After struggling to live up to that billing during the early part of the Championship campaign, Town have steadily forced their way into the promotion race.

A quick visit to a UK online casino for football fans reveals backing the Blues for a quick return to the top flight is a bet that may be difficult to ignore.

The associated sportsbook to the casino rates Ipswich as 1.90 shots to win promotion, which covers the automatic places or via the play-offs.

Given the recent comments made by Town’s majority shareholder Ed Schwartz, those odds potentially represent excellent value heading into the second half of the season.

Ipswich ready to back Kieran McKenna

At the recent Fans’ Forum, Schwartz confirmed that he engages in regular dialogue with chairman and CEO Mark Ashton and chief operating officer Luke Werhun.

Those discussions largely relate to supporting manager Kieran McKenna to ensure that the club can achieve its aims on the pitch.

“All I can tell you is this, every transfer window that we’ve had, I probably talked to Mark three or four times a day and ask, ‘Is there anything else we can do?’ And Luke,” he said.

“I know he’s working closely with Kieran on different strategies and I can just assure you that within the rules of Financial Fair Play, there’s always resources to do whatever we need to do to improve the club, but also not upset the balance.

“We don’t always want to do too much because you don’t want to make too many changes and upset the balance.

“So between my comments and constant phone calls to Mark, and I’m sure he and Luke and Kieran and the whole group are going back and forth, the simple answer to the question is yes, there will be sufficient resources to do whatever we need to do in January.“

Evolution rather than revolution is needed

McKenna was well backed during the summer, so wholesale changes are not required when the winter transfer window opens on January 1.

Signing another striker might appear overkill given the options McKenna already has at his disposal, but goals have hardly flowed from the number nines currently in the squad.

George Hirst has scored just six goals this season, while Chuba Akpom has struggled to reproduce the goalscoring form he delivered with Middlesbrough. Ivan Azon has netted only twice since joining on loan from Como.

An experienced midfielder would also be a useful acquisition, particularly if that player boasts Premier League experience.

Ipswich must resist bids for Davis

Full-back Leif Davis is a player coveted by other clubs and, having had a difficult Premier League season, has again been one of the Blues’ top performers since returning to the Championship.

While the summer saw some speculation regarding his future with Nottingham Forest claimed to be keen.

However, Davis insisted he wasn’t looking for a move away - and Town made it clear he wasn’t for sale - and in November the left-back signed a new contract with the Blues.
His recent display in the recent 3-0 victory over Coventry City showed what a key role he has to play for Town this season.

Davis was an assist-machine when Town won promotion from the Championship in 2023/24 and can be a difference-maker for them this time around.

The final word

Ipswich’s thumping victory over Coventry highlighted why many people believe that securing automatic promotion is far from out of the equation.


The players took time to get to grips with life back in the Championship following relegation and major changes to the squad over the summer, but now seem to be heading in the right direction with more than half of the season remaining.