It throws the whole "do we want to sell our soul" thing more into focus than ever

The depressing truth seems to be that you just can't get by without an owner with seriously deep pockets... but do you want all the s**t that can accompany that? Ipswich's putative new owner is so reclusive that, well, hardly anyone ever seems to have come across him (and of course, it stinks to high heaven how he's made his cash too).

But for how long will we be able to follow a different path? One gloomy scenario in my head is that, with regulation in this country being a lot more liberal than in Europe, and sterling ever stronger in comparison to the Euro, more and more rich owners take control of not just Prem, but Championship clubs too... meaning we eventually reach a stage where we'll be unable to survive even in this division. And do we STILL entertain not throwing our lot in with an sugardaddy, however morally dubious he might be, even then?

I guess what happens at Portman Road now is likely to decide things. If it goes horribly wrong, Smith and Jones' caution will appear vindicated - but if they leave us behind, and we become Spurs to their Arsenal, the pressure on the club to change will surely get too great. Mind you, even top flight success has its drawbacks: long-term fans get priced out in favour of the prawn sandwich mob. And a West Ham fan I chatted with the other day said honestly, he didn't even want to be in the Champions League one day (which is Magnusson's stated ambition): that just isn't the club he loves, or grew up with.

Posted By: thebigfeller, Nov 1, 08:03:50