Chief executive Simon Clegg has admitted that the Blues’ 15th-place finish was far from where he wanted or expected Town to finish the 2011/12 campaign. Clegg admits that yet another mid-table finish constituted another season of underachievement for the Blues.

The Town chief was amongst a number of Championship figures asked to look back on the season for the programme for the Championship play-off final which saw West Ham beat Blackpool to gain a place in the Premier League. He wouldn’t be drawn on which other sides he felt had failed to live up to expectations but conceded that Town were amongst them: “It would be inappropriate to list other clubs who have underachieved but I’m certainly prepared to admit we have.

“Mid-table is not where we wanted — or expected — to end the season.

"As for next year, our aspirations remain the same. We feel we can be contenders, along with most of the other clubs in the Championship.”

Reflecting on the season’s best Championship performers, Clegg cited Southampton frontman Rickie Lambert and Reading manager Brian McDermott as his player and manager of the campaign: “I will go for Rickie Lambert at Southampton, who was voted Player of the Year by his fellow professionals. He scored twice against us at the start of the season and kept on scoring.

“It’s a results-driven business,” he added, “and Reading finished top of the table after an extraordinary run of form, so I’ll go for Brian McDermott. He lifted the club after losing in last season’s play-off final and deserves all the accolades he gets.”

The Saints’ early season victory at Portman Road was for Clegg the most notable opposition display: “Southampton winning 5-2 at Portman Road in August.

“I can remember speaking to Paul Jewell after the game and he said that Southampton would be in the promotion picture come the end of the season. They were ruthless on the night.”

His most memorable individual performance wasn’t just down to footballing reasons: “Billy Sharp for Doncaster when they won 3-2 at Portman Road.

“He scored one of their goals but it wasn’t just his display, it was more about the occasion as it was only a week after he suffered the tragedy of losing his baby son.

“He was given a terrific ovation by our fans and it made me very proud to be involved with Ipswich Town that day.”

As for the season’s most impressive Championship youngster, Clegg was tempted to pick a Town player: “If I can’t say our own Aaron Cresswell, then I’ll go for Jay Rodriguez at Burnley.

“We were interested in signing him last summer and he showed what we missed out on when we played them in November.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Garv added 21:13 - Jun 9 Oh dear bluey123, is that correct? No.
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bluey123 added 21:30 - Jun 9 Please do not say no say what has been a success please
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BillBlue added 21:33 - Jun 9 Bluey, you are rapidly deteriorating. Nuff said. COYB
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Talbs77 added 21:41 - Jun 9 Blimey what a football genius Clegg is, we underacheived finishing 15th, anyone let alone town fans will tell you this is unacceptable for Town.
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Garv added 21:58 - Jun 9 Really? You're really making me make this comment? "Your wonderful Jewell signings have been a disaster with the exception of Cresswell". Chopra a disaster? Not as prolific as we'd hoped but still scored 14, the best total from a single player for what, 6 years? Well since Bent and Kuqi really. At a relatively cheap price also. Potential to improve. Drury a disaster? Took a while to get going but always looked half decent, and the last few months have shown he can be an effective creative midfielder. Signed for Peanuts. Cresswell, as you say, clearly not a disaster, the opposite in fact. JET a disaster? There is huge potential there. If he's not a player that you like watching and doesn't get you excited, why do you watch Ipswich, or football even? Bullard not a disaster. Don't see how anyone can criticise the signing of him. Good spell when he first came in at the start of the season, bossing games like West Ham and Boro away, then the diamond got found out and his performances rapidly deteriorated. He hasn't started a game since Burnley away in November for goodness sake. Ellington - pretty terrible signing. Probably worth a cheap gamble on a years contract, but not two years. He would have been cheap though, of that I'm in no doubt. Bowyer - not what we'd hoped, but not a disaster. Contributed well at times, couple of important goals, few assists. Looked poor and slow by the end. Right thing to let him go. Ingimarsson - poor signing. So was your statement correct? No.

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walberswick added 22:42 - Jun 9 Clegg: Top of Table for Underachievement
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Duncan added 03:52 - Jun 10 Garv - agree totally
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yorksblue added 07:26 - Jun 10 Evans' appointment of Clegg and Clegg's subsequent performance has been an under achievement. Let's hope the real reasons for his appointment are realized and he F**cks off after the Olympics.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 10:00 - Jun 10 15th is below 'mid' table, PJ has not been offered a contract extension, he hasn't bought a house in the region, IF IF IF we are still cr@p at Xmas he will be out the door
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PauloJulio added 12:43 - Jun 10 Clegg stating the obvious!
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bluey123 added 13:37 - Jun 10 Well I bow to your superior knowledge Garv how nice it must be to be soi clever we will see as I say RUBBISH
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Garv added 13:46 - Jun 10 Do you want to reply to my comment or just keep babbling?
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MintyHalfWit added 19:33 - Jun 10 General Clegg is a div. Anyone who leaves Stowe and joins the Army is a div. All he knows is how to wear a cravat and Hush Puppies and wah wah with other Old Stoic-type divs. He's never done a sensible day's work in his life. Which brings us on to the apology for a manager. Jewell was unemployed for two years officially, but longer really, given his record. He was desperate for a job and he was handed it by the Invisible Man. A right trio of monkeys trying to run ITFC, not an ounce of anything between them. Ugh!

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:56 - Jun 10 underachieved ! well i dont like to say it Cleggy but you are not actually the first to have come to that conclusion, but hey you got there in the end .
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HARRY10 added 21:41 - Jun 10 " Bullard not a disaster. ............ He hasn't started a game since Burnley away in November for goodness sake. " The latter might refute the former
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BlueVelvet added 12:33 - Jun 11 Like Turinblue, I am also intersted to know what Oly(mpics) Clegg is going to do about it and his take on the reasons for the under performance - anyone can make the assessment that ITFC underperformed even the prawn sandwiches brigade, but Oly gets paid large bucks to make decisions - and he's made some duff ones so far
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lincolnshireblue added 21:56 - Jun 11 Spot On Dog, although I would say 85%.
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