Ipswich Town accused of ‘PR suicide’ after Nigel Farage visit: ‘Absolute stupidity’ | Football

Ipswich Town fans have voiced their displeasure online after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage staged a photoshoot at the club’s stadium.

Farage appeared at an event in Suffolk on Monday to help launch his party’s local elections campaign in the region.

But the Clacton MP also paid a visit to Portman Road, home of Championship club Ipswich, taking photos pitchside as well as in the club’s dressing room.

Farage shared the photos on X on Tuesday morning, with the caption: ‘I’ve never been too bad on the right wing.’

Along with the photos, Farage posted a further video, where he thanked the club for a ‘lovely welcome’.

Farage said: ‘It’s a big end of the season for Ipswich, they’re really in contention to go back into the Premier League.

‘Let’s hope they do, but if they don’t, I think there’s a chance here – I’ve had a chat with a few people on the manager’s job coming up next season and I’m definitely on the shortlist.

‘The trouble is, there’s only one job I’m really after.’

Reports from the Press Association suggest Portman Road Events, which manages private tours of the stadium, accepted a booking on behalf of Reform, but the full extent of the visit was not disclosed.

The club, which is yet to comment publicly, did not officially extend an invitation to Farage, it is understood.

Despite that, fans of the club have been quick to criticise the access afforded to Farage, with one supporter labelling it ‘PR suicide for a family club’.

Another added: ‘Doesn’t matter where you sit politically, letting any politician use the club to generate publicity is absolute stupidity’.

A third decried the photoshoot as ‘shameful’, adding: ‘How have you allowed this to happen. We used to chant Ipswich lives in racial harmony back in the 70s and 80s when the NF [National Front] were drumming up business at other clubs.’

Ipswich currently sit third in the Championship under Kieran McKenna and are two points off the automatic promotion places.

Metro have approached the club for comment.

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