IPSWICH Town chairman David Sheepshanks was “very, very angry, very embarrassed, and very fed up” over the Michael Anderson affair.But he ruled out stepping down as Portman Road chief.

IPSWICH Town chairman David Sheepshanks was “very, very angry, very embarrassed, and very fed up” over the Michael Anderson affair.

But he ruled out stepping down as Portman Road chief.

And chief executive Derek Bowden insisted that yesterday's controversy surrounding the Essex-based pharmaceuticals magnate would not affect the club's finances.

Mr Sheepshanks said the board still had to decide whether to issue Mr Anderson with shares for 15 per cent of the club, and insisted that the money he had invested had not already been spent.

Mr Bowden said: “We asked him, on more than one occasion whether he had had any previous involvement in football and he said no.”

Mr Sheepshanks added: “We checked him out and his companies and they were all clear. We also checked him out on the internet and Google and nothing showed up.

“Clearly we did not find out everything - that is matter of great regret.

“In fairness to Mr Anderson, the only problem we have is in the declaration he made about his previous involvement in football.”

Mr Bowden said the new investor's money was not crucial in the club's rescheduling its debts.

He said: “We didn't want to accept money from new investors until the debts were sorted out because otherwise it would have just gone to servicing the debt.

“It was only after the rescheduling of the debt, which allowed us to make some money available to the manager for new players, that we were in a position to welcome new investment.”

Mr Sheepshanks added: “We have not spent the money that came from Mr Anderson, it will be a board decision on whether we issue him with the shares.”

And dismissing suggestions that he might consider his position as chairman, Mr Sheepshanks insisted yesterday was just a bad day: “It's Friday the thirteenth so!” he said shrugging his shoulders.

“Until today it had been a very good week. We had eased our debts, signed a new player and got new investment - and things were looking more optimistic on the pitch.

“Let's hope things get back on track against Sheffield United.”