Chequebook FC Ipswich defend ‘big’ spending
Ipswich Town have defended their transfer policy – having been branded as ‘Chequebook FC’ in some quarters this close-season.
Sunderland’s League One rivalshaveenjoyedabusysummer in the market, bringing in no fewer than ten players as manager Paul Cook drastically overhauls his squad.
ThelikesofScottFraser,Joe Pigott,GeorgeEdmundsonand Conor Chaplin have all joined, andfurthereye-catchingadditions are planned in the coming weeks.
Ipswich, along with Wigan Athletic, are understood to havebeensplashingthecashin the market this summer, with attractive wages, incentives and signing-on fees on offer.
Indeed, some of the spending power in League One this term is greater than that possessed by Championship teams – leading to an interesting dynamic in the transfer market.
But the Tractor Boys have defendedtheirtransferpolicy, andbelieveanycriticismlevied at them may be because some teams are growing worried.
Speaking at a fans’ forum, chief executive Mark Ashton said: "Paul and I were having a chuckle about that.
"I used the phrase ‘player trading’ at the start of this and we've had a lot of players that have gone out, and we think that we've got good value for them.
"What people forget is that we've sold as well as bought. We've cleared a hell of a lot of salary.
"All we're going to do is focus on us. Ipswich Town is our priority.
"If people are talking about us like that then maybe we could be concerning one or two."