Paul Jewell signs autographs for Ipswich Town fans
New signings will need to be players the fans can identify with, says Paul Jewell
By Stuart Watson
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
12:02 PM
IPSWICH Town Football Club has a golden opportunity to reconnect with its supporters.
So says manager Paul Jewell, who believes the financial reality check facing the game could help bring back the ‘community’ feel that many feel has diminished at Portman Road – and across football in general – over recent years.
New financial fair play rules mean clubs will have an increasing duty to balance the books following an era where debt has been common place and numerous clubs, including Ipswich, have gone into administration.
Blues chief executive Simon Clegg recently stressed that, despite the riches that promotion to the Premier League offers, Town will not take financial gambles going forwards.
But while many managers would be frustrated by a tightening of the purse strings, Jewell believes the culture shift could well be a blessing in disguise for the game.
“Football is getting harder and harder and it is almost a reality check,” said the Blues boss. “The finances at our level are only going to get tighter and tighter and I think football has a real opportunity.
“If I’m being honest, football has lost its identity a little bit with the guy in the street. I am not saying players should go to a pub for a game of dominoes because then your photo is on Facebook or whatever, but we need some identity with the people coming through the turnstiles.
“I think supporters can take to Cressie (Aaron Cresswell) because he has come from Tranmere and they can take to Carlos (Edwards) because he has taken a pay cut and gives everything he’s got.
“I think it is about time football clubs do more to identify with fans.
“Sometimes it is not our fault. I want to be able to talk to supporters and I want them to be able to talk to players and have an affinity with them. But they see players in fancy cars who zoom off without signing autographs.
“The Premier League stars are almost untouchable, but we have a really good community club here. We should embrace that. If we get the right new players, with a common cause with our supporters, I think we can go forward.
“It doesn’t mean you are going to win the league, but the club would be moving forward in the right direction and have a feel-good factor.”
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6 comments
Unfortunately as a 61 year old with dodgy knees I can 'identify' with all too many of the players Jewell has brought in in the past.
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Old Timer
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Blimey Steroo you have got a cheek suggesting the CEO is detached from reality.Have you read any of your comments lately?
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Rex Ide
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The type of player Ipswich need is a Herman Herreiderson (Probably spelt it wrong) but any fan knows who I mean. At the moment we don't have anyone to catch, as in when he jumped into the crowd, the one's we've got would probably miss.
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whymarkmariner
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The fans would take to the players and manager if they showed commitment to the club by at least moving to live here. Just swanning in and out for a season or two and picking up a fortune is not the stuff of legends. Young players coming through the system has got be the answer,sooner rather than later, before its too late .
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graham garrod
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
How could the fans feel any more identity to the players than if they were created through our youth system? All this guff from Clegg and Jewell about cutting costs, why aren't we using the most cost efficient route? A top Academy. All players will have had to of been blooded in the first team at some time, given an extended period in the first 11 to gain consistancy etc. Why do we, as a club reliant upon youth progression, accept a manager that is proven to be practically incapable of nurturing and giving opportunities to youth players. Mind boggling...
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I am Spartacus
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I could not agree more. here in the Netherlands, it is easy to make contact with the players. I was at Gronigen a few weeks back and in the supporters bar I spoke with one of the directors, the manager and some of the players and this is AFTER they had lost!
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FRANK WESTON
Wednesday, May 23, 2012