Blues boss Paul Hurst has confirmed that Luke Chambers will continue as his skipper during the season ahead.

“Luke’s captain whenever he’s in the team,” Hurst said at today’s Open Day. “If he’s not in the team he’ll still be a big voice around the place.

“At the minute he’s probably one of the names, touch wood, guaranteed to be in that starting line-up because, he’s done well anyway in fairness to him, but he hasn’t got too much competition at this moment in time.”

Hurst says he has seen the leadership qualities of the central defender who initially wore the armband under Paul Jewell and then Mick McCarthy.

“I think in the pre-season games where are there aren’t as many fans and it’s quiet, you can probably get a better sense of that than you sometimes do when you’re playing in front of 20,000 or whatever it is,” he added. “A lot of those messages get lost.

“He’s a big presence at the football club and you need people like that. Whether they’re always the most vocal, sometimes they’re quiet ones that do the work that as a manager you could miss if you didn’t speak to people and understand what’s going on in the dressing room and around the training ground. So, hopefully he’s enjoying it, a new start, a new challenge for him as well.”

Photo: Pagepix

Ipswichbusiness added 18:53 - Jul 26 It's sensible to have some continuity amongst all the change.
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howdonblue added 19:01 - Jul 26 Is it just me but when hurst says “he's always captain whenever he's in the team ‘ can be taken as he may not be always in it as he also said “ but he hasn't got much competition at this moment in time “. Me thinks times are going to be changing
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Terry_Nutkins added 19:35 - Jul 26 Forensic analysis that Howdonblue. Mindblowing insight. I reckon you might be right that when a manager says players are not guaranteed a place then he might mean players are not guaranteed a place. Its clever stuff from Hurst. If he said he was nailed on its almost like it might lead to complacency.
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Hipsterectomy added 20:06 - Jul 26 Good thinking from Hurst. Removing him as captain would upset his mates. No matter what you think of him as a player, the rest of the squad adore him and would do anything for him
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cobsterblue added 20:37 - Jul 26 Chambers would be my captain every time. Seems to suit the roll brilliantly and has obviously shown to Paul Hurst and his coaching team he has all the qualities need. Can't wait to see the traditional Chambers fist pump.
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Geddis78 added 21:01 - Jul 26 Great decision. Never understand those on here who have a pop at Chambers. True, not the best centre half out there but is honest, 100% Ipswich Town and never leaves anything on the pitch. Looking forward to the season. Just praying we keep hold of Waghorn.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 22:25 - Jul 26 Wait until there is competition!!
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NoCanariesAllowed added 22:31 - Jul 26 Just something that doesn't need to change. Chambers is just about the only guy left in this team who has gone through a managerial change already at Portman Road. Welcome continuity through different regimes.
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Bert added 08:56 - Jul 27 Does Hurst's comments mean that Chambers is a 'proper bloke' ?
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TimmyH added 09:41 - Jul 27 What's the bets you'll still see Chambers and Skuse play as 1st team starters throughout the season bar injuries.
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Radlett_blue added 09:54 - Jul 27 All Hurst's comments mean, rather like what he said about Knudsen, is that no player is guaranteed a starting spot. Good policy. It also means that we're a bit short of centre backs so expect some movement on that front soon.
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ITFCsince73 added 15:20 - Jul 27 Never thought we would be going into the new season/era, with scuse and proper bloke Chambo as nailed on starters. It seems business as usual then, doesn't matter how poor the performance, you start next game no matter what.
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