CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S VIEW V DERBY
Posted on: Sat 31 Oct 2009
It is said that in difficult times people show their true colours. We all recognise that this season our fans have been severely tested but time and time again you have demonstrated unbelievable resilience and just how deep your passion is for this Club.
I can think of no other club in the country where a 13 game run without a victory would result in their team being applauded off the pitch as happened following the last home match against Watford, despite their 94th minute equaliser.
Again last Saturday, 600 faithful Town fans travelled to Plymouth to provide much needed vocal support to the team and I know how deeply disappointed Roy and the players were that they couldn't reward the supporters with more than a point.
That said I know that everyone was delighted to see Jon Stead back to goal scoring form particularly after his two goals in the reserves at Peterborough earlier in the week.
Having attended the last meeting of the Supporters' Forum and recently visited the Haverhill Branch of the official Supporters' Club the message I am receiving is consistent and clear: 'We have a manager and team that you want to believe in but we need to start winning matches'.
Roy and the players are working extremely hard to turn things around and deliver that seemingly elusive first win that both they and the fans crave for. I remain confident that it is within sight and that thereafter we will start to climb the Championship table.
Ahead of us over the next few weeks are both the Supporters' Club and Shareholders AGMs, where I look forward to addressing both groups and answering questions from the floor.
I remain keen to enhance the supporters' matchday experience but I recognise that despite various initiatives the best way to achieve this is by regularly scoring goals and winning matches.
I'm sure that all Town fans will join me in congratulating Connor Wickham for his hat-trick for England in their 4-0 victory over Azerbaijan in the U17 European Championship earlier in the week.
Today's game against Derby County is a big match for both clubs with neither expecting to be in the bottom end of the Championship table after nearly one third of the season.
Once again we will ask for the faith of the supporters to reinforce the belief of the players; if you can do so in the similar vein to that of recent home matches I really believe that you have every right to be handsomely rewarded.
Finally I'd like to welcome our guests from Derby County, their directors, Nigel Clough, players and supporters to Portman Road and offer them our best wishes for an entertaining game of football.
I can think of no other club in the country where a 13 game run without a victory would result in their team being applauded off the pitch as happened following the last home match against Watford, despite their 94th minute equaliser.
Again last Saturday, 600 faithful Town fans travelled to Plymouth to provide much needed vocal support to the team and I know how deeply disappointed Roy and the players were that they couldn't reward the supporters with more than a point.
That said I know that everyone was delighted to see Jon Stead back to goal scoring form particularly after his two goals in the reserves at Peterborough earlier in the week.
Having attended the last meeting of the Supporters' Forum and recently visited the Haverhill Branch of the official Supporters' Club the message I am receiving is consistent and clear: 'We have a manager and team that you want to believe in but we need to start winning matches'.
Roy and the players are working extremely hard to turn things around and deliver that seemingly elusive first win that both they and the fans crave for. I remain confident that it is within sight and that thereafter we will start to climb the Championship table.
Ahead of us over the next few weeks are both the Supporters' Club and Shareholders AGMs, where I look forward to addressing both groups and answering questions from the floor.
I remain keen to enhance the supporters' matchday experience but I recognise that despite various initiatives the best way to achieve this is by regularly scoring goals and winning matches.
I'm sure that all Town fans will join me in congratulating Connor Wickham for his hat-trick for England in their 4-0 victory over Azerbaijan in the U17 European Championship earlier in the week.
Today's game against Derby County is a big match for both clubs with neither expecting to be in the bottom end of the Championship table after nearly one third of the season.
Once again we will ask for the faith of the supporters to reinforce the belief of the players; if you can do so in the similar vein to that of recent home matches I really believe that you have every right to be handsomely rewarded.
Finally I'd like to welcome our guests from Derby County, their directors, Nigel Clough, players and supporters to Portman Road and offer them our best wishes for an entertaining game of football.
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