IPSWICH Town have assured staff at Portman Road that more redundancies are not on the way despite falling gates and an under-performing side.A drop of around 4,000 for the average home attendance will sound warning bells at the club and, if the team do not pick up and start climbing the table, crowds could drop even further.

By Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town have assured staff at Portman Road that more redundancies are not on the way despite falling gates and an under-performing side.

A drop of around 4,000 for the average home attendance will sound warning bells at the club and, if the team do not pick up and start climbing the table, crowds could drop even further.

There were already concerns among Portman Road staff that jobs could be cut before it was learnt that kit man Paul Elmer had accepted a redundancy package.

But Ipswich Town are adamant that no such plans had been made, although budgets for next season will be discussed in the New Year.

A club spokesman said: “The club has made one redundancy as a result of departmental restructuring.

“We have no plans to make any further redundancies now, in the summer of 2007 or beyond.

“As with any business we constantly review our operations to identify more efficient ways of working.

“I am sure our shareholders and supporters would expect nothing less.”

There is already anger and consternation among many fans that bonuses of more than £100,000 were shared among four directors despite the club losing £2.7m in the last financial year with debts of £33m.

Many of those supporters' views are expected to be aired at tonight's AGM at Portman Road.

Manager Jim Magilton has a war chest available to buy players in the January window. Gary Roberts will be one for around £200,000 from Accrington Stanley.

George O'Callaghan is expected to arrive from Cork City on a free.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk