Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has defended himself following Blues defender Luke Woolfenden’s claim the former Wolves striker would have been disappointed by Town’s promotion to the Premier League.

Speaking during Monday’s promotion parade in the park, Woolfenden was asked whether things could get any better than that.

“It will get better when we have a moment’s silence for Don Goodman,” the centre-half responded.

“I think he’ll be absolutely gutted we got promoted. He’s been calling us a crap all season. Put that in your pipe, Don, and have a good weekend mate!”

Woolfenden made similar comments live on Sky’s coverage of the parade, which Goodman was made aware of by a colleague.

“Paul Gilmore, the Sky reporter, called me to warn that it happened and had gone out unedited on Sky News when it wasn't supposed to,” Goodman told OLBG. “It was really kind of Paul but I was very surprised, to be honest.

“I've been nothing but complimentary about Ipswich Town from the moment they beat Sunderland on the opening day up until their promotion was confirmed.

“It just seems like Luke Woolfenden has a problem with me rather than anyone else at the club. I'm going to be a grown-up about it, but unfortunately Luke has been a little immature.

“The only other thing I can think of that Luke may have taken personally was my observation reference what it usually takes from a defensive perspective to get into the top two of the Championship.

“They had conceded a lot of goals compared to the likes of Leicester City and Leeds United and it's a fact that across the last 10 years and 20 automatically-promoted teams, there has not been a side which has conceded more than Ipswich's 57 goals. That is a fact.

“I can only imagine being a defender, that's where Luke has taken it personally. I genuinely can't think of anything else.”

Goodman, who was targeted by George Burley during his time as a player at Wolves in the late 1990s, continued: “'Perhaps it was me saying before the derby game that Norwich could beat Ipswich at Carrow Road if they ‘brought their A-game’. I then got dog's abuse while walking through Ipswich fans at Carrow Road and that wasn't pleasant.

“All for saying what to most football fans, with Norwich being at home, something that probably made sense.

“To have hundreds of people booing you, calling your names, a few getting in your face, being very personable and making horrible comments, was not pleasant.

“If Luke can find any footage where, quoting him, I've called them ‘crap all season’ he needs to dig it out and show me. In fact, I don't think I would have kept my job with Sky Sports if I was calling Ipswich ‘crap all season’.

“I don't know what Luke has heard or seen but I feel really sad that on the biggest and best day of his footballing life, he's thinking about me. Go and celebrate with your friends and family, you have just achieved the most incredible thing. Unfortunately, I feel sad that Luke has got me on his brain even though I've praised them all season long.

“If someone wants to call me out in such a public way in front of thousands of fans, I need to address it. There's no bitterness in the slightest from me and I genuinely wish them all the best next season. I have nothing but admiration for everyone at the football club.”

Reflecting on how Town might approach their first season back in the Premier League, Goodman added: “It surprises me that, and I'm not talking about Ipswich Town, but promoted teams in general tend to spend large amounts of their money on strikers, number 10s and wide players.

“The first area promoted teams should look to solidify is the defence. It's important that nobody takes this as a dig at Ipswich.

“Sheffield United have conceded 100 goals. Luton have conceded 78 and Burnley 74. There is no team anywhere close to those numbers and there are several players in those teams who were defending successfully last season.

“Anyone with half a brain can understand why that is the case. The teams promoted to the Premier League will be up against most of the best attackers in the world.”

Photo: Sipa USA

KMcBlue added 09:58 - May 11 The general mistake in the media is underestimating McKenna. If he can improve an average lg2 player in Jackson, to play a part at the top of the Championship, who's to say he can't improve Burns to play in the Champions League? We will have to invest, but I think we will surprise many with our momentum, togetherness and outstanding manager
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SouperJim added 10:11 - May 11 The bloke is either a liar or has zero self awareness. Possibly both.
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chevvymalc added 10:41 - May 11 Who cares what Goodman says and the goals against=== We finished second in the league by one point and out pointed everyone else to finish there so same again next season will do nicely Or can we improve on that
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dyersdream added 10:56 - May 11 You’re a liar and talk sh!te Goodman
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dyersdream added 10:56 - May 11 You’re a liar and talk sh!te Goodman
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chepstowblue added 11:49 - May 11 I like Don Goodman. And much of what he's said is correct. Whilst I like all of our playing staff, and don't want wholesale changes, this current defence will be ripped to shreds in the Prem. What Woolfy must remember is that Goodman was a far better striker than Woolfy is a defender. In a vain attempt to be humorous he has shown himself to be overly sensitive, a common trait of this very weak minded younger generation. Goodman has been hugely complimentary of us this season, but some have selective hearing. It's caused a very childish confrontation, resulting in a couple of our players looking rather juvenile.

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E_I_E_I_E_I_O added 11:58 - May 11 Sadly, do we have to have this as the main headline? And if so, do we have to have a picture of him so it's the only thing we see when coming to the site?
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MBG added 12:53 - May 11 The bottom line is that Leicester, Leeds and Southampton had deeper and more talented squads than us. Most pundits and neutral fans believed that eventually we would drop out of the top two. The fact virtually everyone was proved wrong says everything about the character of this ITFC team. To attack Goodman simply because he’s the most prominent person who got it wrong about ITFC shows immaturity and cockiness. Woolfenden should have stayed silent. It’s important to show class. A famous American sports coach said something like: “say little when you lose and say even less when you win”.

