Any lingering doubts over whether Ipswich Town were too good for Sky Bet League One were banished within 32 minutes of their final home game of the season. Up 5-0 against Exeter City, they were romping towards the three points needed to secure their first promotion since 2000.
The 6-0 win took Ipswich to 97 points – one of many incredible statistics. They are 18 league games unbeaten and have won 13 of their past 14, scoring 43 and conceding two
For the record, Plymouth Argyle are also promoted and have 98 points, but the table may be deceptive. In the past week, the Exeter manager, Gary Caldwell, labelled Ipswich “by far the best team in the league”, while his Barnsley counterpart, Michael Duff, called them “statistically the best team in League One history”.
These testimonies align with the bold plans outlined by Ed Schwartz, who is a co-founder of ORG, the US investment company behind the Gamechanger 20 consortium that owns Ipswich. There is another promotion to pursue. “We feel very strongly that Ipswich belongs in the Premier League and we’re going to do everything we can to achieve that objective,” Schwartz said.
Ipswich’s 21st-century story is a tale of untapped potential. The Suffolk side, champions of England in 1961-62 under Alf Ramsey and then regulars in Europe under Bobby Robson, have a proud history. They were also in the top flight as recently as 2002, possess a 29,000-seater stadium and are their county’s only professional outfit
The club lost their way under Marcus Evans’s ownership, with the nadir being relegation to League One in 2019. Gamechanger 20 took over in April 2021 and, as well as spending plenty on the squad, the American owners have made smart decisions in the boardroom, particularly the appointment of the ambitious Mark Ashton as chief executive.
Yet perhaps the most significant acquisition was Kieran McKenna, their 36-year-old manager, who became a full-time coach when his playing career ended at 22. Appointed in December 2021 after eight years honing his craft at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, the Northern Irishman has a progressive style predicated on a back three, pressing and high possession.
His stellar first full season may make him an appealing target for other teams in the summer, yet McKenna spoke like a man committed to his employers. “This is a club with a fine heritage at the top tree of English football, and it’s been a clear goal to get it back there,” he said. “There’s no doubt we want to climb back up that pyramid.”
The Exeter rout was a potted demonstration of why Ipswich feel so bullish. Conor Chaplin’s stunning opener displayed the potency that has delivered a league-leading 26 goals this season. George Hirst’s clever interception leading up to Massimo Luongo’s strike was emblematic of the effective pressing system. The brace from Nathan Broadhead, signed from Everton in January, hinted at how the club addressed a dip over the winter with smart transfers. The scoreline was indicative of Ipswich having the most goals (99) in the third tier and letting in the fewest (33). |  |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
