WELCOME BACK: Ipswich Town chief executive Simon Clegg welcomes Bryan Klug back to Portman Road
New academy director Bryan Klug says he feels like he has ‘come home’ to Ipswich Town
By Stuart Watson
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
1:24 PM
BRYAN Klug said returning to Ipswich Town was like ‘coming home’ after his appointment as the club’s new academy director was confirmed this morning.
The 51-year-old – who previously spent more than 30 years with the Blues as a player and a coach – started his new job this morning on a rolling contract.
Speaking at Portman Road this morning, he said: “It does feel like I’m coming home. I’ve had a really good two years at Tottenham. At the time it didn’t really feel like a good idea but it was a really good thing for my personal development to go and work with some top, top coaches.
“When I left Ipswich it was one of the only clubs I would have gone to because of their philosophy with their academy. That has been a plus but all the time I was obviously hoping that I would be able to come back and carry on working for this club, as I had done for many, many years.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. The EPPP (Elite Player Performance Programme) presents a lot of challenges because I think it’s geared to a model based on the top Premier League clubs.
“I think here at Ipswich we do things in our own way though and we’ve obviously got to find a way, within the strict guidelines, to carry on what we do here, which is produce top footballers from this area. It’s a big challenge and I’m really, really looking forward to it.”
Town chief executive Simon Clegg sadded: “I’m absolutely delighted that Bryan has accepted the opportunity of coming back to the club into a new role of academy director. I think using that particular title demonstrates the priority we are placing on this position and the academy going forwards.
“Obviously EPPP is having a huge impact on youth development across the whole of England and all clubs in the Football League and the Premier League.
“When Sammy Morgan (former academy manager) decided he was going to move on it was critical that we found someone who we believed had not only the right coaching background but someone who has the other skill sets that are going to be necessary to take the academy forward in the future. I’m delighted that Bryan has come home to Ipswich.”
A host of former Blues players have hailed the appointment today, with both Richard Wright and James Scowcroft calling him ‘the best in the business’,
Former skipper Matt Holland added his wholehearted support for Klug’s return on Twitter, saying: “ITFC have made their best signing of the summer by bringing Bryan Klug back as academy director.”
Ex-keeper Shane Supple, who was in the 2005 FA Youth Cup-winning side during Klug’s last spell in charge at Playford Road, added: “You’re not wrong. Great to see Klugie back.”
Another member of that team, full-back James Krause, who these days is a performance analyst intern back at the academy, was similarly pleased with the appointment, saying: “Bryan Klug back as academy director is great news for the club.”
– Bryan Klug speaks more about his controversial departure from Ipswich Town under Roy Keane and his footballing philosophy for Town’s new-look academy in tomorrow’s EADT and Ipswich Star.
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7 comments
Spartacus, I actually think that the impact of BK returning, will be determined by three factors. 1) Does he have FULL and AUTONOMOUS control of the Academy? 2) Does he have full and AUTONOMOUS control of which players we sign for the academy, and sadly release from the academy? 3) Is Paul Jewell not allowed anywhere near the academy? If the answer to all three is yes, then I actually think that we will see the benefit immediately, Firstly, BK will have made contacts at Spurs, and we will have a chance to loan their promising youngsters as a result. Secondly, it will lift those in the academy, and those who may have recently left it, and maybe have not been treated too well by Jewell, and thirdly, as can be seen from the comments, everyone is pleased to see him back, which gives all of us, as well as the players a lift. IF only we could sign a new CEO, and a new manager, then maybe I could accept that Evans has learned from the errors he has made. Until then, however welcome this return is of BK (very welcome) the fact is that we have signed just one player, and he is unfit until October, and in January we were told that we were not signing people then, although we would be quickly out of the blocks at the end of the season. As the fixtures for next year are out any day, and as we have not been quickly out of the blocks, then the lift given by the return of BK, is not going to last too long. Try and get Nelson and Fuller, and get rid of Ellington asap.
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Kevin Bailey
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Best news for ITFC since ME took control. With CEO Clegg's 'glowing' praise of Bryan's qualities raises the question of why did he sanction his sacking during RK's tenure ?
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Brian Betts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The single best signing the club has made for a few years. It isn't my natural position, but full due regard to ME, Clegg and Jewell for making it happen. It will take a few years for the fruits in this change to show face, but at least we now have a solid base to start that process.
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I am Spartacus
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Now all we need is a manager who knows what he is doing...
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Blue and true since 1962
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Blue Army- Because PJ clearly had no say in who is backroom staff. Perhaps PJ has asked BK to return because of thae youth failure you refer too? Either way more good work from all at PR
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TrueBlue
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Bryan Klug has been the best signing so far this year . Welcome home Bryan
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gary martin
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Would love to be a fly on the wall when our present manager runs his mouth off again about the "failure" of players in the FA Youth Cup to "make it" (as he has done in this very paper) to Mr Klug.....Welcome home you are very much needed and were very much missed.
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bluearmy78
Wednesday, June 13, 2012