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ChantryParkBlue added 13:17 - May 11 Goodman was not rude or insulting about Ipswich. He just thought we would fall away from the top two during the season. And to be honest so did I. I am delighted that both him and me were wrong. We should not criticise him for getting a sport prediction wrong. We have all done that.
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Sir_Monte_Carlo added 13:51 - May 11 I don't think Goodman has a particular issue with us he just favours the teams from the midlands and the north. He always has, nothing new here.
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Chrisd added 14:02 - May 11 To be honest, during that final game against Huddersfield he was very complimentary about us. Quite frankly, who really cares what he said during the season? We are up.
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Edmundo added 15:04 - May 11 Jog on, Don, you had your career and I doubt it will end up better than Woolfenden's.
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SpiritOfJohn added 15:06 - May 11 We may have conceded more goals than the 'average' promoted teams, but most of them come straight back down again anyway. I don't expect Kieran McKenna to radically change our approach next season, so we can look forward to more high scoring matches. Some people thought that Woolfenden, Edmundson and Burgess weren't good enough for the Championship, but here we are automatically promoted. Wholesale changes would damage our team spirit which is our greatest asset against the individual brilliance we will be facing. One thing we can depend on is that the pundits will have already written us off as relegation fodder next season, so expect to be patronised and belittled wherever we go, and hope that we can prove them all wrong.

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Cheshire_Blue added 15:59 - May 11 Don who ? Is he the bloke who once dyed his hair orange ? You will need a long memory to recall that sensible act.
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Normandyblue added 16:16 - May 11 Off topic but can I be alone in wanting Norwich to beat Leeds tomorrow? Before the deluge of down votes arrive, it would be great for East Anglia, good for our club rivalry and two more chances to finally beat them next season if they prevail then win the final. I’m a life long Town fan but I don’t  »hate » Norwich, I just want our team to consistently outperform them, especially head to head, I think the tribalism in football fans is one of its least endearing characteristics, plenty of that in the world (am I starting to sound like Bobble? ;) could just be the Don Goodman effect ;) I can’t get Sky in France so I haven’t seen his comments all season, but they might have actually been helpful in a Ferguson ‘us against the world’ way which I’m sure McKenna would have used to his advantage to motivate the squad. Most neutrals I’ve met have been really pleased that we broke the relegated premier team stranglehold on the promotion spots. So yep, I would be ok to see Nodge claim the last spot with the caveat that we do them twice and finish above them next year!

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Gforce added 18:22 - May 11 No chance of wanting Nodge to win tomorrow, I want them to stay in the doldrums for years and watch them suffer when their parachute money runs out. They've took the mick out of us for years, hopefully the boot is on the other foot from now on !!
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ChrisFelix added 18:24 - May 11 Sky didn't expect us to do well, hence we has to wait until the end of October before a second live game. Town never been a favourite of the media. In 62 the London press didn't like it because we topped their beloved Spurs. Jimmy Hill ( of MOTD)never complimented the Robson team. He played with Bobby at Fulham. In recent years the media up the A140 & particularly bbc look Norfolk have continued to ignore us

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 19:17 - May 11 He might have done better to just ignore the comment. Short news day for us because our season is concluded acceptably but nice for us to have something to chat about. Next real news, Premier fixture list and any signings.
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grumpyoldman added 20:34 - May 11 I personally don't give flying fig about what others say about us & ours. As for Norwich try living in the north of the county amongst the carrot crunchers then you would never want them to come close to succeeding, recently it has been a joy to see their faces wracked with disbelief!
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Normandyblue added 23:17 - May 11 Point taken grumpy old man and Gforce, I’ve been gone a long time, I’ve got a good mate over here from Norfolk but he couldn’t give a monkeys about football, despite my efforts to get some rivalry going, I’ve probably gone soft!
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bobble added 23:19 - May 11 yep ...love to see norwich beat leeds and go up too...west brom if not..
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62WasBest added 00:20 - May 12 Whilst he may be right about the number of goals conceded and the need to strengthen, his remarks about Leicester and Leeds are only part of the story. He doesn't mention that we out scored both and only lost 6 games, about 50% of either of those two clubs.
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barrystedmunds added 00:30 - May 12 Pretty much EVERYONE said we were doomed from day one. Those clubs fans’ who saw us just “upstarts” after getting beat by us all predicted the ceiling would fall in on us and predicted mid table mediocrity. Don Goodman is no different. I think the whole story is pretty sad really but acknowledge some of the facts he raises as valid points. We’ve got Super KMcK, ne knows exactly what we need. As a foot note; ALL three promoted clubs from last season, now relegated, all with horrendous GD!!!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:25 - May 12 Sorry Normandy Blue, I appreciate your mature view, but I can't wish for other than Leeds to win today. I like the city of Norwich, but Norwich City - no way!
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churchmans added 16:29 - May 12 I was also surprised at watching the comments of wolfy Don goodman is the best pundit on the championship I have never heard him slate us! I was genuinely surprised what wolfy said! I put it down to him being aled up
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