Stage Three

With rumours once again circulating regarding Alan Lees future at Ipswich, it is perhaps an indication that the club will now need to show a new ruthlessness in the transfer market to improve the side.

The Jim Magilton Ipswich team has developed in stages. The first was something of a patch and mend job, involving immediate movement of expendable players who could generate income, such as Forster, Westlake and Parkin, and bringing in bodies on loan to bridge short term gaps in the squad, such as Macken, Noble and Walton.

The second phase involved bringing in players at affordable value who could be developed as long-term investments. Thus, Wright, Counago, Miller, Walters and Alexander were brought to the club. At the same time, other players who had proven harder to move on were gradually phased out, such as Richards and Currie.

Which brings us to Stage Three. The only way to further improve the side, is to make big changes to key areas of the side. In the past, finances have dictated that this approach has not really been possible. In order to replace and improve on an Alan Lee or a Jason DeVos, we have needed money that just hasnt been available. To replace these players, the first plan of action would have been to hope for an attractive offer for the player in question, which in turn would then provide the finance to go out and buy the replacement that was needed. There appeared to be some evidence over the summer that the amount we could afford to stretch to for Francis Jeffers was directly related to how much Hull were prepared to pay for Alan Lee first.

Now, thanks to Marcus Evans investment, thats no longer the case. We can afford to pay the transfer fees in our own right. We can afford to carry the player we no longer need until such time as we are able to offload him. No player can feel safe in the knowledge that they are a first choice unless they agree to leave.

This transfer window may be unlike any other Ipswich Town have been involved in.