Turnstile Blues has analysed, challenged, and in many cases outright objected to aspects of Marcus Evans’ stewardship of Ipswich Town, from our first print issue in 2012 until the moment Evans finally sold his controlling stake last month. We now have new owners, and there is much to be positive about - the new owners have already spent a lot of time engaging with supporters online, and hopefully this will continue in person when the lifting of Covid restrictions makes that possible.
In that same spirit of open communication and positivity - and having spent the best part of nine years describing what we didn’t like about Marcus Evans - we thought we’d describe what we would like to see from the new owners. These are the things that are important to us, the things that would truly rebuild our connection with the club and make us once again proud to call ourselves Ipswich fans.
Of course, we’d love to see success on the pitch too. But that’s not so easy to control or deliver. What is in the owners’ control is the culture of the club - the examples set by the leadership, the priorities, the standards. Here are some examples of how this could happen….
Football
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A long-term structure for the club’s management and coaching, allowing progression between managers without wholesale turnover of players such as can be seen at Swansea and Brentford
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A long-term approach to player recruitment, informed by data and latest research
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A clear pathway - through a universal style and approach to the game - from the Academy to the First Team
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Linking of the community approach to the Academy: applying a Youth Social Action approach to supporting the 90% of Academy players who won’t go on to have a professional career in football
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High standards of treatment for Academy players’ physical health, so that situations like this don’t recur.
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High standards of treatment for all players’ mental health, so that situations like this don’t recur
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Continued support for the Ipswich Town women’s team: promotion of the women’s team as an integral part of the club
Community approach
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A commitment to the community - including in the most difficult aspects of local life. For example, Norwich City’s community foundation has actively committed to involvement in positive youth activities in areas where gang hierarchies and violence are escalating. Similar opportunities exist in Ipswich.
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Learn from other clubs whose Community Trusts/Foundations include Youth Social Action provision. Community engagement has consisted of stand-alone schemes in recent years: it needs to be built into the structure of the club
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ITFC players have always got involved with hospital visits, charity events etc (it should be noted that this mostly continued throughout the Evans era) - participation in these activities should be set as a standard expectation for new signings
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Under Marcus Evans, sponsorship and public support did diversify into social and charitable elements such as the East Anglian Children’s Hospice. It would be good to see this continue and perhaps extended to U23 and other youth teams.
Club culture and communication
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A commitment to pay a real living wage to all employees.
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Openness and transparency over where all aspects of the club are registered for tax purposes, and follow the principles of https://fairtaxmark.net/
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Honest and regular communication which treats supporters as intelligent, informed stakeholders
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A commitment to genuine, representative supporter involvement in decision-making at all levels - including the Board
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A strategy to grow back the fan base - with supporters involved in developing it
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Increased use of local businesses in catering and hospitality provision, to support those businesses’ recovery from the pandemic
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Consider sponsorships and partnerships not just from commercial but from socially active and ethically responsible angles
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Improvement in the standard of catering and service at Portman Road: respect supporters by providing a high standard
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High standards of maintenance and professionalism around the club and the ground - the pitch, the stands, the IT
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Creation of apprenticeships in all areas of the club, and a commitment to guaranteed interviews for care leavers and disabled applicants who meet essential criteria
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An explicit and active commitment to creating a culture of inclusion throughout the club, matched by active and incremental steps to diversity as well as extend the fan base: make sure that Portman Road is a truly welcoming place for all, regardless of sex, gender identity, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or faith.
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