Ipswich Town’s managing director Ian Milne insists owner Marcus Evans remains ‘fully committed’ after it emerged that several individuals and businesses are owed money by the football club.

The EADT and Ipswich Star has seen an e-mail sent by the club’s financial director, Mark Andrews, to a current player’s agent asking for more time to pay an invoice which is already more than three months overdue.

It reads: “We are having to readdress our next six months’ cash flow due to being let down by a debtor and are requesting assistance from you in this regard. Given our circumstances would you be prepared to accept the following revised payment terms for your invoices?”

It’s understood that at least six other agents have received the same correspondence, while some small businesses – including match day caterers – have not been paid on time.

Ipswich Town chose not to comment on the specifics regarding how much money was owed and to who when contacted yesterday, with joint managing director Milne issuing the following statement.

It read: “We endeavour to meet the payment terms of the companies and individuals we work with but at times during the year, just like with any business, there are delays in cash flow. This is income coming into us as well as expenditure going out.

“I’d like to reiterate though that the Football Club is on very sound financial footing with the support of the owner, who remains fully committed to seeing Ipswich Town achieve his and the Club’s goal of reaching the Premier League.”

One agent still waiting on payment, who did not wish to be named, said: “We’ve tried to be reasonable and flexible. In our case, it’s a relatively small sum of money in the scheme of things. It won’t make much difference to us going forwards, but there may be some small businesses this could badly affect.

“It’s disappointing because everyone sees Ipswich Town Football Club as a big brand and assumes they can be relied upon to pay their bills on time.”

He added: “If it carries on then people will stop doing business with them. Football agents will start taking their players elsewhere, while players at the club will want to move on too if they think there are going to be financial difficulties moving forwards.”