I have been emailing Simon Clegg a bit over the last few days and have been impressed by his responses. What we have established is this: The speculation we are reading is pretty much nonsense and he is not interested in spending money to employ people to handle speculation. Anything concrete is announced by the club directly. Contracts, transfers, team selection are almost entirely a matter for Paul Jewell. Paul Jewell has acknowledged that the club have not handled contracts as well as they should. Clegg is certainly listening although the actions would never be attributed to our feedback. The club have offered contracts to Hyam, Carson and Murray and he is looking at the ticketing with the announcement today, although that by no means guarantees that lowering prices will benefit the club. The club have genuinely not made a decision on the Academy. Again this is speculation and the proposals for the categories are still only at draft stage so no club will have signed up as yet.
Hampy have you been drinking the orange juice?? I think criticism over the academy have been harsh. They've not made a decision and yet there is a petition floating round! However, our feedback about ticket prices seemed to coincide with this announcement that they will trial a 25% off scheme. Coincidence or has Clegg had his head pulled out of the sand?
He hasnt won me over but I have said time and time again its amazing how angry people get at the club over rumours with no truth to them whatsoever. If every rumour came true every club would sign 40 new players every season! Most of these have no truth because 99% of club business is done behind closed doors and 99% of people who claim to have knowledge know sod all and yet forums everywhere believe it all and get so annoyed about the biggest load of rubbish ever. Until it reaches the Evening Star, BBC or ITFC website then I tend not to get annoyed
I'm surprised you put evening star in that lot tbh tractorbhoy. I have to say I am quite cynical about Clegg lowering the ticket prices. Whilst I think its a great idea as the match day prices are disgusting at Portman road, I paid £26.50 to watch the Nottingham Forrest match and that was student pricing the most I have paid at any other ground for a student ticket is £15, I think Clegg is just doing it to justify the high prices. He will lower the prices for the Middlesborough match, the attendance will only be slightly better and we will make a loss in terms of revenue. Which will lead to him basically saying I told you so, the prices will remain as they are this season for next season. Which to me is beyond the point, football should be accessable to nearly everyone who wants to support the club and prices made to be reasonable. High ticket prices may be better in the short term to balance the books but not in the long term as you are decreasing the fan base for the future and less people will be exposed to ITFC(actually maybe thats a good thing atm)!! I'm not a fan of Clegg by anymeans but I don't agree with all the flack he has been taking, although he doesn't help himself sometimes, he's the obvious target for fans when things aren't going well at the club. But saying that the ticket prices is certainly something where I do think he is wrong.
Whilst it would never be accredited to fan pressure it is nice to see he can take note of what some of us have said and at least try something. You will never make everyone happy and it could just be a publicity stunt (or a 'I told you so' set up moment) but it is better than nothing, I guess.
The more punters in the ground the more money spent on food & beverages, so probably just about balances out.. Most adult season tickets still work out at less than £20 a game..
