A Letter from Marcus Evans.

Post by **Bluemike** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 10:50 am

Marcus Evans on how Town can compete for that Premier League prize plus Mick, the critics and the Ipswich Way
Marcus Evans is entering his 10th year as the owner of Ipswich Town. In that time he has spent close on £100m on fulfilling his ambition of returning Premier League football to Portman Road. It’s an ambition that burns as strong as ever. He explains his strategy for that challenge ahead in a column published in tonight's matchday programme. It reads...

As we move into a new year, as at all football clubs, a range of questions are being asked by the supporters. What are the plans for the months and years ahead? Do we have a realistic strategy for promotion? Who is going to score 20 + goals a season for us? Plans for the Club to move forwards are always at the front of my mind.

This has been a tough season so far, and, no excuses, we haven’t lived up to our potential with results and on occasions performances being below the standards of the last two seasons.

That said, I am not the only one who has seen bright points and I believe if we follow the strategy outlined in this article then we will not be that far away from competing, once again, at the upper end of this league. There is a tremendous spirit within the squad and management team.

We are starting to see the development of a new group of regulars in the first-team line up, with some excellent scouting resulting in the successful additions this season of Grant Ward and Adam Webster. We are looking for similar additions but more of this later.

Any discussion regarding the Club’s strategy for promotion has to start by considering what we are competing against.

Financial Fair Play, which was brought in to level an increasingly uneven playing field, hasn’t worked. Parachute payments for clubs relegated from the Premier League stand at £89m over three years, £40m of that in the first year. Newcastle and Norwich spent more than £100m between them on transfer fees in the August window as they chase an immediate return to the Premier League.

There were nine clubs in the Championship who benefited from parachute payments last season. There are eight this year who have that advantage. It all adds up to a division that is getting more competitive by the year. The average parachute club starts with a £20 million per season head start over the rest of us.

With three promotion spots and triple that number in parachute clubs, a valid question is - how can we continue to compete?

My view, based on the finances available to us compared to those with parachute budgets and the small group with, often short term, huge owner investment, is for your club to maintain a sustainable and consistent strategy, which I firmly believe provides a foundation each season for a promotion challenge. It is based around the following principles:-

* To provide a significant ongoing financial commitment to the Club’s Academy, enabling a steady flow of players into the first-team
Our location gives us a head start over other Academies in that we don’t have a competing club just down the road. We need to ensure that we don’t take our unique catchment area for granted and that our ability to attract the best young players is followed up by a coaching programme over many years turning raw talent into long term professional careers, with many of those careers helping take the Club to where it wants to be.

I am 100 per cent committed to the Academy and have recently invested over £1 million in new infrastructure and additional staffing. I believe our efforts of the last few years are starting to pay off.

Josh, Myles and Andre are starting to feature in the manager’s plans. We had three players in the England squad at last summer’s U17 European Championship, a squad that was almost entirely made up of players from Premier League clubs.

Thanks to the work of the team at Playford Road as well as the many supporters who contribute to the Academy, I feel that this cornerstone of the Club’s strategy is on target.

We are at the top end of Academies in the Championship, especially if you disregard the likes of Newcastle and Villa who have benefited from many years in the Premier League. The aspirations for the Academy is to continue to attract the best players in the area and the best coaches to achieve our goals.

* To provide a sustainable and competitive squad salary budget
In my earlier years we allowed incorrectly a number of players to run down their contracts. This in turn, despite transfer fee investment over a period of time, resulted in a squad ending up with us at the bottom of the table when Mick took over in 2012. I was determined to learn from my mistakes.

My annual investment enables the Club, over the last few seasons, to pay wages for the core of our squad at the higher end of the Championship, when you take in the parachute factor. This ensures we keep those players who we feel can contribute most to our success.

It also enables us to attract experienced players ahead of many of our competitors as well as bring in important loan players from Premier League clubs. Investing our player budgets - whether on fees or wages - to get the best results is what every club is aiming at and I feel that overall we have achieved and beaten expectations from where Mick set off over four years ago.

