IPSWICH Town's former manager George Burley, sacked with three-and-a-half years of his contract outstanding, has not been paid by the cash-strapped club since the end of December, it has emerged.

By Tony Garnett

IPSWICH Town's former manager George Burley, sacked with three-and-a-half years of his contract outstanding, has not been paid by the cash-strapped club since the end of December, it has emerged.

Speaking out for the first time since administrators were called in at Portman Road on Monday, Burley said he wanted clarify the "conception" among fans he was still receiving a large salary from the club.

He said: "The League Managers' Association is dealing with the matter. I don't want to make a big issue of it or stir things up. I just don't want people to think the club is still paying me."

Burley said he had not received any money since the end of December. If reports of his £20,000-a-week wage are accurate, he will already be owed more than £100,000.

The club opted to go into Company Voluntary Administration on Monday, meaning administrators must now try to come to settlements with its creditors – including the former manager.

A disappointed Burley, who still lives with his family at Holbrook, said: "I am one of the creditors now. It's no great position to be in, but that's the situation.

"I will be treated like the rest of the creditors and will wait to see what the club will offer to pay out.

"There is a conception amongst supporters that Ipswich Town Football Club is still paying me. They are not. They stopped my wages at the end of December.

"I am completely in the dark which is disappointing. When I left I understood that if I took another job at the same salary or more, the club would not pay me another penny. If I took a job and earned less, then the club would pay the difference."

He added: "It should not be forgotten that it was the club who persuaded me into signing a five-year contract. I am not putting pressure on them. My aim is to find another job that would mean my contract would cease to cost the club anything. I am hoping to do this as soon as possible."

Last night club chairman, David Sheepshanks, confirmed the current position regarding his former club manager.

"George Burley was paid in full from the time he left the club until the end of the year. I would not normally disclose anything further, but seeing as he has spoken I should point out that we made him an offer sometime before Christmas to settle his contract.

"This was not accepted. We then made it clear that we were in no position to improve on it, but we have heard no more from Burley.

"Payment was finally terminated with effect from December 31 after which it was intended to continue payment under the terms of any settlement that was reached. He was fully informed of this.

"It was our intention to make the first of these payments at the end of January. It was not a question of deliberately stopping payment but we were unable to pay further money because of our cash-flow limitations. The fact of the matter is that he has now become a creditor.

"Together with the administrators we are working on the plan that will be put to creditors in the CVA document."