Head of Academy Recruitment Departs
Sunday, 12th Jul 2026 18:19

Town’s head of academy recruitment, Alex Kaufman, has left Playford Road for a job elsewhere.

Kaufman joined the Blues in the summer of 2022 having previously been with Norwich City’s youth set-up for eight years.

“After four unbelievable seasons, this week brings a close to my time at Ipswich Town Football Club,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “It’s been a privilege and honour to represent the club as head of academy recruitment.

“I’m proud of leading a department to achieve category one status, whilst creating and building a person-centred, innovative and effective structure that strives daily to uncover potential talent that will hopefully benefit the club in the years to come.

“The growth and small wins throughout my time include developing competitive squads, international call-ups, development centres and ID game programmes, pathway workshops and lots more.

“But nothing beats the success of seeing young people thrive and staff achieving their individual goals.

“I will shortly be beginning a new role at another club later in the summer, which I’m excited to begin!

“A big thank you to all my colleagues, friends of the academy and the staff that I worked with day in day out. I will be forever grateful to you all for helping to develop something special.”

Photo: TWTD

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armchaircritic59 added 18:45 - Jul 12 Well thank you Alex for being one of those responsible for helping to bring our academy up to scratch. I'm slightly mystified why he hasn't mentioned the other club's name though. Unless it has to remain a secret for some reason!
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blueboy1981 added 19:16 - Jul 12

Maybe he is not impressed with the Clubs obvious reluctance to bring players through these days, preferring to bring in rather than through the albeit Category 1 Academy.
Our Club has certainly changed over the years, not all for the perceived better, possibly !
But, what is the true definition of progress these days ?
Good Luck Alex - you’ve obviously done a fine job, and I’m sure will be missed.

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uppersirbob added 19:25 - Jul 12 Scout for Brighton I hear but going to be based up north ?
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blues1 added 21:49 - Jul 12

Blueboy1981 The same old tripe from you as usual. If coursexthe club habent broughy playerszthrough forca while, bcse simply, there haven't been any good enough. Acpart of thst has been down to ot having category 1 status. We have it now, but it will be a few years before we start to see the benefits that brings. Amazing how everyctimexsime1zleqves, fans such as u feel thr need to put a negative slant on things. Fact is, people change jobs. And not just in football. Chances are, he just felt the time is right for a change.

RetroBlue added 22:02 - Jul 12

Blueboy81 if you'd listened to one of Ashtons interviews you'd perhaps underdtand the clubs complete deducation to developing our academy. But as Ashton alluded to the fact, that developing youngsters to the required grade ( senior level) takes several years and he further stated " We cant wait that long ( for our current youngsters to develop in that level) as we look to feed U21 level plsyers into the senior squad, NOW, so, we have to bring in the very best from other clubs academies who have developed to these older levels, thereby bridging that gap and development time.

Seriously, how many Town players have come through the academy ( pre Cat A) to make it at the higher levels,over the last 15-20years?? And please dont name players like Downes, or Woolfenden because they really aren't that good.

Bert added 22:52 - Jul 12

So Blueboy, you criticise the club for not developing academy youngsters into first team players and you criticise the club for not (yet) recruiting new players from elsewhere; players who will undoubtedly hinder the trajectory of the academy boys. Moan and criticise by all means but your posts suggest that you have no wish for ITFC to succeed……… or is it that your whole demeanour is focused on negativity ?

Paulc added 07:23 - Jul 13 Yet more speculation by blueboy1981 absolutely none of his comment based on any facts whatsoever. Couldn’t even stand by his own post at the end of last season saying he was leaving this site (once he was proved wrong on promotion).
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blueboy1981 added 07:44 - Jul 13 Why are some ITFC supporters so Naive ?- and never take the blue tints off ! Ashton will love you for that, so ….. ??
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tractorboybig added 07:54 - Jul 13 When did any academy player play for this club.? Woolfy ?And he could not wait to get away
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Dissboyitfc added 08:11 - Jul 13 Any opportunity to slag the club, you are no supporter! Wish him all the best for his next adventure!
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WeWereZombies added 09:26 - Jul 13 'small wins' ?
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BeattiesBackPocket added 09:58 - Jul 13

Blueboy I think we all liked it when you said you wasn’t coming on the site anymore after running out of things to say end of last seasons successful promotion campaign as that didn’t fit your rhetoric against Ashton and the club. Your constant slagging off of Ashton who has been THE biggest reason we are now not in league two and at least a top champ lower prem team is embarrassing!

