Vice-captain Cole Skuse admits the Blues’ season will have been “hugely disappointing” if the League One campaign is curtailed and they finish 11th on unweighted points per game, as appears likely, and issued an apology for what would be the club’s lowest position for 67 years.

The EFL clubs will hold an EGM on Tuesday where League One clubs are set to vote on the way forward for the division with it anticipated that 2019/20 will be curtailed and settled on unweighted points per game.

Town were 10th in the table when the season was halted on March 13th but would drop a place under the EFL's preferred formula for deciding placings, promotion and relegation. Eleventh would be the Blues' lowest finish since they ended the 1952/53 campaign 16th in Division Three South back in Scott Duncan's time as manager.

“If they’re going to finish the season on this unweighted points per game and we finish 11th, it’s outrageous really considering we were top of the league for some spell at the beginning of the season and as a group it’s hugely disappointing to see that, to finish the season, to finish where we were,” Skuse said in a lengthy interview with BBC Radio Suffolk (1hr 7mins 25secs).

“To not even be in with a chance of reaching the play-offs is hugely disappointing from our standpoint and we can only apologise to everyone for that.

“If the season restarts, it restarts [but if not] we’ll be having a good go to finish far better next season.”

The 34-year-old admits it’s been a frustrating period not knowing when or whether the campaign might resume.

“It’s like anything in the world, as much as we want the football season back there are greater things that need deciding first,” he reflected.

“But from a football standpoint, it’s just the prolonging of it, it’s the unknown. I know they can’t just come out and say ‘This is the date, this when we’re starting, this is when the fixtures [will be played]’ because you can’t do that with this uncertainty.

“It’s just the prolonging of it. You get your head around that it’s stopped but you’d like a date or a timeline to work to if it is going to continue. Like everything in the world it’s just the uncertainty at the minute that’s a bit frustrating.”

In terms of fitness, Skuse disagrees that it might take players several weeks of pre-season type training to get up to speed.

“I’ve heard some people saying that for injury prevention, but with the athletes the players are today and the stuff you do at home yourself to maintain your fitness levels [I’m not so sure],” he said.

“Pre-season when I first started years ago you’d come back and use pre-season as getting fit because back in the day the lads would have six or seven weeks off and you’d have six or seven weeks of doing nothing, you’d be drinking, you’d be eating what you want and you’d come back overweight and unfit and you’d use your pre-season to get fit.

“But nowadays you’re given programmes from the day the season finishes to maintain your fitness levels and your eating habits throughout the off-season, so you come back in pre-season and you’re almost at your peak position from the start.

“If we’re told to come back in for training next Monday, the lads would be in unbelievable condition.

“If you’re asking me whether we need three or four weeks, I’d probably say no. But sports scientists and other people might say different because of injury prevention.

“I understand that you can run around roads on go on bike rides for as long as you want but football fitness is completely different. When you get the balls involved, it’s a completely different fitness.”

Skuse recently spoke about his wife Louisa being among those more at risk during the coronavirus crisis as a type one diabetic, however, he says he’ll play if the season does restart as long the right measures are put in place.

“I’ve stated before, it would have to be safe and the EFL and the world in general are making sure that that is the case. They’re taking the right steps to make sure that everything is safe for people to return,” the Bristolian added.

“It’s not myself I’m considering, my wife’s obviously got a high risk illness as a type 1 diabetic and my little girl was recently in hospital with respiratory issues, so I’m looking at the bigger picture.

“But if everything was safe and it was all in line and ready for me to do so, of course I’d want to go back and continue work.”

Skuse recently put pen to paper on a new contract which will keep him at Portman Road for 2020/21 with the club having an option for a further campaign, while he will also start to make the transition into coaching during that time.

The midfielder says it was good to get his future settled given the likelihood that many players will be out of work as a result of the financial crisis in the game.

“It had been ongoing for a little while but [it is a relief] due to this current pandemic and seeing the reports on Sky Sports News or on the radio about the number of people that are going to be out of work this summer in the football world, it’s quite staggering really.

“So to get the deal done is a relief for all of us, our whole family. We’re over the moon to be staying in Ipswich for at least another season, we love the town itself, the club’s been fantastic, the supporters have been fantastic for us. There’s a sense of relief and it was brilliant to get it done.”

Skuse, who has been helping home educate his children and also project managing the renovation of his home during the time away from football, has been in close contact with his team-mates.

“We obviously have a Whatsapp group and I’ve made a conscious effort to ring around the boys and make sure they’re all OK, especially lads that are on their own at this time, it can’t be nice, so I’ve made a conscious effort to ring round and make sure everyone’s doing alright,” he said.

“I’m in contact with some of the lads more than others. I speak to Chambo a lot, James Wilson, Jordan Roberts, I speak to them an awful lot.

“We’ve had Zoom calls with the staff just to keep us update on the situation and for them just to touch base on how we’re doing. I’ve been on contact with most people, to be fair.”

Photo: TWTD

Bluearmy_81 added 17:30 - Jun 5 Carberry!!!! Bbbuutt Marcus said.... 🤢🤢🤢He puts in... 😴😴😴 He loves the club.... 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
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StavangerBlue added 17:41 - Jun 5 Badly ran, poorly managed, inadequately led and players with no presence or fight in them. Why we have given new contracts to players we should be kicking out the door I have no idea. Next season it will be more of the same. My prediction is we will be fighting to avoid relegation.
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ITFCsince73 added 17:53 - Jun 5 Stavanger that just about sums ITFC up 2020. And Lambo will just take all jibes aimed at him, until sacked or leaves. Evans gives great approval for failure it seems. He must have the very best leaders in his other business interests, judging by huge profits every year. They must be given the very best tools to be so successful. But runs ITFC on the cheap, and even does that badly.

