Midfielder Cole Skuse says Saturday was a “horrible, horrible day”, the Blues’ relegation to League One having finally been confirmed by the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at Portman Road.
As a result, Town will play third tier football next season for the first time since 1956/57.
"It’s a horrible, horrible day,” vice-captain Skuse said after Saturday's game, the Blues' 12th 1-1 draw of the season. "Not just for us as players but everyone involved in the town.
"Some may have seen it coming a few weeks back and it was a huge challenge for us to claw our way out of it, but even so when it actually happens it hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s a very emotional dressing room in there. It’s really tough to take.”
Asked whether the players accept responsibility for Town's disastrous season or whether the blame lie elsewhere, with owner Marcus Evans, Skuse added: "I’m not going to stand here and blame the owner. He doesn't go out on the pitch and run around for 90 minutes.
"We, as players, have to take responsibility, we are accountable so it is no good us coming out and passing the back onto someone else.
"That’s not me as a person, I will stand up and take the huge hit and I’m not going to hide away from the facts or blame other people.”
Quizzed on how the squad will approach the remaining four games of the season, he insisted: "We are not going to down tools just because we have had a tough and emotional day. We are not going to be putting on our flip-flops and go on holiday.
"It is a travesty what has happened but the least we can do for everyone involved is to finish as high as we can and carry on that momentum into next year.
"If we get off to a flyer next season then this place will be rocking. We will be the biggest scalp in the league, everyone will want to come here to beat Ipswich.”
Does he expect experimental line-ups in those final matches? "I’m, not the person to ask. Whatever the manager decides you have to do your best for self-pride and to wear that Ipswich Town shirt. You have to do your best and try your nuts off.”
He added: "It has been an emotional day. We have to hold our heads up and finish as high as we can."
Questioned about his own future, 33-year-old Skuse added: "I have another year and an option for a year after that.
"I want to play as many games as I can, I don't want to sit around making up numbers. I’m in good shape and look after myself.”
Reflecting on what lies ahead in 2019/20, he continued: "We are under no illusions. We are not expecting to go into League One and bounce back at a canter, as much as we would like to."
"We have seen teams that go down they just don’t run away with the league getting 100 points or whatever. It is a gruelling league where you play a lot of games.
"However, we want to get back as soon as possible. We don't want to linger in League One, our self-pride, our desire means we want to get back in the Championship playing against good sides.”
Like manager Paul Lambert and skipper Luke Chambers, Skuse paid tribute to the Town support, who gave the squad a loud and defiant ovation following the final whistle on Saturday.
"I’m not surprised, because they have been like that for weeks and weeks and we thank them," the midfielder, who was previously relegated from the Championship with hometown club Bristol City in 2013/14.
"The changing room, the staff, everyone from the training ground staff, us, everyone thank the fans because you would not get that anywhere else. Elsewhere you would be getting jeered off, things thrown at you, all sorts.
"Deep down we know we deserve that so for the fans to do that, it’s a big thing because you are standing there in front of them knowing how much they are hurting and it is an emotional thing to watch their passion, their desire it’s an emotionally moving thing for players and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.”
He added: "It does hurt. There are grown men crying in the dressing room because they understand the situation and it does make it even more of a wrench when you know you have let so many people down around the town.
"This is a relatively small town and the club is a huge part of the town. My old club, Bristol City, is a big club in a huge city with two clubs, so it hurts more.”
Skuse felt Saturday’s game was typical of Town’s campaign overall: "Draws have hindered our season. We gave the fans something to take with that second half, we have not gone down with a whimper.”
Birmingham midfielder David Davis thought his team would have won if they’d taken their opportunities.
"We have to capitalise on the chances we have," he reflected. "We could have been two or three up by half-time so we need to be more ruthless. They changed their formation and we were slow to react.”
Meanwhile, Town's U23s end their table-topping Professional Development League Two South fixtures with a home game against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm).