It must be a slow news day as TWTD and the Green’Un both are reporting that Simon Clegg has said that if there’s enough demand for tickets, the committment is there to build a new stand where the Cobbold Stand is now. Now, I know I’m going to sound a bit negitive here. After all, Evans again is offering to spend money to improve the club. However, Clegg’s comments really sounded like it was a ‘down the road’ type of statement. Bottom line, more people need to be buying tickets.
Here’s the thing though. When the NASC supporters met with David Sheepshanks on our trip in 2002, the new Greene King had just been built where the Churchmans (RIP) stood and the club was in the process of building the new North Stand. Someone–it might have been me–asked Mr. Sheepshanks about future construction. His response was that the next logical (oldest) stand was the Cobbold and that plans were in place to replace it once there was demand which made it necessary. So really, this news isn’t at all new. If plans have been sitting in a folder somewhere in the executive offices at Portman Road for at least seven years, we aren’t learning anything new. Well, I guess there’s the continued commitment to the club by Marcus Evans.
Here’s the bit which worries me, money. In my lifetime, there have been two projects to build new stands. In the early 80’s we got the Pioneer Stand. We were relegated a couple years later. In 2002, the Greene King stand had just been finished and the new North Stand was going up…..it was our last season in the Premiership.
Now, I have no doubt that Mr. Evans has more than enough money to insure that money used to build the stand will be kept completely separate from money needed to keep a quality team on the pitch. However, I’m a surpporter and I have to worry…right?
Liam Trotter
In other news, after coming through the Ipswich Town Academy, Liam Trotter has been on loan to various clubs the last couple of seasons. Most recently with Scunthorpe. He was was on the pitch at Wembley last week when the Iron won promotion to the Championship. Trotter is out of contract. However, it seems Roy Keane is interested in keeping him at Portman Road. However, it seems Scunthorpe manager, Nigel Atkins also wants him to remain in the mix at Glandford Park.
Having to choose between the two is a lot better than having no choice at all.
There’s also several reports about other players Keane is supposed to be interested in bringing to Suffolk. However, until the transfer window opens, it’s all just reporters trying to sell papers….or at least keep football in the minds of people over the summer. Anyway, that’s it for now.
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