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

phantom added 23:27 - Apr 12 toughest year??? You should be where we are watching you defend. Ive seen lorries turn quicker than chambers and yet evans decided to give this buffoon a 2 year deal i mean you cant make this up. Im starting to think maybe i should request a 2 year deal because chambers would make me look like a world beater
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ITFCsince73 added 23:40 - Apr 12 We had the option of a year. So the 2 year deal given, makes it one of the strangest decisions I've heard of coming out the corridors of PR. Of course anyone who understands football, and is keen to see the Town bounce straight back up, are still scratching their heads 2 weeks later.
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Northstandveteran added 23:56 - Apr 12 A collective of mistakes from Sheepshanks, Burley, Evans, Keane,Jewell, McCarthy, Hurst and Lambert have led us to this situation. There isn't one individual to blame. I don't like the term ' happy clappy ' but the wonderful Ipswich fans ( and we are ) acceptance of mid table mediocrity for many years really hasn't helped the situation. Many already accepting mid table next year. When you accept average there is only one way you are heading. Spent at least 95% of my time watching Ipswich in the championship but we were always a club looking like, or at least attempting promotion. This lot gave up before Christmas. What an awful mess this club has become after being the envy of so many. At least we have dolphinblues posts to make us smile 😁

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Northstandveteran added 00:00 - Apr 13 Yet still discussing going to Lincoln away next season 😂 F.......mental
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Bert added 03:43 - Apr 13 The consistency of thought on here about our team troubles me. The football this season has been so much more enjoyable as has the atmosphere. The effort has been there but the quality at times lacking. However, we have a very poor game at Brentford and all the doom and gloom descends like fog masking the good progress on and off the field. We are where we are but for goodness sake let's not descend into the poison on here that characterised this site last season. Compared to country wrecking Brexit, there has been progress and good decision making.

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ipswich134 added 05:06 - Apr 13 Football is a business but it's more than that. It's about hope and dreams, hopefully next year we will be celebrating promotion !
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shakytown added 05:13 - Apr 13 How can anyone blame just one player for the mess the whole club is in???? Look at Mr invisible and the previous managers who have let the squad descend to nothing better than a pub team. Quality costs and that's the same whether its a player or apiece of furniture if you but cheap it will fall apart much like our third rate team. Next season will prove really how bad we are when we struggle to avoid another relegation unless of course we get a new owner who cares and has some ambition for the club.

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allezlesbleus added 08:30 - Apr 13 Yep and for us older fans, it has been our toughest DECADE.
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Dolphinblue added 09:35 - Apr 13 Chambers is a Paragon of how a footballer should be and just isnt as bad as some make out. I remember people having a go at Berra and he was excellent defender. I remember people moaning that Murphy was old after his 27 goal season. If yr comparing them to Man city then yes, ok but come on we are about to face League One. Chambers will be a good Captain and centre back next season. COYB GET YR SEASON TICKETS AND LETS ROCK PORTMAN ROAD!

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Dolphinblue added 09:41 - Apr 13 Lets leave the past behind and look forward, yes obv huge mistakes have been made to get our great club in the mess its in at the moment but blaming Chambers.....he loves the club....do we really want to be rid of his passion etc....look forward....we can come back from this.....with Lambert at least the football is fun again...the players seem to care...Judge has signed on and he is a good footballer...we will be ok COYB THE NIGHT IS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN...#Lambs become Lions...we will win today

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Dolphinblue added 11:24 - Apr 13 Itfc1973, TimmyH and all yr compatriots.....a little ditty to cheer u up 😋 You aint nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time 🌝🌞 You aint nothing but a hound dog crying all the time 🐶🐶🐶 You aint nothing but a rabbit and you aint no ipswich fan.... Well u said Chambers was no good, well that was just a lie🐒 Well u said Skuse was finished, well that was just a lie You aint nothing but a rabbit and you aint no ipswich fan 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶 Peace and Love ❤

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