASP.

@SladeOne - you need to revisit Bobby Robson’s famous quote “What is a club?”
Who on Earth does the club belong to if not the fans? No, we don’t physically own it, but we are its biggest stakeholders, and without us the club is nothing. To suggest that we should have no say in the conduct of its key officials is preposterous.

So, IF the owners decide Mr Ashton is done, this club has no other senior management in place because Ashton had maneuvered himself into occupying the two senior posts. A ridiculous situation in ANY organisation.

Paxtonblue — perfectly put.

I'm not taking sides BUT I do remeber that John Cobbold was at one time actually a Tory Candidate for Ipswich , can't remember any great uproar about that!

Cpaz97 doesn’t fail at all, they are leading the polls and looking at you lot is there a wonder why?

Just leave politics out of our club, there’s so many of you on here that don't ever comment on this page until something like this happens - keyboard warriors

We are, well we're, a friendly inclusive Club. FarAge is far from that on every level and Ashton has to go and go now for this Shitshow.

Look at America for what he wants here. He wants money as much as Trump does and will have his ICE on our streets. I want nothing to do with him and his supporters, and now Ipswich Town support him.

I am beyond disgusted.

@wooly74

Because maybe, like in the 1970s, racism causes people to speak out and stand together against this hatred?

The blubbing, wet lettuce, snow flakery, lefty wokery, cheap journalism .. over this is genuinely hilarious. I don't know how some of you make it through the day. Bless your little cotton socks, mummy will always be there.

Ashton needs to get out of this club. He obviously doesn't share its values, nor those of the majority of ITFC fans. Maybe one of the Moscow clubs might be better suited to him?

I am struggling to see that this is of any real importance. We go to Portman road to watch football. Even if the club have made a PR error in this instance its very rare for them to do so. In fact the club has been promoted (in more ways than one) exceptionally well in no small measure to the efforts of Mark Ashton and Gamechanger. Our previous owner barely spoke to us. I think Mark Ashton has done enough to be cut a bit of slack, maybe a bit naive that Nigel Farage wouldn't use it for his own political ends but personally i would forgive him. i

I am struggling to see that this is of any real importance. We go to Portman road to watch football. Even if the club have made a PR error in this instance its very rare for them to do so. In fact the club has been promoted (in more ways than one) exceptionally well in no small measure to the efforts of Mark Ashton and Gamechanger. Our previous owner barely spoke to us. I think Mark Ashton has done enough to be cut a bit of slack, maybe a bit naive that Nigel Farage wouldn't use it for his own political ends but personally i would forgive him. i

This is so boring ...can't believe the comments on here about a visit and calling for Ashton's head....farcical when there are much pressing matters going on in the world

I don't care who Ashton has lunch with, or who visits the club provided they are not criminals. I do care about the success of the team on the pitch and things like demonstrating and calling for Aston's resignation will not help on-pitch performance. Can we not all reunite and move on. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, that's the benefit of living in a free democracy. ITFC is a football club, the 30,000 who attend on a Saturday will not all have the same views, but we should be united in our support for the team

There is a lot for the owners to get through, the understatement of the club's history.

First they have to get anyone in the ownership group who in any way sanctioned Farage's extended visit out of the decision making on what to do next.

Then they need to identify the senior heads who facilitated the visit and its lack of restrictions, put them on gardening leave, complete their investigations and decide on sanctions, the method of their likely departure.
Included is some assessment of the reputational and financial damage this debacle has already likely caused the club and will cause going forward.What do they do with this assessment?
They need to agree interim cover for the likely three directors' roles.

They need to make a public statement as well as an internal statement to all staff, that must set the right tone. Above all they need to express and show determination to the fans that they will do right by the club.

They - the club - need a Chairman. That is a huge challenge because ideally, none of the other appointments should be made without an effective, highly experienced chairman who fits our club and is not directly associated with the likely departing directors. Will they find someone to take up the reins and manage the club out of this substantial crisis, at a time when the team is in contention for promotion? Either way, the manager must be supported, especially if he is feeling let down by one or two things the senior heads may have said or done in recent days.

There may well be a lot of experience in investing in and owning sports teams among the owners, and they will have experienced crises before. That's all good, but the UK-based direction of the club will of necessity have been decapitated. Someone may need to come over and be hands-on for the remainder of the season and then into the summer.

None of us will envy the task before the owners.But they must not fail the stakeholders of the club who I put in ascending order: the sponsors, the players, the staff, the community, the supporters.
We'd better get behind the owners and wish them luck.

We don't know if it's true yet but, as others have said, there are valid business reasons for Mark Ashton to have lunch with the leader of any major political party who could be our next prime minister. However having now "entertained" Farage, to retain an apolitical status, he would have to do the same for Starmer and Badenoch in the same circumstances.

If it is true, the unacceptable aspects are that the club denied this meeting and that the shirts were gifted to Farage and worst of all that they allowed his media team to film him during his tour. If Ashton was aware of the filming in advance and sanctioned the lies he should resign.