What is happening now is what the vast majority of fans wanted and the club desperately needed... a complete reset from the ground up.

The additions being made to the squad seem to be decent acquisitions who Paul Cook has identified as being able to play the system he wants to employ to get us back to winning ways and out of this league. I, like others, know little or nothing about these players or their abilities, but I am very hopeful, given that we have been told the whole process utilises stats and data to identify the right candidates.

The negativity that had saturated every corner of the pitch and the curse that had pervaded throughout the club and the team for most of the last 14 years simply HAD to be exorcised and laid to rest. The haunting spectre of abject mediocrity and failure, Marcus Evans, whose shadow had cast a thick, dismal gloom over Ipswich Town Football Club, had to go, along with most of the faltering playing staff.

Under Evans tenure, Paul Hurst was employed as the cheapest option and was tasked with overhauling the squad on a meaningless, bound-to-fail, shoestring budget, getting rid of players who had been decent servants the season before for mere peanuts, in favour of below-par, bargain-basement cannon fodder like Jackson and Nolan... it was bound to end in disaster with Evans at the helm.

This club sorely needed an injection of cash, new owners with some drive and ambition, a new team full of new talent who have the tools to win football matches and a REAL plan of action to get us where we want to be... promoted out of League One!

There's no magic wand to be waved to transport us back to The Championship and the process may take time to bear fruit but we simply HAD to have these wheels set in motion to stand any chance of moving forward. We need to give the club our fullest and unwavering support in their efforts to achieve these goals.

That's why it saddens me when I read the negative comments posted by some of our so-called supporters, who whinge and whine at every decision the club is having to make.

I'll agree, in recent times, as supporters of this wonderful club, all we've had to look forward to has been inept, directionless hoofball, culminating in the dreadful, on-pitch surrender we witnessed week after week, with the inevitable threat of relegation looming large.

But somehow, this time around, with the whole structure of the club having been revamped and with a more positive vibe circulating throughout the majority of the fanbase, it feels much more meaningful and manageable. It really feels like there are exciting times ahead for this club once more.

So to all you nay-sayers and armchair trolls who are happy to decry the rebuild and moan at every new signing, I say this... embrace the changes, roar on the New Blues from the terraces and hopefully, it won't be too long until all our dreams are realised!

COYB

We were relegated from the Championship with a poor one paced team. In Division one the team had limited additions or improvements. The two decent permanent additions spent most of the time injured. Is it a wonder that we struggled to make headway in a fairly physical league. Paul Cook is easily the best man to take us forward. He had no option to clear the decks & build his own team. For those older enough to remember this is what Alf, Mcgarry & Bobby did in the long distant past

Like others I know nothing apart from what I can read bout some of our new players.
What I am liking is that we are getting business done early. This will at least give the players time to gel and Cook time to look at them as a unit.
Nothing worse in my opinion than trying to bring in 5 players in August in the hope they will fit into & form a team.
I hope that we bring in at least a couple more, a seasoned centre half and another striker or left sided midfielder.

I still have hopes for Downes, Wolfy, Dobra, KVY & Norwood & think all of them, with the right players around them, could still star in our league.

Looking forward to the friendlies & the start of a new campaign on August 7th.

This all seems to be shaping up nicely. What we need are good, solid acquisitions for the level at which we're at - which on paper at least is what we seem to be getting. We were never going to attract the really big names just at the moment because of the wage cap. And in L1, we need battlers, not prima donnas. I'm optimistic, but the proof of the pudding will be in August and beyond. COYB!

No one had ever heard of Frans Thyssen or Arnie Murhen ."?.but that went VERY well.

I think the difference with this new era and recruitment strategy is these players are not being identified and sourced via a rumour from their agents or a note in the back of a fag packet…there is scientific data behind each and every one being identified.

ChrisFelix, Totally agree i have been fortunate enough to watch all 3 mentioned build their own teams and as a result all had great success, there is certainly optimism growing at Portman Road and i for one(amongst 1,000's) can't wait for the big kick off.

This cannot be compared in any way, shape or form to the circus that was Hurst. The majority of the departures under that clowns reign stepped up, to be replaced by dross from the league below us at the time. Doesn't take a football genius to predict the result! Yes, there are wholesale changes.....good! Every £10 I spent on every ifollow match last season was depressing, and the cost would have more than covered a season ticket. As far as I'm concerned every departure has been good business, whether for a fee or not. It may not be a magic wand, its likely to take time but for the first time in many closed seasons I feel excitement and optimism.

Firm firmly planted and no arrogant prediction of finishing top two. The signings have been good,but we're not going to frighten anybody. A little pace and presence have been added and some of the many problem areas addressed. Two central defenders still desperately needed as Nsiala and Woolfenden cannot be trusted,though perhaps they'll be shielded better with the new midfielders in place. We're in a better place than we were, but looking at the business done by other clubs in this division a playoff place is by no means a certainty. Whilst some are predicting champions league within 3yrs, I'm predicting heavy defeats at Cheltenham and Bolton. Anything other is a bonus and a building block.

We must be due a bit of luck with injuries during the upcoming season. Hopefully, all the back room changes will help break the cycle. One of the reasons we've been able to offload so many players is that they're no longer in sick bay. I think some of our outgoing players will come good once they get some serious game time under their belts. If the injuries continue this year then the only things left to change would be the main pitch and the training pitch.

Good news. Suspect we still need another six players.

Where are all these overly positive comments coming from? Are you guys all part of the pension fund or something? A league 2 keeper (just like Dai) and an unproven left back both probably on lower salaries than Dai and Ward. If Marcus was still in charge the comments on all these articles would be slating the lack of ambition and continued decline.

I really hope I'm wrong and these new players turn out to be incredible business. And I pray we get at least 1 exciting name through the door. Jordan Graham or Joe Pigott please Brett! Stop being tight!