Back-to-back promotions catapulted the Blues back into the big time for the first time in 22 years. More than £100m in transfer fees were spent in trying to bridge the gap, but Kieran McKenna's men, despite being competitive in the vast majority of games, find themselves 18th in the table with just one win from 15
Addressing shareholders at the PLC AGM on Monday night, little more than 24 hours after a [gut-wrenching 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth](https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/24780025.ipswich-town-1-2-afc-bournemouth-stuart-watsons-verdict/), Ashton said: "Sunday was disappointing, it was frustrating. But that is the Premier League. It’s brutal and we have to deal with it. For us to win a game, we have to be 10 out of 10 every time. Nine, nine-and-a-half just doesn’t get you across the line.
"Are we surprised by anything? Not really. If you ask my honest opinion, I’m really pleased with the performances. In fact, I’m delighted with the performances. A couple more wins and I think we’d all be feeling a little bit different.
“Don’t forget where we’ve come from. We always talk about sticking to the process. My optimism, my determination, my belief in Kieran (McKenna), the players, the staff and this football club doesn’t move move one millimetre.
“On the pitch we are not where we want them to be, but we’re not far away. And do you know what? I learn more now about my team, my players, my staff, my fanbase, my stakeholders in these times. Because the true supporters, the people who really care about this football club, do the one thing that I asked from day one: We stay together.
"We win together, we lose together. We’re happy together and we cry together. I’m so grateful to all of you. Now we’ve got to dig deep and we’ve got to go as one.”
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He continued: "When I joined this football club, our revenues were circa £13 million. We will break through £153 million this year. That is a growth curve that I challenge anyone in world football to match.
“We are not 'little Ipswich', we are not 'sleepy Suffolk'. This rocket ship will not stop. Anyone who knows me, anyone who has worked with me, knows I am not interested in bobbing along. We will move forward with power and pace because if we don’t, that lot up the road will go past us again. Not under my watch!
“This is only the end of the beginning. We have a lot to do. Short-term success is not particularly difficult to achieve. Sustainable success is far more difficult."
Ipswich go to Wolves on Saturday. It's a 19th v 18th clash, with both sides on nine points.