Town chief executive Simon Clegg has dismissed weekend speculation that Harry Redknapp was set to take over as manager of the Blues as “laughable”. Clegg says he is confident that current boss Paul Jewell can turn things around despite the disappointing start which sees Town in 23rd in the Championship.

Reports prior to kick-off on Saturday claimed that some bookmakers had suspended betting on Redknapp joining the Blues, although at least one of those cited was still offering odds of 20-1 at the time.

Clegg, speaking in a lengthy interview with Ipswich Player, says that there is nothing in claims that Redknapp — or any other boss — has been talked to about the Town job: “I can absolutely assure you that there have been no conversations with any other managers. The stuff about Harry is laughable really.

“People put two and two together and made about 27. Harry went out [to the Sir Bobby Robson Classic golf tournament in Portugal in the summer] as part of the Ipswich Town team. He’s done that in previous years. It’s not something we’ve made a big shout about, but all of a sudden people see Marcus and Harry together.

“Marcus and Harry have known each other for a number of years and it’s well known that he is one of the many people that Marcus consults with from the football family when making decisions.”

The chief executive says he is confident that Jewell can get the Blues moving in the right direction: “No doubts at all [that Paul is the man for the job].

“He’s the manager and it’s business as usual. We’re desperately trying to turn this situation around. Paul’s more conscious than most people in terms of what needs to happen.

“He’s a man who puts huge pressure on himself and I’m confident that we are going to turn this season around.”

However, he admits that if things don’t improve, a change would eventually be made: “We live in a dynamic and very fluid environment and of course there’s a tipping point.

“There’s a tipping point that comes with every manager but I’m not going to tell you when that tipping point is because it will depend on a number of factors which have to be taken into account as we go down this particular road.

“I continue to have every confidence in Paul and his ability to turn things around, and I hope that he will do.”

Photo: Action Images

naa added 16:34 - Sep 25 It's sad how any comment that tries to be realistic, say by pointing out the financial restrictions the club has - which in turn will obviously affect what Jewell is able to achieve is down-voted. Realism clearly has no place in a football fan's repertoire. Personally, I think that Jewell has been hamstrung by the financial rules but is also failing to get the best out of a squad that, on paper, is definitely good enough for upper mid-table. I also think that if things don't improve he'll get until the end of November. I'm not sure what's wrong this year, we really aren't playing as badly as some on here would have you believe, but clearly we can't score for toffee and are still susceptible to simple goals (as has been the case for years). I don't think that changing the personnel will fix this, as the personnel have been changed many times in the last few years, so we need Jewell to work out his best team (personally, I'd put Hyam in, as would many others) and fast. As for Clegg's comments - he's in a no-win situation as he's been asked about it and he can't go round saying Jewell is off but similarly, it's all just false platitudes too, and is very similar to what we heard about Keane. Still, ME needs to look at the club and work out why we were so successful on tiny budgets and kept our managers for many years before he arrived and why it has all gone wrong since. He appears to be the catalyst for failure.

0

naa added 16:34 - Sep 25 It's sad how any comment that tries to be realistic, say by pointing out the financial restrictions the club has - which in turn will obviously affect what Jewell is able to achieve is down-voted. Realism clearly has no place in a football fan's repertoire. Personally, I think that Jewell has been hamstrung by the financial rules but is also failing to get the best out of a squad that, on paper, is definitely good enough for upper mid-table. I also think that if things don't improve he'll get until the end of November. I'm not sure what's wrong this year, we really aren't playing as badly as some on here would have you believe, but clearly we can't score for toffee and are still susceptible to simple goals (as has been the case for years). I don't think that changing the personnel will fix this, as the personnel have been changed many times in the last few years, so we need Jewell to work out his best team (personally, I'd put Hyam in, as would many others) and fast. As for Clegg's comments - he's in a no-win situation as he's been asked about it and he can't go round saying Jewell is off but similarly, it's all just false platitudes too, and is very similar to what we heard about Keane. Still, ME needs to look at the club and work out why we were so successful on tiny budgets and kept our managers for many years before he arrived and why it has all gone wrong since. He appears to be the catalyst for failure.

