THE full text of Marcus Evans' letter to shareholders ahead of the EGM on December 17 has been released.

THE full text of Marcus Evans' letter to shareholders ahead of the EGM on December 17:

Dear Shareholder,

I am writing to you to explain my motivation and rationale behind my proposed investment and ownership of a majority stake in Ipswich Town Football Club. I also wish to explain my vision for how the club should continue to function in the future.

First and foremost, I support the fans' ambition for Ipswich Town to rejoin the Premiership and to go on to further success in top flight football. I am sure that all the fans, including myself, hope this ambition can be achieved in the short to medium-term, recognising the impressive start the team has made this season.

By investing in the club, I want to help by substantially ridding the club of the burden of its external debt and making further funds available to Jim Magilton to strengthen the club.

My philosophy as to how the club should run is simple. I believe that players should play, managers should manage and owners should own. In my view, Jim Magilton is one of the finest young managers in England football and I fully support him, and his staff, to drive the team forward.

As a successful businessman, I have chosen to maintain my absolute anonymity, which allows myself and my family to live normal lives. I hope the shareholders and fans will appreciate that I have no desire to change this in the future.

David Sheepshanks, our chairman, plays a key role as our club's ambassador and has done a great job in some difficult circumstances over the last few years. David has my utmost support and respect and will remain the public face of the football club. The continuation of the current team also allies closely with my desire to maintain the club's values and continue to invest in important areas such as the academy and local community programmes.

I am confident that, with the current personnel and fan base at Ipswich, coupled with a sound financial footing, we can now achieve great things as a football club.

Warm regards and best wishes,

Marcus Evans