Town skipper Luke Chambers says this has been the hardest year of his career, for reasons both on and off the field.

The Blues could have relegation to the third tier for the first time in 62 years confirmed this weekend even if they beat Birmingham tomorrow.

“This is the hardest time of my career without a doubt. The reality is sinking in now of where we are and what lies ahead,” Chambers writes in his column in tomorrow’s programme.

“I came here seven years ago to get promoted to the Premier League. Those seven years have gone by in a blur and now - barring a massive change around - we will be in League One next season.

"I’ve never been relegated before and it’s hurting like hell at the moment.

"It’s been a tough year generally. My mum has been very ill and in and out of hospital so there are the worries that any family has in that situation. That hurts like hell as well. I guess it’s life.

“I had a difficult season at Forest, on and off the pitch, but this past 10 months have been really tough.

“We could talk all day about the reasons why we are in the situation we are in but the simple truth is that we haven’t been good enough.”

Photo: TWTD

TimmyH added 18:09 - Apr 12 Fair comments from Mr Chambers...and sad to hear his mum isn't well that can't help but you have to be professional once you get on the pitch...very sad times all round at Portman Road. Notice they've got a column in the Sun today about the demise of this once great club.
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TimmyH added 18:14 - Apr 12 By the way anybody slagging off Warktheline, he was one of a few who gave me a personal message (though he doesn't know me) about the loss of my mum and believe my dad too and yes I once locked horns with him on here over certain things!...people let things out in different ways all because they are so passionate about the club. People should recognise we're going to be in the worse state the clubs been in (probably financially) never mind on the pitch for 62 years!!

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therein61 added 18:24 - Apr 12 Feel for the guy with his family problems as I would any human beings, regarding his playing ability etc now is not the time for it.
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coolcat added 18:54 - Apr 12 Very well put Souperjim. Couldn't have put it better. I've been to all the games so far this season, bar 2. I have to seriously bite my tongue on here at times but your comment puts it in perspective nicely.
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Geddis78 added 19:06 - Apr 12 Isn't it strange that the 2 players the past 3 managers have first on the team sheet, Skuse and Chambers, receive the most criticism from some on here. Clearly Messrs McCarthy, Hurst and Lambert with their collective >50 years in the game know nothing compared to some of our learned friends on here.
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Bert added 19:15 - Apr 12 Does warktheline attend matches ? I think not so his views don't really carry any weight.
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ITFCsince73 added 19:49 - Apr 12 At the Brentford game there was no fight from any Town player. There was no fight, in what is the very last chance saloon situation. I'm a town supporter going back to the early seventies, so there isn't a lot I've not seen from any Town player or team in all those years. But that obvious lack of real fight is very concerning, for now and the future. Paul Lambert has stated enough times that it isn't over until the maths says otherwise. So why was the performance and therefore leadership against Brentford so, “couldn't really be bothered “.

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warktheline added 20:08 - Apr 12 @timmy, no need to defend my post, although appreciated! The 'snowflake brigade' have ( very common in today's society ) twisted my 'short post' into a personal attack on Chambers, which is totally unfounded ! Firstly, to suddenly now 'realise' the club's plight is indeed a joke! Secondly, the skipper in my view is a 'liability' on the pitch! Honest and decent, undoubtedly, but it doesn't cut ice in the club's 'forever past' and current situation ! For the record I've been a critic of Chambers going back to his positional switch to fullback, a move which has proved extremely detrimental to his long term career!

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Dolphinblue added 20:14 - Apr 12 Have no idea what half of you are refering to....Chambers is Captain Fantastic and will lead us to League one glory....Get yr season tickets and lets go!
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blue86 added 20:27 - Apr 12 chin up chambers, its great you care so much like us fans, a true blue! get your head right for next season luke to hopefully take us back to the championship. who thinks we will bounce straight back..... god i hope we do! coyb.
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ITFCsince73 added 20:42 - Apr 12 Bert. Have you got to attend matches to support the club or have an opinion?
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ITFCsince73 added 20:56 - Apr 12 Yes Geddis78. Maybe a huge contributing factor as we head towards 20 points from safety.
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warktheline added 21:02 - Apr 12 @ITFC, I've attended a handful of matches this season, many have latched onto my honesty when I stated I hadn't attended much of late due to having a young family, and my refusal to attend whilst McCarthy remained! Over the years I've followed this club around the country! Reading through some of the posts on here it's truly doubtful half on the thread attend any kind of football match!

