IPSWICH Town Independent Supporters Trust have blasted the decision to play reserve team league games on Wednesday afternoons.

Josh Warwick

IPSWICH Town Independent Supporters Trust have blasted the decision to play reserve team league games on Wednesday afternoons.

The club recently announced that second string matches will no longer be played on weekday evenings. Instead, fixtures will kick-off at 2pm on a Wednesday.

The move has angered the supporters' trust, which argues games will be inaccessible to the majority of fans.

Trust treasurer Jane Summerfield claimed the decision had been taken “for cost purposes” and called for a rethink.

She said: “The trust believes that the reserve team is an important part of the club set-up and that moving the games to an inaccessible 2pm timeslot midweek will further distance fans from the players taking part, and hence deny the latter valuable experience performing in front of a reasonable crowd.

“Free attendance at reserve games is also a part of the season ticket package.

“The trust believes that at a time when the financial stability of the club is better established, it is a false economy to put these games out of the reach of many supporters and that both they and the players involved would benefit from making the games more accessible.

“Many fans take immense pleasure from spotting young players coming through the academy and reserve ranks.

“Moreover for those on a budget, particularly young people, it is often their only way of seeing the team live.”

The trust is urging Portman Road bosses to reinstate evening kick-offs at Portman Road and to make the reserve game 'experience' more appealing.

An Ipswich Town spokesman said: “The decision to switch kick-off times for home reserve team games to 2pm brings us in line with the vast majority of other clubs in the league.

“We played only three away games in the evening last season compared to nine in the afternoon. We also played more home games at 2pm than at 7pm, with the early kick-off fitting easier into the schedule of the clubs in the league.

“We are aware that some supporters may miss out on the reserve team games because of the change in kick-off and that was obviously considered when the decision was made but given all the facts we feel that the early start is the most efficient way for us to operate in the reserve team league.”

Should reserve team games take place in the evening? Write to Sports Desk, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starsport@eveningstar.co.uk