It has been a long time coming but the feel-good factor is back in Town! Bryan Klug has worked minor miracles in his short time at the helm and although it is only a temporary position, he has already brought back some much-needed togetherness which has been reflected both on and off the field.
Klug is an Ipswich man through and through and like Gerrard Nash, went into coaching when his short career as an Ipswich Town player was curtailed cruelly through injury. The 0-4 victory at Reading on Saturday spoke volumes of his understanding of the game and the players he had assigned to the task of completing this extraordinary away victory.
A spate of injuries had deprived him of some of his more experienced players but this did not deter him from bringing back Luke Woolfenden from his loan spell at National League side Bromley last Friday to play in this one and make his league bow at just nineteen years of age. Although Woolfenden is primarily a centre-half, he performed well as a fullback and the Ipswich-born player went straight into the starting line up to the delight of many of the thousand-plus travelling faithful. Yet Klug was not finished there and also included in his side 17-year-old Tristan Nydam and 19-year-old Australian striker Ben Folami!
The result, in the end, flattered Town but not the overall performance which was excellent throughout, and with our last game back at Portman Road next Sunday there could be room for more celebrations to end the season on a high!
I certainly hope so for all the long-suffering Town supporters and for Bryan Klug himself. He has already steered the Blues in the right direction in his short term of office and let us hope that whoever does finally take charge, understands what gets supporters excited and motivated to return to their natural home.
The football nightmare that was Ipswich Town football club of recent times has been replaced with rays of hope and the prospects of bright spells ahead, as those dark clouds of depression begin to dissipate at long last to the relief of one and all.
Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich