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Geddis78 added 21:24 - Apr 12 It's sad really. In a time where we all moan about players being mercenaries with no loyalty, true Town fans turn on a true blue like Chambers. Do you really think he is to blame for us being in the position we are? Yes, he has made mistakes but some seize on these but are far more forgiving on others. The man has played on through all sorts of injuries for the club and always given 100%. It saddens me to see real fans turn on him the way they do. I'd have him in the trenches with me over many others that have worn our shirt.

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dukey44 added 21:31 - Apr 12 Sorry but we all have private life's. It don't make up for fact he's not any good? He's first one to blame everyone around him when makes terrible mistakes which is usually every game? Oh fantastic he's signed for another 2 years hurray not... Sorry just an opinion but there will be many seem him as a saviour.... Long past it!!
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ITFCsince73 added 21:38 - Apr 12 Dukey44. Agree totally baffles me.
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herfie added 21:39 - Apr 12 LC's toughest year........ours, to. But need to keep a sense of perspective: it's football. When set against the many personal tragedies and difficulties that we've all had to cope with as part of life, it's not so important. But Luke, for all his perceived shortcomings as a footballer, is brutally honest in a world more used to bland soundbites or meaningless platitudes. So easy to criticise, but if push came to shove, i'd rather have him in my trench, as opposed to some the fearless keyboard warriors who post on here!

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ITFCsince73 added 21:48 - Apr 12 Dolphinblue, The main concern for real Town support is how he's currently leading the team. And where he's leading it to. What he may or may not do in 12 months isn't really the point.
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ITFCsince73 added 22:09 - Apr 12 Our captain fantastic is a lucky man that ITFC employs him. He'd be strung up to a lamp post at any other club by now. No fight in the team throughout the season....none.....zero. The last chance game passed V Brentford without a wimper, Considering the club status of the last 50 plus years was riding on it, it was sad to see.
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Geddis78 added 22:29 - Apr 12 Itfc73 - ‘strung up to a lamp post'. Shocking comments. I didn't go to Brentford. Saw the highlights and saw Chambers losing it a couple of times showing he cares. Also saw us miss 2 great chances and a terrible error for the second goal. But your focus is on Chambers? I have been to every home game this year and last. Chambers has had some good games. He has had some poor games. Just like every Town player this year. I truly don't understand why proper fans like yourself obsess on him so much. And none of his fiercest critics have explained why each recent manager always plays him. Marcus, get these guys in as managers. Will save a tonne of money!

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ITFCsince73 added 22:47 - Apr 12 Geddis78. He's had some good games, some poor.... Out of his last 50 games in our shirt, he's had 20% good games and 80% poor. Him, being the club captain, is held accountable. Do you know how many games our team have won in the last 50 games?? A truly embarrassing total. Our worst win percentage over 50 games, in our history. And there's a lot of history there. The facts are the facts.

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Bert added 22:53 - Apr 12 The question has been asked'do you have to attend games to have an opinion' ? Anyone is entitled to their opinion but if it is not based on actually going to watch their team then in my opinion their views are not worth the weight of those who do go to watch. What I see is a team stripped of strikers who scored 40 odd goals between them because Evans listened to fans who wanted a young manager. Therein lies the problem which is now being rectified ina number of positive ways.

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MickMillsTash added 22:59 - Apr 12 Chambers is Ok - against Brentford he kept his position and Nsialla went walk about . His job is to stop the opposition scoring goals and whilst not the best he's the best we've got. I'll go up a gear F@ckin Hell- we pick on Chambers !!- Evans has made the situation we are in with his half arsed sh1te running of this club - a club capable of getting 21K people in for a bottom of the table clash against Rotherham and 23K against Reading. He's Never had a long term plan, never putting a good management structure in place , never shown much passion - is Chambers really that bad?

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ITFCsince73 added 23:09 - Apr 12 Bert. There's many ways to see the team perform. Going to the game is one of many. It is possible to be upto speed with regard to team, player performances by watching on tv. There's many supporters around the world of ITFC, who never go to games. There still supporters of the club, and have valid opinions and views. Like myself being there, I get to see things in front of my own eyes, and how shocking it's all been and going.

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ITFCsince73 added 23:14 - Apr 12 Mickmillstash. To be fair it's a struggle to get many past 15000, paying the going rate. Giving tickets away gets 20k plus. And yes Chambo is our downfall. He's the club captain. And the league table says it's been a shocking disgrace.
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