*To make annual investment funds available to purchase players in the early stages of their career and to assist in their development
Careful management of the Club’s annual budget means making choices as to where that budget is spent.

It would be great to be able to spend freely and without the need for choices to be made between buying younger players for the future and already proven Championship players.

However without parachute revenue the fees commanded (regularly Championship fees are now £5 million and recent deals have been as high as £15 million) mean our club needs to be focused on spending its money on those that are up and coming.

Last summer’s transfer fees whilst not excessive were still over £1.5 million and spent on some great additions to the Club, with both Grant and Adam more than fulfilling the criteria of promising players. When you add in loan fees and wages needed to attract Premier League clubs to release Tom Lawrence, Jonny Williams and Conor Grant, as well as signing Leon Best for the year, then the outlay becomes around the £4m mark on new additions to the squad.

*Maintaining a stable management and coaching team
Changes of manager inevitably create upheaval and additional costs are incurred often on wholesale change rather than a steady process of improvement.

I have always tried to back our managers for as long as is realistic and I have no plans to change that policy.

* To develop a team to play attractive and exciting football
We will always work to get the most out of our squad and our aim with the Academy and all incoming players is to build a squad that challenges for the top spots, in a style which plays to our strengths and which fans are happy to pay to watch.

I am well aware of the criticism of certain sections of fans who, on occasions, feel we are not playing the ‘Ipswich way’.

All I can say to those fans, whose criticism in my mind is a welcome indication of their passion for this great club, is that everyone at Ipswich Town wants to win; to be promoted and play great football.

That aim is central to every decision that is made regarding the playing squad and if we are not meeting people’s expectations, it doesn’t mean that we aren’t striving for these aims at every turn.

All I ask is for your continued fantastic support on the pitch for the team at all times. I hardly ever hear any critic saying the players are not doing their very best in every game and for that reason alone many of you have told me, quite rightly, the team deserve our wholehearted commitment.

As I know from talking to the players, the 12th man factor really can - and has helped us win games in the past.

It was great to see so many of you at the Boxing Day game against Fulham but we can’t deny that attendances have been falling away somewhat this season - an indication of the disappointing results we have had this year.

No one is more frustrated about that than Mick and the players and no one is working harder than Mick, his staff and the players to turn it around. Mick is vastly experienced and I’m confident he can get us progressing again.

Our MD, Ian Milne, the staff and myself are looking at creative ways of getting supporters back to Portman Road, including pricing strategy and I know there are plans to consult supporters about this. Although football being the way it is - we all know a winning team is the best way of filling the stadium.

In summary, a focus on the Academy; a competitive wage structure; careful use of our transfer budget on developing players and a stable management team are factors which I believe provide us with the best chance of promotion out of the Championship, which as I noted earlier is one of the toughest - and getting even tougher - leagues in the world.

The results of these efforts will be up and down, as is the nature of football. Our basic goals, if not our ultimate goal, have been achieved to a greater or lesser extent in the last two seasons.

This season is one where a certain amount of rebuilding is taking place and whilst recent results have been disappointing to everyone involved at your club, it does not mean that the long term plan is not the right one to aim to compete in the very challenging, non-level playing field in which we find ourselves.

The differences in league payments to each club is huge however I am committing sums of £5million and more per annum, at the start of each season towards the annual budget, enabling the Club to plan from a financial perspective competitively for the upcoming campaign. This money I feel is well spent and I believe can take us a long way towards achieving the success we all want.

These sums have on occasions been greater and would eventually be unsustainable without the benefits of transfer revenues from time to time to offset the Club’s running costs, which is why you don’t always see penny for penny of transfer fees received spent on transfer fees coming in, with sums committed also to squad wages and Academy development.

There are those that feel my investment plan has no chance of success and that without huge sums of investment, I am throwing good money after bad. If I believed that, I wouldn’t be making the investment.