blueboy1981 added 10:11 - Jul 13 ….. BeattiesBackPocket …… we are not all ‘Club Nodding Dogs’ like some of you naive examples - who ‘nod’ at everything Ashton says and does. Keep shaking your Rattle ! - and coughing up.
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Dissboyitfc added 10:30 - Jul 13 Give it a rest blueboy, you didn’t trust Ashton and or McKenna the day they started with the club. Ashton has overseen what is the most successful spell for town in what is nearly half a century breaking many records in that time! Blueboy =Probably the most unsuccessful clueless poster ever!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 11:07 - Jul 13 Thing is never saw bluebore once on here moaning about Marcus Evan’s tenure taking us down to new depths and on our way to league two. Never been more convinced he’s a budgie
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Dissboyitfc added 11:39 - Jul 13 So true bbp, he would defend any criticism of his beloved Evans! And then accuses others of being happy clappers, priceless!
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blueboy1981 added 12:17 - Jul 13 Dissboyiffc …… Bullsh#t as usual from you - get focussed on some incomings, or you’ll all be sulking in August instead of condoning. Have you got your time to ‘gel’ and ‘settle’ excuses ready ??
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StavangerBlue added 12:27 - Jul 13 A lot of staff leaving so not just KMcK. Big changes. I hope the club can keep pushing. Next year it will be challenging to stay up. We managed to get promoted but we had to work hard for it last year.
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blueboy1981 added 12:36 - Jul 13 Bbp and DBitfc - ‘switch on’ and realise it’s Mid July and we have a weaker squad at this moment than we finished last season in the Championship with ….. !!! That should NOW be of more concern to you than anything Evans ever said or did ! You’re so pathetic that anyone who questions - is a Budgie !! HaHaHa. Stop embarrassing yourselves, and the Club.
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blueboy1981 added 12:36 - Jul 13 Bbp and DBitfc - ‘switch on’ and realise it’s Mid July and we have a weaker squad at this moment than we finished last season in the Championship with ….. !!! That should NOW be of more concern to you than anything Evans ever said or did ! You’re so pathetic that anyone who questions - is a Budgie !! HaHaHa. Stop embarrassing yourselves, and the Club.
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blueboy1981 added 12:36 - Jul 13 Bbp and DBitfc - ‘switch on’ and realise it’s Mid July and we have a weaker squad at this moment than we finished last season in the Championship with ….. !!! That should NOW be of more concern to you than anything Evans ever said or did ! You’re so pathetic that anyone who questions - is a Budgie !! HaHaHa. Stop embarrassing yourselves, and the Club.
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Dissboyitfc added 12:41 - Jul 13

I remember you telling bluearmy if he wanted Evans out he needed to find a buyer!
It’s you that’s been wrong 3 out of the last 4 seasons can’t remember you ever apologising to the supporters who were slated by you for getting behind the team. Truth is everyone is entitled to an opinion, but the fact is the club need people to get behind the team, the only time you comment on a story is if you can have a dig at the club and more often than not you have no facts to back up your rant or is that hissy fit!

I have the pms from you stating your lack of faith in Ashton and McKenna! Can you remember Blueboy?

blueboy1981 added 13:32 - Jul 13 Dissboyitfc …… and I still question both, yet to prove themselves at Prem’ level ?? Neither have any previous Prem’ success record …. or hadn’t you conveniently noticed ? Lets see how Ashton shapes up in this Prem’ attemt - Shall we ?? Time is Ticking Away REMEMBER !! - to avoid ‘previous’ failure. Get your excuses ready - just in case !!!
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Dissboyitfc added 14:30 - Jul 13

Blueboy you were slating the pair of them in league1 you prove that old saying correct. “Better to allow people to think you are clueless than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!!
If we stay up are you going to come on here and apologise for being wrong again!!!!! Or will you do what what you did last season? Leave because it’s getting close to egg on face time?

I welcome debate and the opinion of others, thing is you don’t have an opinion of your own, you just say the opposite to the most popular belief!

blueboy1981 added 15:06 - Jul 13 ….., Dissboy ….. you should know all about egg on face, you’ve had plenty, even with your plethora of constant ready made pathetic defenceless excuses !! Prepare your next round - just in case Hey ?
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