6

BeattiesBackPocket added 18:35 - Jun 5 ArnieM what business acumen is that? Personally yes but within football absolutely dogs!te This isn't just the managers fault not every single one of the 5 managers can be that most of those managers have had teams promoted in the past It's the serious lack of investment please explain what we have to show for a 110 million deficit? Who employs the managers that aren't good enough? Why do we only get has been managers who will do no better than our previous 4? Who hired non football men to run the club in Clegg and Milne? The squad is not good enough only 5 players layers max of a fully fit squad would be able to play higher up the club from TOP to bottom is a shambles. Please tell me how it's all Lambert's fault the whole past 15 years of Evans tenure please tell me how?

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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:43 - Jun 5 This IS the worst town squad ever and the facts that back that up are where we are and the way we are going which is further down all on a 110 million deficit. Please where is that money on what? Worst team I've seen that includes under the John Duncan era! 50 million recouped on players. Anyone decent will be sold. Well have the same old season ticket letter and first day programme notes it's all a bit boring and I'm shocked some people are ok with us having the 6th richest owner outside the premier league but average in league one and getting worse!

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cat added 18:44 - Jun 5 When you have a clueless manager who makes dodgy decisions and underperforming Club and Team captains its no wonder that we have come up woefully short again this season. Fans can blame lack of investment cause that's been the case over the last few seasons, but the bottom line is this season we actually had a squad capable of achieving so much more.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:51 - Jun 5 Cat we have 5 players at most who are good enough to play higher I don't know why everyone keeps going on about our squad. I agree on lambert though but again we won't get anyone better these are the people he hires every single one of our previous managers is no longer managing a club that says it all
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SheptonMalletBlue added 19:06 - Jun 5 Dockerblue, I meant to give you a thumbs up, not down. Quite agree with you about the so called captain!!!!
2

ITFCsince73 added 19:25 - Jun 5 I think in the main Lambos gone with the best he has...which is very minimal. I said many times last season, out the full 1st team squad half are good enough, half not good enough. That's just to compete with L1,s better teams. Not a lot for any manager to play with.
2

Dolphinblue added 19:38 - Jun 5 We will need Chambers, Skuse and Lambert more than ever before......saviour trio deserve another seadon to save us!!!!!
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Dolphinblue added 19:41 - Jun 5 And a words to saviour Evans.....without him......it would be over....
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ITFCsince73 added 19:41 - Jun 5 Welcome back the 🐬. Have you just copied and paste Your comment from last July?
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Dolphinblue added 19:47 - Jun 5 All l know is looking forward too seeing Skuse in action again...gracing portman road with his midfield generalship....and thanks itfc73 for the welcome...always interested in yr views albeit they differ from mine 🐬🐬
0

Pencilpete added 19:48 - Jun 5 Its ironic because I have apologised to the players a number of times during home games ..... especially during Peterborough, Fleetwood, Bristol Rovers, Coventry, Gillingham and Rotherham games. "I'm sorry but this is dreadful, I'm sorry I cant sit and watch this cr@p any longer ......."
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cat added 19:49 - Jun 5 Poly pocket (lol) 😂 My point is we have underachieved this season, from what I witnessed the squad is capable of top 6 minimum. Anyway an upper from me as I make the effort to read your posts.
2

ITFCsince73 added 19:54 - Jun 5 Most differ from yours the 🐬. But respect for sticking with it.
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SirBasilBrush added 20:10 - Jun 5 ''Hugely disappointing'' but nothing changes at ITFC. Skuse gets his new contract, PL remains as manager, Chambers continues to dominate the dressing room, and Evans carry's on making poor decisions. The whole club reeks of complacency.
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norfolkbluey added 20:44 - Jun 5 'SirBasilBrush' couldn't agree more! The history of our club deserves more than the rubbish served this year. Personally I thought PL would have done better but I was completely wrong. Rotation screwed us as we haven't the talent that exists in the premiership. What a stupid decision by PL that was. Everyone knows don't change a winning formula and what did he do? Changed it. So PL you f***ed up and you deserve to f**k off. We had a chance winning and being top for long periods and then...........idiot.

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ITFCsince73 added 21:03 - Jun 5 The only time we looked good last season, was any game KVY was involved in. As soon as he was lost, apart from the Wolf and Downes, we looked to only be heading one way. And it was happening fast, with not so much as a wimper. Anymore quality just wasn't there, and zero on field leadership. With both captain and vice looking out there depth, even in L1. We got lucky in the end with 10/11th finish in the end it seems.

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DifferentGravy added 22:54 - Jun 5 Totally agree with Arnie M in terms of performance by Lambert. As a manager, done well off the pitch but sadly devoid of tactical nous on the pitch. Would like him to kindly depart. Anyone who gets financially involved with a football club .....particularly a mid table championship club or less.........and expects to make a profit.....is an absolute fool. The vast majority of owners have...and always will be.....putting money into a bottomless pit. I have no sympathy with Evans, if he had any sort of business acumen he would have known this. So the comment relating to the money he has lost or invested are wasted on me.

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DifferentGravy added 22:56 - Jun 5 As for new contract for Skuse........ Just keep rewarding the staff that keep dragging us down
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DifferentGravy added 22:58 - Jun 5 Evans.....Saviour...........? Yeah, coz he did it out of the kindness of his heart as oppose to looking to make a quick buck
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bobble added 01:23 - Jun 6 surely his resignation is more appropriate ?
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Shawsey added 10:48 - Jun 6 Fed up of players coming out and saying this rubbish. What matters is what you do on the pitch and that just isn't good enough. They treat us like fools.
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ChrisFelix added 11:26 - Jun 6 Its hugely disappointing for me that this bloke has signed a new contract. Clearly like Chambers not good enough in league division 3. The club needs to clear out & start afresh with new blood.
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