0

Gazelle added 16:39 - Sep 25 Never in the field of human conflict have so many experts posted their views on the same site. Perfectly entitled to do so but lets wait until we've played 15-20 games shall we.
0

Lukeybluey added 16:39 - Sep 25 I feel sorry for Jewell. Has his hand's tied. I think we seriously need a middle man in between Jewell and clegg, because lets face cleggs going nowhere. But we need a footballing brain to liase with Jewell about everything football, especially from transfer's and scouting player's. I really don't know why we havent gone for any of the highly rated players from overseas? All other championship team's seem to sign them! why are we different? Just seem to sign ex premiership freebie's or premiership reserves! That's what frustrates me most about this club! Never seem to take a chance on a player. Plus Portman road need's more atomosphere. I've had 1st hand experience at being an away supporter at PR when we played Millwall a couple of years ago (mates other half knows Scott Barron, she got tickets, didnt tell me we'd be sitting in the away section. I was S*iting myself!) And it was literally like sitting in a library. No team would fear coming here! I thought the band on the opening day improved that! Club need's an overhaul on all aspects i think. It's just become stale. Just my opinion.

0

sw20tractor added 16:40 - Sep 25 Clegg your a joke. As much football knowledge as Evans and Jewell. Better off without the lot of you muppets
0

righty added 16:40 - Sep 25 Gazzelle we will be relegated by then act now sack Clegg and Jewell
0

Kesgraveblue57 added 16:40 - Sep 25 The chief executive says he is confident that Jewell can get the Blues moving in the right direction: “No doubts at all [that Paul is the man for the job].We must hold him to his statement, He also believes that pigs can fly
0

wellhungphil added 16:43 - Sep 25 Mr Clegg, why don't you keep your mouth shut until you have something intelligent to say?
0

Legend added 16:43 - Sep 25 What is Laughable at the moment YOU! and our sorry state of a club! Us fans have a 'tipping point' too Mr Clegg and Mr Evans, And let me tell you that our tipping point is very very very close!! What utter tosh that bloke talks! He would be good in politics!
0

saffronblue added 16:48 - Sep 25 ME owns the club and has clearly decided to stop funding additional players. I appreciate that PJ is the manager but clearly with the financial restrictions he and Clegg are working under it has not been possible to bring in the players he feels we need. Saturday apart the team has been playing ok but has not been able to score despite creating many chances, which always gives the oposition a chance. Will probably get ridiculed by I think we will turn it round. It could be worse, look at Peterborough.

0

Ipstones added 16:49 - Sep 25 Rhymes with clucking bell!!!
0

Woodbridgian added 16:54 - Sep 25 Interesting the use of the words "of course there's a tipping point" I might be wrong but i think exactly the same phrase used just before Keane went!
0

nitroblue1970 added 16:56 - Sep 25 so thats it then..we are f***ed...mid table mediocrity at best.....relegated at worst and thats Ok is it? This once fine and great club is reduced to a shocking laughing stock. Now we all know how the budgies felt a few years ago...but unlike them (and it hurts me to say it) we do not have any kind of plan, management structure or know how to do anything but spiral downwards....I repeat..we are F**Ked

0

Skip73 added 16:56 - Sep 25 What an absolute waste of space this moron is. He has absolutely no idea what he's doing. CLEGG AND JEWELL OUT!!!
0

mark1969 added 16:59 - Sep 25 Did Clegg work yesterday ? Is he watching the matches ? We are the team mainly in blue ! 24 Hours to make a comment must have been a negiotiation involved . No that would have taken all week ! I feel sorry for Jewell he just cannot win here he has to deal with Clegg who has made him tactically naive !! I will keep taking the tablets and pray for my team .
0

backwiththeboysagain added 16:59 - Sep 25 Clegg the clueless. He must be the only one confident that PJ can turn it around. This ship is sinking with Clegg and PJ at the helm. I find ITFC depressing at the moment, not laughable.
0

gibbo added 17:01 - Sep 25 Another reason to put my earlier comment of I will not be paying to watch Ipswich until Jewell has gone, I know I will get minus marks but it's my money so I will spend it how I like. I earn £120 a month and to spend nearly half of that in one week to watch town is the joke.
0

Blue041273 added 17:01 - Sep 25 Whether or not it's PJ's fault or not, or whether he has been hamstrung in his transfer dealings, or whether the interference from ME and/or SC has contributed to the mess we're in, the undeniable truth is that PJ cannot now turn things around. He simply cannot get the players to perform. The key fact is that we have lost 5 games already and while he can justifiably claim that we should not have lost at least some of those games, the fact remains we did, the last two at home. Coming as it does at the start of the season when theoretically firing on all cylinders does not inspire confidence for the future. if PJ is truly the guy to take us forward why has he not been offered an extension to his contract which runs out at the end of the season? That in itself is a cause of uncertainty which is helping to stoke the fires of this mess. Positive action is required one way or another not endless prevarication.

