Dear Marcus,
Although I have been on occasions rather critical of the way you do things, this time around I am in complete agreement and believe that continuity is the only way forward for this wonderful football club with its proud history.
Almost four years ago you outlined your mission statement, and for the most part, you have realised most of your objectives. There is little doubt that you have provided the club with a significant financial commitment in the most troubling of times, and this endeavour has become particularly taxing, as a direct consequence of this dreaded pandemic.
You have continued to support the academy as well, and we are now starting to see the fruits of your labour. You also outlined your desire to see the team playing entertaining football. Prior to a spate of serious injuries to key squad members, this was beginning to happen as well.
Nobody could have prepared us for Covid-19 and the counterproductive way it has impacted on the sport we love. A long break at the end of last season, followed by a condensed set of fixtures at the start of the new one, has clearly influenced the extreme injury crisis we currently face.
The fourth aspect of your five-point plan is the one that binds those set of objectives together and that is to maintain a stable management and coaching team. It was no coincidence I think that you gave Paul Lambert a five-year contract extension and I am still of the view that it was the right thing to do. Continuity is key, and the only way you can achieve consistency is by adhering to this basic principle. Chopping and changing defeats the whole purpose of the exercise, and so you are absolutely right in my view to avoid pressing the panic button unduly.
And I think the most persuasive argument for maintaining the status quo is to look at the achievements of the great Sir Bobby Robson! I remember only too well how supporters were baying for blood when he was struggling but this is conveniently forgotten now. Sometimes in football, as in life itself, one must refrain from listening to the noise of discontent and concentrate instead on one’s primary goal, and that is to build a team for the future.
Rome was not built in a day and nor was Ipswich Town football club. Some supporters are impatient for success and this is perfectly understandable. It has been a long time since the glory days, and the process of rebuilding means that the journey continues to be a long one. That said, we are still heading in the right direction – albeit painfully slowly.
Yours Sincerely,
Frank Weston ( A Town supporter for more than half a century.)
Some will say you are skimming over the surface of our current problems, but I do tend to agree with you in that it is not just about losing the manager but all the backroom staff too.
And this is what I was attempting to point out to Ken. We do not just lose a manager but also all his backroom staff too.
with so many injuries a whole team i think any manager would find it very hard this has been going on for several seasons a lot get injured in training i think it wants looking at ? we are still in a good place in div 1 there is a long way to go and if they can get half of the injured players back you will see a lot of improvement the one thing i find is strange is the five year contract to the manager there are not many i can think of that get this ken lucas
Hi Ken Lucas, and I think the reason Paul Lambert was given a five-year contract extension, was in order to maintain a stable management team. Remember, if Lambert goes they probably all go.
Have you lot now come to your senses, so we are now in Feb and the team is in dire straits. When are you going to realise to board and manager must be sacked immediately.
I am so glad that the players have no fans in the ground at the moment, this will give them experience of what is to come when supporters are allowed back.
People will not waste their money on a poor poor league one side.