LEGENDARY former Ipswich Town chairman John Cobbold would be ashamed at the growing calls for Paul Jewell to be sacked as manager.

That’s the opinion of passionate club stalwart Pat Godbold, someone who was party to many a board discussion during her incredible 50-year spell as manager’s secretary.

Current owner Marcus Evans has already sacked two managers – Jim Magilton and Roy Keane – during his four years at the club, with Jewell now coming under increasing pressure following a run of seven straight defeats.

By contrast, there were just nine managers at the club during the whole of Pat’s lengthy time there – ranging from Scott Duncan when she took over in 1954, through the halcyon days of Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson, to George Burley when she retired.

“I just feel so cross when I hear people saying that the manager should be sacked,” said Pat, who still works as an archivist for the club on a part-time basis.

“Mr John (Cobbold) always said that a manager needs at least two years to find his feet.

“Look what happened to Mr R (Sir Bobby Robson). I can remember when we played Manchester United in 1971 – George Best practically beat us on his own that day in a 3-1 home defeat and the fans were chanting ‘Robson out! Robson out!

“The next day he was called in and feared the worst, but Mr John apologised for the behaviour of the fans offered him a contract extension.”

The rest, as they say, is history – with Robson putting four mediocre campaigns behind him by going on to secure FA and UEFA Cup glory over the following nine seasons.

Pat added: “George Burley didn’t have the best of starts either after coming in at a difficult time, but he turned it around too and took us back to the Premier League and Europe.

“Supporters are entitled to their opinions, but I believe that Mr Jewell will get us back to winning ways.”