Tony Pulis
Ipswich Town is set to face the upcoming Championship season without their 22-year-old striker, who is on the verge of a £30 million transfer to Chelsea. Despite the loss of a player who netted 12 goals and provided two assists in the top flight last season, former manager Tony Pulis remains optimistic about the club’s prospects. Pulis believes that the strong relationships among the club’s senior figures and a robust pre-season will be crucial for Ipswich Town to bounce back after their relegation.
Tony Pulis said: “I know Mark Ashton and he’s a great lad. He’s backed Kieran McKenna like you wouldn’t believe. They had two promotions from the first division through to the Championship through to the Premier League. They had two really, really good seasons. Mark has really, really backed Kieran and they backed him last year. They spent a hell of a lot of money last year bringing players in. They’ve just made a good return on Liam Delap going to Chelsea, that was a good deal and they’ve made some money on that. Whether they reinvest or not, we’ll have to wait and see. Looking at the team last year, I still think they’ve got enough within the group to be very successful in the Championship next year.”
Tony Pulis continued: “They’ll have their recruitment team working on it. I think the important thing is that they regroup, dust themselves down and make sure they get off to a really good pre-season. They’ll have really, really good crowds and the start is important. If they get off to a good start, they might be favourites to finish top of the league. People think managers just go off and have six weeks on holiday. If you don’t get everything in place for the start of the season, and a lot of it is done during the close season, then you could have a poor start. If you have a poor start you could be out of a job after five or six games so I’m sure McKenna and Ashton have butted heads together and sat down and worked out what they want and what they need. As I’ve said, I’ll be very, very surprised if they don’t have a really good season next year.”
Pulis’s comments underscore the importance of strategic planning and effective management in ensuring a successful season for Ipswich Town. The club’s ability to reinvest the funds from the striker’s transfer could play a pivotal role in strengthening the squad. Additionally, the emphasis on a strong pre-season suggests that the club is focused on building momentum early in the campaign. With the backing of a supportive management team and a passionate fan base, Ipswich Town is poised to make a significant impact in the Championship, potentially positioning themselves as favorites for promotion.
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