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

h32 added 18:22 - Sep 25 ....... what next suckers ? - an extension to Jewell's contract imminent. Should raise the hopes of some of you - I am sure. The only language this lot will ever understand is to 'vote with the feet' and stop using those 'freshly painted turnstiles' - unfortunately.
0

itfcserbia added 18:31 - Sep 25 ah, where's a Magilton when you need one... seems so long ago now... even i have lost patience with this lot...
0

alfromcol added 18:36 - Sep 25 Good post blues1 Another new manager won't necessarily improve the situation, but like most who have witnessed recent home games I think a change is required. Either a new manager or Chopra et al start doing the job they are paid a lot of money to do - put the ball in the net.
0

itfcserbia added 18:38 - Sep 25 blues1 - well thought comment. my concern though is even if that tipping point is close - who will they appoint as a new manager, because since Magilton - Keane and now Jewell have pretty much disbalanced the squad and payroll, especially Keane...
0

upthewallpaul added 18:46 - Sep 25 blues1 - Kenyon was deputy chief exec before becoming CEO at Utd (i.e. they didn't pluck him from nowhere), before that he was CEO at Umbro, where he would have had numerous dealings with football clubs. Get your facts straight. There are execs which may take to running clubs without experience but usually they have a drive passion for both their club and the game. Clegg has no interest in football and no links to the club. We are a million miles past the tipping point he is talking about and there is no disputing he has alienated a large portion of the fanbase.

0

Marcus added 18:55 - Sep 25 As Captain Edward John Smith Of The Titanic (paraphrase) "we can still turn this around" Clegg: "we are going to turn this [season] around"
0

suffolkpunchdrunk added 18:57 - Sep 25 Somebdy pinch me. Feels like I am in a dreamlike state in the middle of a Carry On film - Carry On Manager. Leave you decide which characters Sid James, Bernard Bresslaw, Charles Hautrey and Kenneth Williams play.
0

Bob7881 added 18:57 - Sep 25 AT LAST Mr Clegg has finally alayed all our fears. Paul Jewell will turn things around and lead our beloved club to the premier league. What was i thinking of, regarding how the team has performed since PJ took over he is the man for the job, i bow to the superior knowledge of Mr Clegg and Evans and apologise for daring to question their judgement. I urge all true Town fans to turn out in force at the next home game and take your seats spend money in the ground as much as you can afford, politely applaud effort when you see it. At the final whistle leave the ground in an orderly fashion maybe pop into the club shop and purchase an item or two. Most importantly DO NOT COMPLAIN.

0

Marcus added 18:58 - Sep 25 The word 'said' is missing from my previous post. I really hope PJ can turn things around but it does seem he's lost both the crowd and the dressing room so it seems unlikely. If someone's going to take over quickly then it's best while there's still time to snap up some players.
0

bluefeast added 19:07 - Sep 25 performance over the last 20 games ,take a look at the number of wins , take a look at player development , take a look at player recruitment ,take a look at the tactics on match days. There is so much wrong is a huge worry that the CEO even begins to paint a picture of supporting the person who is in control of all that is wrong. Its a long journey success , but even longer if all you do is plan to fail.

0

h32 added 19:08 - Sep 25 I said that post Olympics would be acid test time in terms of Evans/Clegg showing their true interest / ambition / future plans, in and for, our Club. I think this has now, well and truly, been made known to anyone with a brain cell.
0

righty added 19:09 - Sep 25 Someone put on here name the players Jewell signed well there are not too many the decent players he has brought in are not coached properly Cresswell prime example poor lad Loach wont come off his line and does not take control of his area. A good example was last Sat when Chambers and Smith got annoyed that there was no communication. And Jewell doesnt want a defensive coach IDIOT get rid now

0

blues1 added 19:11 - Sep 25 ceo. chief executive? the same job, different title. and working for a sportswear company doesnt mean you know anything about sport, let alone a particular sport. and how do you know clegg has no interest in football? have you asked him? no , thought not. just another assumption made by someone not interested in the facts but just for making clegg the scapegoat for everything without any basis for doing so

0

h32 added 19:11 - Sep 25 Bob7881 - ..... or expect to win !
0

Bob7881 added 19:23 - Sep 25 h32 spot on pal spread the message.
0

Ravenblue52 added 19:27 - Sep 25 The only thing that's laughable are the performances of late, I'm getting desperate for a change in fortunes but honestly I don't want us to have to start all over again with a new manager just yet. PJ will turn it around with the team he has and hopefully Barnsley will be that turning point.
0

itfc1981 added 19:29 - Sep 25 Guam thats laughable, mate.
0

petermorris added 19:30 - Sep 25 The Comedian, The Parachutist and the Comb Over Recluse. We're stuffed.
0

ericclacton added 19:31 - Sep 25 A part of Mr Clegg's statement should have read 'people put two and two together and come up with -27 which will be our goal difference in november.' But seriously he is just a businessman, he dosent have the club in his blood or in his soul, it is sad. He just dosent get it, on the other hand i think somthing is going to change quite soon.
0

stevebluey added 19:32 - Sep 25 clegg says redknapp becoming town manager is laughable...that to me is saying ipswich town being ambitious is laughable....so clegg can i have my premiership season ticket price reduced!
0

hairbear added 19:37 - Sep 25 bob7881 but i like to complain! if we were to win all the time i would never have nothing to say. JEWELL OUT!!!!! Id rather have keano back at least he was a man of his word.
0

WashbrookBlue added 19:43 - Sep 25 This man is sooooo arrogant. He has presided as CEO over the worst ever period in living memory, been party to two of the worst ever managerial appointments, alienated supporters with his pompous disrespect and now talks about how "laughable" we are for considering something that Marcus would actually die for if Harry could have lost all sanity and taken the job. It beggars belief and puts him alongside most CEO's in his ability to feel no sense of personal shame or accountability in all this. Clegg, you are an absolute nobody, a glorified communications manager and a not very good one, who just parrots what his master bids him. You have neither the personality or the power to support such disdainful disrespect and the day when you swan off to rejoin your old corporate faceless olympic bureaucrats will also be the day that your contribution to this club will instantly be forgotten.

0

clivewoodsleftpeg added 19:48 - Sep 25 Cleggs just talking the talk, he's hardly going to say that they don't back PJ and if we don't win saturday he gets the chop! we will never know exactly what is being said behind closed doors. I don't particularly care who is manager of Town, whether its Paul Jewell or Jimmy Cranky, as long as they give us something to cheer about now and then and try to play decent football, its been a long time since we had either.

0

l12rdp added 19:50 - Sep 25 florida boy think you really need to remember jewells run to christmas last year we were lucky to survive think it was 14 without a win come on how many years you want to give someone.george burley got 6 games after we got relegated from the prem no one has ever achieved what he did since.
0

soclopath added 19:51 - Sep 25 The club is sinking those at the top are out of their depth the only thing going for us none of our players are divers in the words of phone in Mervyn call for the Lifeboat .Sorry Mt Clegg that won't wash.
0

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls