Boss Roy Keane says Town have been handed a tough start to the season, particularly with trips to Middlesbrough and Exeter in the Carling Cup in the opening week. The Blues 2010/11 npower Championship fixtures were announced this morning.

Keane told the club site: "It's going to be a busy first week with plenty of travelling. On paper it's a tough start. Middlesbrough had a disappointing season last year, like ourselves, but their manager [Gordon Strachan] will have his first pre-season and sometimes it takes a club a year to adapt to being in the Championship.

"I expect them to be among the pre-season favourites for promotion, just as Burnley will be. They budgeted well in the Premier League and I don't think they have sold too many players.

"They will probably be able to invest in their squad as well, so they will be among the fancied teams.

"We have also got Crystal Palace early on and they beat us twice last year, so it looks a tough start for us, but we have certainly got to begin better than we did last year."

Boro boss Strachan expects half the division to be chasing the promotion places: "Ipswich will want to go up, like ourselves, as will Leicester and Sheffield United, who we also play early on.

"But there'll be about 12 teams saying the same things and believing they can win promotion."

Meanwhile, the Teessiders are reported to be the favourites to land Charlton midfielder Nicky Bailey, who is also believed to be interesting Town and Norwich City.

Celtic are also claimed to be chasing the former Southend man with his price now claimed to be somewhere around £1.5 million, double the price previously reported.

Elsewhere, central defender Gareth McAuley has helped launch a new £725,000 multi-sports arena in Larne back home in Northern Ireland.

Former boss George Burley has been confirmed as the new manager of Crystal Palace with Dougie Freedman as his assistant.

Photo: Action Images

devontractorboy added 23:27 - Jun 18 I love the optimism on her it's great for the start of a new season, just don't think too hard about last season or in particular our last game......Doooohhh!!
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generalpublic added 01:45 - Jun 19 i am optimistic that keane will get us mid table and we probably will not be relegated cross my fingers
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kentblue added 07:15 - Jun 19 The only tough start is still having Keane as manager. Who wants to play for him ? His reputation goes before him ! Another season of rants and moans from the angry man I guess.
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SurreyITFC added 10:41 - Jun 20 Just got back from a week's holiday, and still I read doom & gloom on this website regarding Keano. Having a read all the posts against this story well done for the True Fans who still support Keane & Ipswich. It is very true that we are THE 12th MAN for the team and they positive support not Negative! Here's to a successful 2010-11 Season! COYB - Keano Keano Keano
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naaridge1coly7 added 17:26 - Jun 20 Pathetic??? Id say thats Keanes perfect description all wrapped up in one word.
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jas0999 added 11:06 - Jun 21 Yet again, far too many negative comments. I really do wonder if some of these people actually support Ipswich. Almost EVERY manager will say 'it's a tough start'. Ferguson has probably said the same about playing Newcastle. People need to get behind the team!
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