Skipper Luke Chambers says he can't wait for the Blues’ disastrous 2018/19 campaign to be over, with Leeds visiting Portman Road for the final game of the season on Sunday, and says he's put his celebratory fist-pumps on hold until Town's form drastically improves.
Writing in his column in Sunday’s programme, Chambers said: "Has the fact that we will be playing in League One next season sunk in yet? No it hasn’t. I’m the leader of the team and I’ll always keep going but I’m being honest again, I can’t wait for the season to be over.
"It’s a disaster what’s happened. Let’s have it right. A disaster - football-wise it is. You can dress it up as much as you like, we’ve been relegated. It flaming hurts and we have to react. Everyone’s position should be questioned. I’m no different.”"
Turning his thoughts to next season, the 33-year-old added: "We will come back for pre-season and I know there will be a lot of optimism about the place.
"I’m sure we will bring in some more players and freshen the squad up for next year. Everyone needs to be ready to hit the ground running.
"We will be one of the biggest teams in the league next season. That will be through history, the size of the club, the fanbase. The goal for us is to bounce back straight away. We want to build a team that can go again.”""
Over his seven years with the Blues Chambers’s fist-pump victory celebration has become a familiar sight, although a rare occurrence during this campaign, however, he says it will be on hold until form takes a significant step in the right direction.
"It’s something the fans took to and ran with,” he reflected. "We won at Bolton and supporters may have being waited for it but that was a ‘thanks for your support’. That was no fist pump celebration. We have to improve drastically here before we see that again.”
Chambers, who recently signed a new two-year deal, paid tribute to the Blues’ support: "It’s the first time I’ve been relegated. I’ve had a couple of years where there has been a threat and in those circumstances you are getting pelters from the fans.
"You have to respond. You don’t get cheered off when you are beaten. We have done here though this season. Don’t get me wrong, the support we’ve had has been brilliant. The fans are the ones - the only ones - who deserve credit this season.
"We should be getting pelters though. We should be going to them with our tails between our legs. We should be expecting some expletives coming in our direction.”"