Ipswich Town owner Marcus Evans has apologised to the club's fans after relegation from the Championship was confirmed with Saturday's 1-1 draw with Birmingham at Portman Road.

It has been a shocking season for Ipswich, who have won just four of their 42 league games this season, with the sacking of Paul Hurst and replacement by Paul Lambert just 14 games into the season doing little to change the club's fortunes.

In a statement released on Ipswich's official website following confirmation of League One football next season, Evans apologised to the supporters for the club's position, taking responsibility for mistakes that were made when the club "tried something different at the start of the season."

 

Evans, who took over the club in 2007, added that manager Paul Lambert and the majority of the current squad would make up the core of the team competing to return to the Championship next season.

The owner also outlined plans to bring through current younger players at the club for the long term, adding he would rather give them the pathway into first team football, claiming: "Whilst there is a place for one or two loans and players who can bring vital experience in the latter stages of their careers, the majority of the squad need to be younger players who will be improving week by week."

The 55-year-old also spoke about his own involvement with the club, adding: "I have become much more hands-on at the Club since the turn of the year and that will continue."

Despite Evans' comments, many Ipswich fans seemed unconvinced by what the club's owner has said as they took to Twitter to respond to the statement.

Here are some of the best of those reactions...