When the Marcus Evans Group acquired 87.5% of Ipswich Town Football Club in January 2008 the club lost its “family run” tag. It is now big business and financed by the Marcus Evans Group. Quite rightly it has to be run like a business and consequently some staff were made redundant especially in the Academy. Gone are the days when nearly 3000 of us invested our hard earned cash to support the share issue in 2004 which made us feel as though we were part of the club we love. The shares of course have no value now. What I find hard to get my head round is why I still get phone calls from a Huddersfield based number working for the Academy looking for my support. I now have raffle tickets received through the post for a Grand Draw, the profits of which go towards supporting youth development at ITFC. I am a great believer in youth development and have been pleased to give my support in the past but surely if the Marcus Evans Group own the club then they should be supporting the Academy. After all if a youngster makes the grade he will be sold on in order to balance the books. Thats business.