And whilst there is no certainty I believe that a reasonable level of investment used to support the key points noted in this article will over time provide us with a consistent season by season foundation for promotion.

Of course there are 23 other clubs all following their own plan as well and other than the three clubs that succeed, 21 of those plans fail each season and have to start again.

I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that the success we want is just around the corner and that we are promoted.

Finally, a big thank you for your wonderful support - and to all of our fans and staff who I know share the same goals - here’s to a great 2017.
COYB'S

bluejacko · Post by **bluejacko** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:31 am

Well that is not really impressive at all!
Same old B/S do they really believe we are that bloody stupid to take that in.

Andym · Post by **Andym** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:35 am

I gave up reading after the third paragraph:

bluemike wrote:

This has been a tough season so far, and, no excuses, we haven’t lived up to our potential with results and on occasions performances being below the standards of the last two seasons.

I remember being castigated last season for daring to suggest I wish we'd lost a game that we won despite being outplayed. The performances last season weren't much better than this; it's just that while we had a target man to hoof it to, we ground out some better results.

When I look at our squad, I really worry at how much is lacking:

1. Skuse is our only defensive minded midfielder. He's slow, rarely makes a constructive pass, never puts himself about to demand the ball, but he's all we have - at least until (if ever) Hyam is fit to play. He's faster, moves into position to demand the ball, but is even less creative than Skuse.

2. If we have any decent fullbacks who can get forward and put in a decent cross, they spend their life on the bench. Still not convinced about them, and never will be until they are given a run of a few games.

3. Do we possess any midfielders with the brain or ability to drop in behind if such a fullback ever got forward?

4. We don't have anyone who can lead the line in attack.

5. Our attacking midfielders rarely get in the box. Apart from corners or the awful long throws, we rarely get more than one player in the penalty area at a time.

MM has been here 4 years. It is his squad. It is his tactics. It is his decision to play central defenders (and strikers in the case of Sears) at right back and other players out of position. It is his decision to virtually exclude potential future players from the team in preference to those who are past their best and on the way down. Until he goes, nothing will change. Poor players and even worse tactics and management.... It's not just "occasional performances this season". There have been enough glimmers to suggest we could do so much better, even with this squad, with better tactics and team selections. Evans might be ignorant or stubborn enough to fool himself, but he certainly isn't fooling the fans.

Post by **Bluemike** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:46 am

The fans have been crying out for ME to address us and tell us what the vision is for the future and while it was never going to be what we really want to hear he has done it, the fact it isn't what we wanted is no surprise to me at all, in fact I could probably have written it as it was always going to be along those lines.

What it does say to me is that there is absolutely no point whatsoever in us discussing the departure of ME or MM any time soon because it is not going to happen, we are wasting our time and breath on the matter. Hopefully though MM will at least see that he needs to entice the missing fans back by playing some bloody football, that would at least be a good starting point to be entertained again. This january is going to be an interesting one because to do nothing in the transfer market will be a disaster and could well see us in and around the bottom 8 all season. Mick has already said that he has given marcus a shopping list and some of the contents on that list cost money so if all we see is freebies and loans we will at least know that it is at the very top where us fans will have been let down, Mick can only request targets, Evans and Milne do the deals between them.

supershred · Post by **supershred** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 12:22 pm

I'm pleased ME did come out with this and that the basis of the future is through the academy. I don't disagree with the vision -either money is not the answer to everything. The problem is, and I hate to say it, Mick Mac. He seems to stifle the talent and spirit out of players. If the basis is the academy, youth must be given the chance, but in the formations and systems in which they are accustomed. Perhaps mick needs to get closer to Brian Clugg in this respect. I am sure he talks to him but I suspect his dogmatism rises to the surface and he says things like 'if they are good enough they can play in any system'. The whole idea that youngsters are not strong enough (well attacking ones anyway) does not ring true for me. Is Williams strong? Not particularly, but he is talented and fast enough not to need it.
Thanks Marcus for showing your hand and whilst I respect your faith in stable management, every change so far you have left just a little too late. I hope Mick Mac comes through this current phase and ends up fulfilling your vision, but I just can't see it.

