Town chairman David Sheepshanks primarily concentrated on the general issues affecting Division One clubs when a guest on the BBC's Football Focus at lunchtime. However, he ominously described this year's relegated sides as "in the worst position that any relegated club has ever been in."

Sheepshanks lambasted the introduction of transfer windows which he feels have added greatly to the already large woes being suffered by Nationwide League clubs: "I think this season we're looking at a world recession in football. You see the difficulties in Italy and Spain, everybody's feeling the pinch.

"You've got to look at the advent of the transfer windows, which are a new arbitrary barrier to trade, and I think are madness. They were invented at a time of soccer boom and have been brought in at a time of soccer recession.

"And then we've got the ITV Digital situation. So the combination of all those things is going to make it very, very tough in the Football League. It's a dire place at the moment."

Despite calls from Brentford chairman Ron Noades and others for him to take over as Football League chairman, Sheepshanks says he will be concentrating his efforts on Town: "It was very sad to see the chairman of the league leaving a few days ago. I'm certainly not looking for his job, we've got a huge job on at Ipswich and I've got a major responsibility to everybody there to try and get us back to the Premiership from our own disappointments.

"I'll do whatever I can from the background, I've had a bit of experience and had the job a few years ago, so whatever I can do to help from the backbenches I'll be delighted."

That responsibility at Town is steering the club out of its current predicament: "I think all three clubs relegated this year are in the worst position that any relegated club has ever been in.

"That said, happily we've got a strong squad, a very strong academy and we believe we can do well.

"We've got a tough game at Walsall today. I think the other two relegated clubs will be a major force, along with Wolves, Millwall and our old friends Norwich.

"I'm sure they'll all be looking to emulate their successes of last season. But we're confident, and we're going to try and get automatic promotion. That's what we owe our fans and ourselves."

Wimbledon's move to Milton Keynes was also slammed by Sheepshanks, who is very much against 'franchise football': "Franchising is a worry. I must say, I was vehemently against it and I think there's a great danger for a precedent being set. As we know a few years ago, Wimbledon wanted to go to Dublin and I'm disappointed that this decision has been made."

European qualification has been a surprising bonus for the Blues and the chairman says could bring in some vital revenue: "European qualification this year was amazing, and a great bonus for everybody and especially the fans.

"We've got remarkable fans, they've bought 19,000 season tickets for the coming season, which is a great vote of confidence in the club.

"And hopefully we can make some extra revenue with a good European run because, my goodness me, we need to. But Division One is the priority."

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