Time To Deliver

Jim Magilton has been very busy bringing in new players and building his own team. Our newest columnist, Mike L, thinks Jim currently has a lot of questions unanswered and, having been provided with finance to bring in the players he wants, now has to deliver.

If certain rumours are to be believed, Jim Magilton may have as little as four months to convince owner Marcus Evans that he is still the right man to lead Ipswich Town Football Club back into the Premiership.

Given the fact that Evans seems so reluctant to speak publicly about his views on the club, many supporters are left in the dark on the issue of just how long the manager has left to get it right. My guess is that it may be a matter of weeks rather than months.

While his backing of Magilton in the transfer market is clearly apparent, rest assured that like any successful businessman Evans will want to see a return on his investment sooner rather than later and that looks a long, long way off at the moment.

Having spent around £6 million pounds in the transfer market in 2008, pre-season optimism has been replaced by calls for the mangers head after just six games of the new season which has yielded a measly three points in the league. Our worst start for five years.

Can Magilton turn it around? Well the rumoured dressing room unrest is the most worringing aspect for me. Since day one Magilton has found it necessary to publicly criticise individuals after some poor performances which gives supporters and players alike the impression that he will blame anyone but himself for Towns poor start to this campaign.

Has he fallen out with the likes of Owen Garven and Alex Bruce and is this having an adverse effect on the rest of the players, further fuelled by the fact that our player of the Year Jon Walters may now be unsettled. Didn't Magilton say in pre-season he would not stand in the way of any of his players fulfilling their dream of playing in the Premiership? Has the money provided by Evans acted as more of a hindrance to Magilton rather than a help?

When all is said and done is Wright much better than Alexander? Is McAuley a natural leader in the mould of De Vos? Is Thatcher the answer to the troubled left back position? Will Balkestein develop into anything more than a fringe player? Did we really need Ivan Campo in preference to much needed balance to the left side of midfield? Will Lisbie score the 20 goals a season that any promotion team needs?

And will the signing of Jonathon Stead appease some of the unrest on the terraces, or will it simply be seen as a last ditch panic buy to fill the void left by the surprising departure of Alan Lee.

So many questions left unanswered as Magilton tries to mould a squad that is now unquestionable his. And just how much time does he have left to rescue a sinking ship? Only Marcus Evans and the board can answer that one.