Post by **Frosty** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:00 pm

I read it twice, obviously there is going to be 'fluffy' stuff to try and convince fans to return to PR from a financial perspective.

I think (having pondered it for a few minutes) a reasonable response to fans discontent.

He makes a very valid point that FFP and EPL parachute payments are a contradiction of the other.

Equally he is still dipping into his own pocket each season, if the figure of 5 million quid is true, then that's a large sum of money in anyone's language.

I think the bottom line for me is though is the fact he has actually responded (whether I agree with it or not) which I respect as he could have just as easily hid behind Milne or ignored the unrest completely.

Post by **Charnwood** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:50 pm

What it tells me is that he either can't or doesn't want to compete with the Big Boys in this league. Where that leaves us, is that unless a Mega Rich owner specifically want's to buy us or we have a huge stroke of luck via the academy, at best we're looking at another decade of Championship football, or worse.

Sadly it's not looking great for Town fans in 2017.

Jamma123 · Post by **Jamma123** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:50 pm

I too think that Marcus has provided a good (clever?) response to supporters' frustrations. It is hard to argue with the premise of his 5-point plan, but whether it is implemented - or Mick is given the chance to try - remains to be seen.

As Mike says, it doesn't look like McCarthy will be departing any time soon if the content of this letter is anything to go by. But surely the points return from our next two games will also have a large say on that...

Come on you Blues!

Andym · Post by **Andym** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:17 pm

I stand corrected. Maybe he can fool some of the fans.

number 9 · Post by **number 9** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 3:11 pm

We will always work to get the most out of our squad and our aim with the Academy and all incoming players is to build a squad that challenges for the top spots, in a style which plays to our strengths and which fans are happy to pay to watch.
Read more at http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/2016 ... j7DWkd9.99

I'm afraid this is the main problem with the fans, Mr Evans. Playing to MM's idea of 'strengths', is not making the fans happy to pay and watch. I completely understand our financial constraints, but when the manager is unable to produce results with what we've got...maybe it's time to consider looking for someone who can? Sure there's no chance it seems that MM will be going anywhere, anytime soon; However, will the tune change if ITFC fall into the relegation zone...I wonder.

charlton837 · Post by **charlton837** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 4:01 pm

Last time our long term plan was the develop the academy and make 50% of our team homegrown. There have been some players coming through but I don't believe they will get a fair chance under MM. When we are getting results he doesn't like to change anything and when we are not doing well he says its not the right environment.

To me this letter is just telling fans what he thinks will satisfy them to bide his time a bit. Its all obvious stuff, but if he didn't want to compete with other clubs why buy us in the first place?

herforder · Post by **herforder** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 6:24 pm

It was apparently written sometime ago; certainly prior to Terry Hunt's recent 'open letter', and probably prior to the levels of supporters' discontent becoming more strident and critical.

For me, sadly, it amounts to a classic piece of corporate nothingness - probably written by an employee charged with saying nothing much new or hopeful, but sounding positive in language they think supporters will understand! I found it both patronising and insulting; but am happy to be accused of being over cynical! A 3 point plan at the AGM, a 5 point plan today, tomorrow.....?

In reality, it provides the written 'evidence' allowing supporters to determine whether it genuinely provides the basis of future progress; whether it effectively ignores current concerns and doesn't address adequately Terry Hunt's points; or whether it simply reaffirms the status quo and seeks our support for it. Let individuals read and decide what to believe, and then act accordingly.

Post by **Frosty** » Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:21 pm

Andym wrote:I stand corrected. Maybe he can fool some of the fans.

Or maybe some fans are more realistic than others

Andym · Post by **Andym** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 12:06 am

Frosty wrote:
Andym wrote:I stand corrected. Maybe he can fool some of the fans.
Or maybe some fans are more realistic than others

I'm not sure what you mean. Am I unrealistic?

