HOLLY Bellingham insists she is still as devoted and committed to Ipswich Town as ever despite being marginalised by new owner Marcus Evans.

Derek Davis

HOLLY Bellingham insists she is still as devoted and committed to Ipswich Town as ever despite being marginalised by new owner Marcus Evans.

The former director at Portman Road is this Sunday helping to host a charity cricket match between the celebrity side Bunburys CC and Lavenham CC, with former England and Surrey star Mark Ramprakash leading the batting for the Suffolk village side.

Like all the other former directors Bellingham's share value reduced dramatically when Evans purchased 87.5 per cent of the club. She went from being one of the main stakeholders with the maximum 15 per cent, to owning less than 15 per cent of the remaining 12.5 per cent that the new owner has.

By buying shares and purchasing loan notes which were later converted to shares, Bellingham, along with other directors, staved off further financial difficulties for Town until they were able to find a major investor to take over the running of the club.

Although no longer a major decision maker Bellingham accepts the club has to move forward and looks to play her part in other ways.

The chairman of Marketform said: “The club is going through an enormous period of change and is still in is still in a honeymoon period but the future now lies in someone else's hands.

“My husband Simon and I were very pleased to be able to help when I could, but life moves on.

“We are still involved with fund raising for the Community Trust which we are delighted to do and continue to support the club we love.”

Bellingham has also recently accepted an invitation to join the Ipswich Town Supporters Trust, Ipswich 1st but she insists there is no ulterior motive.

She said: “Carl Day, Colin Kriedewolf and Liz Edwards, sweetly asked if I would consider joining and I was pleased to do so.

“I don't think it is as much what I can do for them as what they did for me by inviting me on board and being a friend of the Trust which I felt I should do.”

The charity cricket match, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Laurie Engel Appeal, starts at 10.30am at Lavenham Cricket Club, Rover Court, Lavenham, and all are welcome.