Dear Mr Clegg I'm sure you've been inundated with correspondence given our dismal form and particularly since we find ourselves in the midst of the worst era in our club's 133 year history. For those reasons I'll try to keep it brief and I'll try to keep it constructive. Transfers, Squad and Team Selection Either go for broke or build for the future. If it's the former then you need to push the boat out and pay the wage demands of players like Charlie Austin and Billy Sharpe, there's no middle ground. Signing so many players in one window is never going to work either. Keep it to three or four top quality in each window. Cherry pick or if you cant do that then get the best out of what we've got. So far since Mr Evans took over the club, his money has been squandered on a year on year decline in the quality of the squad. Youth Academy Anything other than Category One is unthinkable for Ipswich Town. In the 80s Paul Gascoigne had a trial and was rejected by Town... so yes players will travel from Newcastle to Suffolk to be at the right club, contrary to your argument. Getting shot of Bryan Klug was a huge mistake. PR, Supporters and Ticket Pricing Just a shambles. You need to employ someone to keep you up to date with what the fans really want because you're clearly very out of touch. Kids of 15, even 20 are too young to remember even our last European outing a decade ago. All they've ever known is dire, hopeless football. The old faithful are losing faith. The further attendances dwindle the more money you'll he losing and the less support the players will have on the pitch. Ticketing needs a radical overhaul to get bums back on seats. Contracts It's completely unbelievable that one year on the contract situation is in the same mess. Emailing players about their contracts is spineless and absolutely no way to run a business. The fact that Carlos and Jason are regular first teamers and receiving that kind of treatment is even more baffling. How anyone is supposed to be motivated to play when no-one will talk to them about their contract... well let's just say Mr John, who you repeatedly refer to regarding his patience with Sir Bobby, will be turning in his grave at that sort of treatment. It was encouraging to see Luke Hyam finally getting a shot in the first team today. He's probably our best remaining young talent and the fans have known that for years. I'm concerned to see that Ronan Murray's likely to be on his way. If one of the best sides in the country, Swindon, are after him then that should give you a clue not to sell. Just another Jordan Rhodes / Connor Wickham. I really hope you can turn this around, but if you're not prepared to do what's clearly needed then please for everybody's sake walk away and let someone run the club who is. If you need some advice on anything then drop me an email, i won't charge a penny. Sincerely .....
Top drawer Hamps, without a doubt the best letter so far! Love the sarky line at the end, I'd urge Clegg to take you up on that!
To be honest, I'm sure Clegg wants all of the things you've listed there anyway, but hasn't the means to enforce them...
After reading a few of his responses to some of the letters (all excellent in their own way) clegg just doesn't seem to accept responsibility for where we are and if he does then its nowhere near enough. Marcus Evans is a great benefactor for the club but the problem is that clegg has been at the helm for this pointless spending and totally ineffective transfer strategy. the problem is that jewell might well go at some point but I can't say with any certainty that clegg will, it looks very much like we are stuck with this clown for a while
Response from Simon: Thanks for your e mail, the contents of which are noted. Please excuse the brevity of this response but obviously I have a number of issues on my plate at this time. I respond as follows: Transfers, Squad and Team Selection – this is mainly or entirely a matter for the manager. Youth Academy – I’m not sure that you’ve read all 145 pages of the DRAFT documentation, we will make a decision once we know all the facts and explain how and why we’ve come to that decision, whatever it might be. PR, Supporters and Ticket Pricing – noted but a reduction in price will not necessarily be balanced by the necessary increase in revenues. Contracts – I’ve never e mailed a contract offer to a player. I cannot comment on Jason and Carlos as discussions are taking place about their futures. Not sure where you’ve got your views from about Ronan Murray. I will turn this around and have no intention of walking away from this Club but we must operate within our financial parameters unless we wish to face the challenges of administration once again. Best wishes. Simon
Sadly he has a point regarding pricing of tickets. Leeds United is the prime example. They lost 7000 season ticket holders when prices got shoved up but ended up making more money that way. I wish we had used the Norwich model..........
