Evans, Unhappy With The Press?

By Martin
February 18 2009

Town owner Marcus Evans has released a statement via the club, in which he lays out his current feelings about the local press and Town’s season.

The statement reads: The local press are generally well meaning and are supporters of the football club (though I never forget their primary objective is to sell papers and in their business 'controversy' sells) however their current stance is in my opinion wrong.

Jim is the first to admit we are not yet where we want to be and the press are within their rights to be on both his and the Club's back. However the current 'Jim Out' campaign is the latest in a long running saga that basically, at its roots, is down to Jim and the local press having a fairly feisty relationship. I have been told from reliable sources that Joe Royle or George Burley would never have been treated in this way as they gave the press regular 'access', a continued bone of contention.

The current negative approach by the press isn't going to assist in us getting promoted and, in fact I believe, the changes they are proposing would be incredibly destabilising at this critical stage in the season.

That's only my opinion. I am sure you will make your own mind up as to whether Jim has ever been given a fair run as manager by the local media.

On to the football, the season so far and where we find ourselves. Firstly, I don't intend to make any decisions based on friendly advice from local newspapers. I will make my decisions based upon what I believe is best for the Club and in the full knowledge that no person is bigger than the Club and that includes me as well as the manager.

All of us at Ipswich Town are disappointed with where we are today however it's far from being a case of all doom and gloom.

Let's look at a few facts...

We have lost only one in the last seven games.

We have lost the away hoodoo and currently have the fourth best away record in the Championship.

There is still a third of the season to go.

We still have 42 points to play for.

So, do we change our entire management plan and strategy of improving coaching throughout the Club (which is a strategy driven from the top by the manager) based on three or four chances not going our way so far this season? I don't believe so. The challenge of getting back into the world's greatest league is never going to be easy and there are many clubs as ambitious as us and as well resourced as us.

Also, look below us at clubs recently in the Premiership who are finding it tough going in the Championship...Derby County, Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, Southampton, not to mention Leicester City who have dropped down to League One.

We have a great squad, one that on its day matches anyone in the Championship. Even over the last few weeks, the home games we failed to win saw us peppering the opposition goalmouth.

I believe that this team can do it and Jim can take us to the Premier League but it's just not ours by right and we will have to continue to strive to be at our best to be promoted.

As I have previously stated, I am here for the long-term. So let's not pre-judge the situation and let's see where we are at the end of the season. In the meantime, Jim and I have an agreement that if Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger want to move to Suffolk he will step aside gracefully! Otherwise all of us should back someone who has a passion for this Club and who will do his utmost to achieve our ambitions.

Two final points I would like to focus on is the Club and its commitment to the Community and the Academy since I became involved with Town. There have been press comments that we have lost a feeling of community and that I have no interest in the Academy...Nothing could be further from the truth.

Firstly --- Community.

The Club's financial commitment to the Ipswich Town Community Trust remains at the same level as before my taking ownership of the Club. The Charitable arm of the Club is involved in promoting youth football, education support programmes for all ages, work in partnership with the PHCT to help promote the anti-obesity message, football for those with disabilities to name but a few. In December of 2008, the Trust was honoured by the visit of HRH the Prince of Wales who paid tribute to the varied work of the Community Trust, in particular the ground breaking work in partnership with the Prince's Trust TEAM programme.

Secondly --- Academy

I am committed to continue the traditions of this Football Club in developing and nurturing its own talent. That is why we have undertaken a detailed review of the Academy and have already made the changes that I believe will strengthen this vital part of our Club over the years ahead.

Thanks as always for your support of this Football Club. We all have one goal, to see this Club back in the Premier League. Together I am sure we will get there.