Ipswich Town are probably going to be relegated from the Premier League this season. No, it’s not mathematically certain, and even in the worst-case scenario, it won’t be for a few weeks at least. Of course, a couple of results can change everything, but it’s unlikely for the only side in the top five tiers of English football yet to win a league game in 2025.
The Blues have tasted victory in just three of their 29 top-flight games this season. They will need to win more than that in their final nine matches to stand a chance. With the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle United to come, that will be difficult, albeit not impossible.
Barring a huge shift, if Town are relegated this season, it will be alongside Southampton and Leicester City. Southampton are on course to be the worst side in the history of the Premier League and are destined for the drop, with manager Ivan Juric – who was only appointed at the turn of the year – set to depart once their fate is sealed.
Leicester’s appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy has been a disaster so far. Heading into next week’s trip to Manchester City, his side have lost six league games in a row without scoring – a record at the level. Supporters have turned on the board and the financial repercussions of their probable relegation will be severe.
The Blues have won just three of their 29 league gamesThe Blues have won just three of their 29 Premier League games (Image: PA)
There are certain things to be unhappy about at Ipswich. Their form, which everyone thought would improve in the second half of the season, has got worse. Recent performances have been below par. It’s okay to say that the on-pitch stuff hasn’t been good enough this calendar year.
We can obviously rattle off some counterarguments to that. Around two years ago, Ipswich hosted Accrington Stanley in League One. They are now in the most competitive league in the world with a lot of the same players, many of whom have worked tirelessly to make the step up. Fans don't often get to watch players on a journey like this.
Many of their signings are talented youngsters, fitting the recruitment model to a tee. Liam Delap, Omari Hutchinson and Jaden Philogene all scored for England Under-21s in the recent international break. Jack Clarke is starting to show real quality. There was significant interest in Jacob Greaves and Dara O’Shea from established Premier League sides last summer – both have very high ceilings.
If they stay and the club do drop down a division, they will likely be among the top players in the Championship. If they go, everyone would back the club to get the right fees to reinvest and go through the process again. It’s a natural cycle for every club outside of the ‘big six’.
Kieran McKenna is still here. Everyone backs him, and there’s a feeling that – unlike last summer – there won’t be much fanfare around his future. He’ll be desperate to right the wrongs from this season and learn some important lessons. People forget that he’s still a young manager because of his reputation.
The Blues' Premier League spending should not be seen as a negativeTown's net spend should not be seen as a negative - even if they are relegated (Image: PA)
It’s easy to be drawn in when things are going badly. There are plenty of articles that criticise Ipswich’s efforts this season because of the amount that they have spent in the transfer market (c. £150m), failing to acknowledge the extenuating circumstances that they have faced.
After all, everyone was praising their ambition over the summer. On top of that, Town are ensuring that they operate within their means. Don't expect a points deduction for FFP breaches.
Fans of rival clubs, who were very quiet last season, find it much easier to antagonise Town supporters on social media. Blocking out that noise isn’t easy.
It’s also hard not to look towards the 2025/26 campaign, but focusing on the here and now is pivotal. For some, the last few months have been a bit of a chore, and that’s okay. The only advice for that is to enjoy what’s to come between now and the end of the season, whether Ipswich win, lose or draw.
It will still be special to see this team play at Stamford Bridge before hosting title-chasing Arsenal. It will still be special to be the penultimate away team to ever play at Goodison Park. It will even be special playing away at Bournemouth next Wednesday night. Being constantly reminded about ‘perspective’ can be sickeningly repetitive, but much of the novelty of this league hasn’t worn off.
Post-match, regardless of the result and the scoreline, the players and staff always show their appreciation to the fans. It will always be reciprocated, too. I don't think there's any other club in the Premier League who have that.
Unity will be vital in the final nine games of the seasonUnity will be vital in the final nine games of the season (Image: PA)
When a football club is in disarray, unity among the fanbase can only do so much. Leicester and Southampton, who are going through the motions right now, are finding that out the hard way.
Town, however, are not. That’s why there’s no real noise, you don’t hear constant booing or chants of ‘McKenna out’. Fans don’t take to social media to demand that the board resign and the club is sold. That would be ridiculous under the circumstances.
When Town were sliding towards relegation to League One back in 2018/19, there was a core group of supporters that – despite being frustrated and disillusioned – were unified. Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ echoed around Portman Road. ‘Don’t worry about a thing, cause every little thing, is gonna be alright’.
Many fans didn’t really know whether or not it was actually going to be alright back then. For a while, it really wasn’t.
This time, no matter what happens between now and May 25th, we’re all confident that it will be.