Post by **Frosty** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:09 am

Andym wrote:
Frosty wrote:
Andym wrote:I stand corrected. Maybe he can fool some of the fans.
Or maybe some fans are more realistic than others
I'm not sure what you mean. Am I unrealistic?

Or am I easily fooled?

ashfordblue · Post by **ashfordblue** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:35 am

Well it tells me one thing, ME is trying appease the fans with the same old information we hear season after season, same old of we cant compete with the relegated clubs coming down to the championship, with three seasons of large Para shoot payments of 30 million plus, and our restrictions through the FFP incumbrancers, he also mentions about our promising youth set up with several youth players coming through for first team recognition, but we have a manager that just tickles the surface of this production line of young hopefuls, Mick has the wrong attitude towards bringing in the promising players, because he is scared to gamble even after 4 years here, he still sticks with the old structure of older players in there last years, still getting priority over the more youthful stronger working youth players, who are chomping at the bit for more game time experience to prove themselves at the higher level, and as several have proved there competence, only to be relegated to the subs bench to watch the older ones getting done for pace by better players of the opposition, and he has this ingrained philosophy of one dimension defensive football, which is not appeasing to the paying fans, hence the rapid drop in attendances, so Marcus I think you do need to look further into the future for your ambitions of premiership status, as I can guarantee one thing, that you do have the wrong man as manager to take this club forward to your dreams of higher premiership football, so may I suggest that by the seasons end, if we are still in and around the relegation to mid table finish, you do the wise thing and let him go and his assistant Terry, and bring in a more ambitious younger manager who will work with Bryan Klugg, someone like Gary Rowlett, but definitely a manger who is not scared to develop our youth into the first team, along with two or three experienced and more skilful older players, once this happens the fans will come back to support the club they love, and gates of over 20'000 will be the norm again, I look forward to a written response to these comments, but it must be your words from your mind and hand, not some puppet you employ to write up your same old comments, also instruct Mick to stop bigging up the opposition, post and pre match comments, they are not constructive but detrimental to the fans.

COYB's

Post by **Bluemike** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 10:21 am

ashfordblue wrote:Well it tells me one thing, ME is trying appease the fans with the same old information we hear season after season, same old of we cant compete with the relegated clubs coming down to the championship, with three seasons of large Para shoot payments of 30 million plus, and our restrictions through the FFP incumbrancers, he also mentions about our promising youth set up with several youth players coming through for first team recognition, but we have a manager that just tickles the surface of this production line of young hopefuls, Mick has the wrong attitude towards bringing in the promising players, because he is scared to gamble even after 4 years here, he still sticks with the old structure of older players in there last years, still getting priority over the more youthful stronger working youth players, who are chomping at the bit for more game time experience to prove themselves at the higher level, and as several have proved there competence, only to be relegated to the subs bench to watch the older ones getting done for pace by better players of the opposition, and he has this ingrained philosophy of one dimension defensive football, which is not appeasing to the paying fans, hence the rapid drop in attendances, so Marcus I think you do need to look further into the future for your ambitions of premiership status, as I can guarantee one thing, that you do have the wrong man as manager to take this club forward to your dreams of higher premiership football, so may I suggest that by the seasons end, if we are still in and around the relegation to mid table finish, you do the wise thing and let him go and his assistant Terry, and bring in a more ambitious younger manager who will work with Bryan Klugg, someone like Gary Rowlett, but definitely a manger who is not scared to develop our youth into the first team, along with two or three experienced and more skilful older players, once this happens the fans will come back to support the club they love, and gates of over 20'000 will be the norm again, I look forward to a written response to these comments, but it must be your words from your mind and hand, not some puppet you employ to write up your same old comments, also instruct Mick to stop bigging up the opposition, post and pre match comments, they are not constructive but detrimental to the fans.

COYB's

Unfortunately he doesn't read this forum.

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