Boss Paul Jewell says there will be plenty of Championship clubs looking to push on and make a more serious promotion challenge next season. Town are just one of a number of sides with Premier League aspirations who have failed to make a significant impact during this campaign.

Jewell said: “This league is full of teams who have got [it in them to push on next season].

“You look at teams that are outside the top six just now, Leicester, ourselves, there are some big teams. Coventry were a Premier League team not so long ago.

“We’re all in the same boat and everyone is probably trying to chase the same players. Now that we’ve had a full season at it, I’m not going to make any false promises, all the promises I’ll make are that I want to get to the Premier League and I feel that Ipswich is a club which can get there. When we’re going to get there is a moot point.”

He admits that this season’s 15th place finish was well below par, although it could have been much worse given the run of seven successive defeats before Christmas: “I think we all hoped to mount a promotion challenge, but if you’d have been at some of our games in November or December you’d have thought we’d have had a good season [to finish in mid-table].

“At the end of the day we’re disappointed but we are where we are. I’ve had a year at the club now, a full season. Last season was difficult because we came in in January, but now we’ve had a full season and we’ve got to improve.”

Photo: Action Images

Mark added 06:10 - May 2 Yep, it's certainly a tough league and it's hard to see how we can realistically go from where we are now to play like Reading and Southampton next season. We couldn't even get near the play-offs when Evans was spending multi-millions, so to do it now when money at the club is tight would be a real achievement. Let's focus on those young hungry players we keep talking about and build success for future seasons.

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Sindre94 added 06:21 - May 2 Hoping the best, but expecting and fearing the worst as always.
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bedsitfc added 06:26 - May 2 the thing is our recent form isnt far from being promotion form, we just need 4 or 5 good signings and we will do it.
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DiamondGezzer added 06:39 - May 2 Then roll on the signings.
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chorltonskylineblue added 07:41 - May 2 "Coventry were a Premier League team not so long ago." Err, Paul, they were relegated in 2001! With them going down we're now the Championship's longest tenants. I wish he'd stop the platitudes and start saying something more positive like the "results haven't been good enough for the amount this club has spent and it's going to get better starting here".
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WorcesterBlue added 08:04 - May 2 Absolutely right Chorlton...he's out of his depth and frankly after a year + of this I've had enough. Where is the enthusiasm and positivity? Where is the plan? Its one somber statement after another, half of them contradictory. It's all very well managing expectations but if I were a player I'd sense that all he's really bothered about is golfing with his mates. LEE CLARK!!!!

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itfc1981 added 08:04 - May 2 Be nice to see a passing game, just because we had to watch Roy's dross doesnt mean we should accept Jewell's slighty better rubbish. Get the ideology in place first as George Burley did in the 90's, then success will follow.
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Karlosfandangal added 08:25 - May 2 Every year I get excited and we buy more players. Jet Chopra Bullard Bowyer and we end up worst than the season before. Just can see how we will be able to match Bolton Wolves Blackburn West Ham Leicester Birmingham Cardiff etc we are one of the poor sides in the Championship and I can see how we will get the players we need with the new wage structure coming in

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roytheboy added 08:30 - May 2 That headline statement sounds like an excuse to fall back on should we not do very well again next season, let's start to be positive Paul and outline the club's plans for the coming season, the Supporters can't feel positive and enthusiastic if we can only sense tones of negativity from within.
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peterleeblue added 08:48 - May 2 The daft thing is we are not that far away from at least challenging the play offs. Yes we finished 15 points away but by sprinkling in say 3 wins during the bad run would have made it an inconsistant run and would have meant that with 4/5 games to we would have been in with a shout. I accept massive improvement should be strived for but surely we can at least maintain a passing interest in the top 6/8 positions a bit longer next season.

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Dissblue added 08:51 - May 2 Name one side that is not looking to be better next year.
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Surco72 added 09:08 - May 2 In fairness no one would have predicted Readings season ,or quite how well the Saints have done at the start ? West Ham ,Leicester ,Brum,Cardiff,Boro,Blackpool were the favourites Over the last few seasons Burnley,Hull,Blackpool,Swansea,Norwich have all gone up due to having good runs and keeping them going .Over the last few months we have competed well with the best in the league with the squad we have ,a few additions especially to the defence and we are one of the teams that could be challenging

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walberswick added 09:28 - May 2 “We're all trying to chase the same players.That's becasue I don't have any imagination. Now that we've had a full season at it, I'm going to have to make any pld excuse. I should be in the Premier League and I feel that Ipswich is just another job to get me there. When we're going to get there is up to ME, the players and the fans.”
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Daleyitfc added 09:49 - May 2 Really? I thought all the other teams in the league would be hoping to finish lower down the table ...
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sonian_blue added 09:52 - May 2 Spot on daleyitfc. Ive heard of getting excuses in early......but this takes the biscuit Jewell Out Now
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Legend added 09:58 - May 2 What an absolute clown! PJ just spouts utter garbage 99% of the time.
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leroy2488 added 10:00 - May 2 It worries me that next season at least, will be like starting all over again with a different group of new players, that no one else really wanted..... Also how well can we do if we stick to a new wage structure that we don't have to for a couple of years, when other teams will work the present system to their advantage until they have to change? How many players will we not get this summer, when to be honest Ipswich obviously don't offer comparably attractive deals already?

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MintyHalfWit added 10:26 - May 2 Wasn't well below par.
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jas0999 added 10:36 - May 2 Big Summer for PJ and ITFC. Last year, with exception of JET and Cresswell was wasted really - as a lot of those signings have already gone. Back to square one this Summer as far as defence, GK and possibly strikeforce is concerned. However, fitness permitting, we should be able to build a competitive team around: Cresswell, JET, Drury, Martin and Stevenson. Possibly Smith - although I am still not convinced he is good enough. Chopra is a strange one - I think most will agree he has been a bit of a disruptive influence! Lots to do - time will tell if PJ is up to the job. Based on last Summer I would say no, although accept a number of people on here would disagree!!!

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My_Left_Foot added 11:34 - May 2 What a nothing article. let's state the bleeding obvious!
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AlanMahon2011 added 12:09 - May 2 You don't say Jewell!! Looks like we have a genius managing our club
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Bluetone added 12:16 - May 2 "Boss Paul Jewell says there will be plenty of Championship clubs looking to push on and make a more serious promotion challenge next season." What a bl00dy daft thing to say just talking for the sake of it. What did he expect clubs to be aiming for? A relegation struggle?
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i_like_that_bolder added 12:33 - May 2 Surely this is evidence to cut the meetings with the press down to a minimum, there's obviously nothing to say! To be fair most interviews are full of dull media speak nowadays anyway, but this is pushing the boundaries of what's reportable.
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Bangor31 added 13:28 - May 2 i feel that we need a #3 striker, midfield I'm happy with maybe 1 more vet as we have hyam, drury, carson, martin, and jet who are on the young/ inexperience side. in D's i'd say 2 CB's, a GK 1st choice, and a youth or sub 21 who can come through. All easy to say much harder to do!! a lot of you act like the red neck Americans things have to be done today and results tomorrow give him a break

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SheffieldBlue1 added 13:28 - May 2 Hello and welcome to mastermind. Our first contestant is Paul Jewell and his specialist subject is stating the bloody obvious.
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