0

Bluetone added 17:02 - Sep 25 "[Jewell]'s a man who puts huge pressure on himself" aye and he puts even more stress and pressure on the Town's supporters.
0

StanwayBlue added 17:11 - Sep 25 Did PJ miss all those chances at Boro and against Wolves?? Fom where I was sitting it looked like the players did. Did PJ give the ball away in midfield that led to goals being conceeded? I thought it was the players. Did PJ make stupid mistakes at the back? I thought the players did. Did PJ fail to close the deals we hoped for? I thought Cleggy did. I also suspect some players were just greedy. Most of the players responsible for the above have been spoken of on this site in positive terms in the past few months. I too am concerned and wonder if PJ will turn it around but this constant suggestion he is solely to blame is getting tedious.

0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 17:12 - Sep 25 Lots of very wise people on here who seem to know all the internal working relationships at ITFC..............or maybe lots of people full of hot air. Some sensible comments too though, naa and floridaboy dont be put off by the down arrows, there is an old saying " empty vessels make the most noise". If the problem with us not signing so many players is indeed that we have already implemented a reduced wage structure then the club could help themselves by coming out and saying so. Most sensible supporters would back this.

0

Legend added 17:12 - Sep 25 If Jewell did his job right in the first place then he wouldnt put huge pressure on himself!! Seriously what the f**k is going on with our club? we are scrapping around for cast off over the hill free players and currently sitting in a relegation position! Anf they have the cheek to say to us fans progress?? Well mr Clegg if we have yet another rubbish season you will be lucky to get 10k season tickets next time. Do not take us fans for fools!

0

JustSpivvyChops added 17:16 - Sep 25 I agree with Clegg on the laughable bit.......it's laughable to think that Harry would accept a managerial position in a club run by a couple of monkey's that won't give the manager any money to spend and couldn't negotiate their way out of a paper bag. I've said before that we'd do better without Evans' money and the wage bill proves it................I can barely believe that we have the same wage bill that was present under Joe Royle! Pay peanuts, you get Monkey's, simple as that. Just goes to show you how little Evans actually does for ITFC (other than sucking out big interest payments off the £32million debt now owed to the Marcus Evans Group of course). Evans OUT Clegg OUT

0

blues1 added 17:18 - Sep 25 oh dear, the usual daft comments from people on here about clegg not completing deals, etc. course he cant, he only completed 14 deals last season, and 7 so far this year(with loans). but guess they dont count as all you're interested in is slagging him off. just like this statement, which would pretty much have been worked out with m.e. beforehand. and if you read between the lines im guessing that pj not got long to turn it round, & unless we were to win the next 2 games i would expect him to be gone before the cardiff game. or am i just hoping? and before anyone thinks im blind to any shortcomings clegg may have, no ,i dont think hes the best coe we've ever had but at the end of the day he is basically m.e's mouthpiece. so most of what he does is on instructions from the owner. as for yet again someone suggesting that m.e. should go, please guys remember, this guy saved our club from a much worse fate than lge1. and if he was to just walk away, there'd be no itfc. so be careful what you wish for.

0

Urchin added 17:20 - Sep 25 Sorry, but whats else is he going to say ?? He's going to back the manager and that's the only correct stance he can take. If I was a manager I would expect the CEO to publically support me even if he gave me an absolute bollicking in private. He's not going to cast him like a lamb to the slaughter for our benefit and neither is he going to publically announce that ME hasn't given him the funds. Like him or not, he's a stuck in the middle. PJ is sort of in the same situation though further down the chain. Although now I think he should go, I have some sympathy for him I bet he's made moves to sign many of the players that we would like to see but hasn't had the financial backing to make it happen.

0

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls