Inside Ipswich’s multi-million pound Premier League plan with ‘non-negotiable changes’ and ‘hell of a lot to do’
IPSWICH TOWN are set to splash out ‘several million pounds’ after earning Premier League promotion.
The Suffolk side were automatically promoted to the top-flight after securing 96 points in a remarkable 90-goal Championship campaign.
It will be the first time in 22 years that the Blues will be in the top tier, after Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Huddersfield, who were relegated to League One.
But Chief executive Mark Ashton said there was “a hell of a lot of work to do” to ensure the club’s facilities met league standards.
He said a planning application for a “big build” at the Playford Road training ground was to be submitted imminently.
It followed Premier League officials visiting the club in January and handing over a list of work that would need to be done if Kieran McKenna’s side were promoted.
Regulations show all top-flight teams need to have installed goal-line technology in order to compete.
They must also facilitate the installation of equipment that would enable the use of video assistant refereeing.
Ashton told BBC Radio Suffolk: “There’s several million pounds worth of works to do.
“That’s going to mean some quite big infrastructure changes at Portman Road over the summer.”
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The 52-year-old said builders had already been on site at Playford Road to plan the impending improvements.
He added: It’s going to see some changes, it’s things we have to do that are non-negotiable from the Premier League.
“Once I’ve had time to breathe, I’ll talk to the fans so they know what’s going on.”
But Ipswich’s promotion will bring millions to the area.
Terry Baxter, who represents local businesses in Ipswich Central Business Improvement District, said the financial and emotional benefits will be “massive”.
He told ITV: “We’re talking about somewhere between £500 and £600 million worth of economic benefit to the area and that’s huge for a town like Ipswich.”
Similarly, Luton Town had to plunge out similar amounts of cash after they were promoted to the Premier League following last season’s play-off final victory over Coventry.
The Hatters were forced into splashing out £10m on a new stand to meet the league’s broadcast requirements at Kenilworth Road.
Much was made of their historic home – particularly the away end that requires fans to walk over local residents’ back gardens.
However, Ipswich will likely not have to fork out as much, given that their tier structures do meet the standards, after the Sir Alf Ramsey was rebuilt in 2001, and Sir Bobby Robson stand in 2009.
