Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton has warned supporters not to expect significantly changed transfer plans from the club following new financing.
Last week, it was announced that a private equity firm based in the United States had purchased 40% of the Tractor Boys.
Bright Path Sports Partners invested £105 million to acquire a significant stake in the Championship club.
Ipswich has seen a significant increase in value over the last year, making it an appealing investment opportunity.
Kieran McKenna has received a lot of praise for leading the squad back to the Championship, and his side is now targeting back-to-back promotions and a possible return to the Premier League.
Mark Ashton issues transfer warning
Ashton has stated that this new investment will not significantly affect the club’s transfer plans for the forthcoming summer window.
The chief executive emphasized that financial fair play issues will still need to be followed, but the Suffolk club intends to upgrade the first team squad.
“Let’s manage expectations; it’s not just about transfer fees and players,” Ashton told Town TV.
“We will be competitive in that market, but we must follow Financial Fair Play guidelines.
“Every pound that supporters invest in the football club – the more shirts they buy, the more tickets they buy, the more commercial revenue we bring in – provides us more money to spend.
“Where we’re fantastically supported, we have an ownership group that don’t take a single penny or a single dollar out of this football club.
“Every penny that they put into this football club takes us forward.
“This football club will incur cash losses. Why? Because we purchased an extremely under-invested, tired, and run-down football club that required investment to bring it back to life and to a level where it could not only compete in the Championship, but also on and off the pitch.
“The money will be utilized to support the club, but we must manage it in accordance with Financial Fair Play laws, as we always do.
“I believe we are in a healthy state.
“We’ve seen revenues step forward, and I’ve said this recently, but every time we’ve asked this fanbase to step forward, they’ve done it. 22,000 season tickets, 45,000 shirt sales, record commercial sales, hospitality, conference and banqueting.
“The numbers around the football club are growing.
“This is growing the value of the football club, and now we’re supported by new investors added to our already fantastic support from ORG, PSPRS and the Three Lions.
“We’re in a good place.”
Ipswich were the surprise package of the Championship season this year, impressing many with their competitiveness.
The squad is presently third in the table, only one point behind league leaders Leeds United.
Leicester City is likewise one point ahead of second place, but the Foxes have a game in hand on their promotion opponents.
McKenna’s team will return to play on March 29 with a huge away encounter against Blackburn Rovers, the first of their last eight regular-season games.
Fresh investment is exciting for Ipswich
Ashton is being pragmatic and limiting supporters’ expectations that this investment will result in big-name signings.
Using this money to invest in other aspects of the club may be more profitable in the long run, and finances should still be accessible throughout the transfer window.
Summer preparations will begin at this point, but their promotion campaign will involve consideration of life in the Championship and Premier League.
It is an exciting time for new investment to arrive since the club’s potential has reached a level it hasn’t seen in quite some time.
