FANS turned out in their hundreds for the official launch of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust (Ipswich Town 1st).The launch meeting was a chance for supporters to gain an insight as to the benefits of a Trust and how it works and to see if they were interested in becoming involved in its running.

By Georgina James

FANS turned out in their hundreds for the official launch of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust (Ipswich Town 1st).

The launch meeting was a chance for supporters to gain an insight as to the benefits of a Trust and how it works and to see if they were interested in becoming involved in its running.

Men and women, young and old, travelled from as far as London and Lowestoft to listen to the aims and objectives set-out by acting chairman Carl Day.

Simon Binns from Supporters Direct, an organisation which offers legal and practical advice to supporters wishing to form a Trust was also present.

He said: "I urge every single Ipswich fan to get involved in the Trust as that's the best way of

helping the club.

"Supporters are the biggest board room in England and you can make a difference."

Anglia Television presenter Stuart Jarrold hosted the meeting at the Novotel Hotel, Ipswich and received a huge cheer when he confirmed his allegiance to Town saying he was "proud to be an Ipswich fan and held the club dear to his heart."

The meeting was a rallying call to Town fans explaining that a Trust can give them a real voice in the decision making of the Club through acquiring shares and voting rights.

Carl Day opened his speech by saying: "One thing that unites us all is a love and passion for Ipswich Town Football Club."

But the acting chairman also warned that just because the club had managed to drag itself out of administration it didn't mean the time bomb had stopped ticking.

"Thankfully our club is now out of administration, but don't be fooled, the road ahead could still be fraught with danger, and this is the time the club needs every supporter to stand by it.

"The misery and depression of administration has given us the chance to change the ownership of the club forever."

He also spoke about the role of the football club within the community and urged individuals, who purchase shares in the club later in the year, to proxy their holding to the Trust, giving those shares real power.

"The lone voices of a fan with the minimum shares will never be heard," he said.

Also present at the launch and throwing his support behind the launch was Ipswich legend Kevin Beattie.

He said: "I'm blue and white through and through. Fans ultimately pay the players' wages and should get involved. Everybody please sign up and get this thing going."