There has been precious little for Ipswich Town supporters to shout about in the last 20 years, but there is a sense that the Suffolk side are entering a new successful era rather than a false dawn. The catastrophic reign of former owner Marcus Evans came to an end in early April, when American investment fund ORG – under the guise of Gamechanger 20 Ltd – secured a 90% stake in the club.
The Tractor Boys have been forced to watch their bitter East Anglian rivals Norwich City move light years ahead of them in recent years, with head coach Daniel Farke cementing the Canaries as a yo-yo club between the top-flight and second tier.
Nevertheless, things can change very quickly in football. City’s Premier League odds for relegation in 2021/22 are 10/11 and if Norwich once again succumb to the bottom three and Ipswich’s new-look squad perform, they could be on a level playing field in 2022/23. Norwich look likely to struggle in the final third as they have in previous seasons in the top flight, at least if the latest Premier League tips are to be believed. Teemu Pukki isn’t seen as likely to finish as top goalscorer in the league as he is priced at 66/1, which is a worry as he is their main threat and they had the same issue a couple of seasons ago.
With a new ownership structure and a highly respected CEO in Mark Ashton appointed, Ipswich boss Paul Cook has set about an exciting overhaul to his squad this summer. Cook insisted on numerous occasions that Town needed to recruit “like a big club” instead of scraping the barrel for bargain-basement names.
An ambitious squad rebuild should have Town fans off their seats at Portman Road
Back on Suffolk soil, after letting no fewer than 21 senior professionals depart Suffolk in the close season, Paul Cook has signed 14 new recruits thus far, with more to come according to CEO Ashton. Several of them are considered ‘marquee’ signings at League One level. Wigan Athletic midfielder Lee Evans has teamed up with Paul Cook, who was Cook’s former lieutenant at the DW Stadium. Evans is due to play alongside stylish midfielder Rekeem Harper, who was signed on a permanent basis from West Bromwich Albion just a couple of years after being linked with European giants like Juventus.
In the final third, Cook has moved to acquire plenty of proven League One firepower. Joe Pigott has been a regular goal-getter with struggling AFC Wimbledon and has made the move on a free transfer. Ipswich-born Macauley Bonne has also made the season-long loan switch from Championship side QPR to augment the qualities of former Tranmere hot-shot James Norwood.
In wide attacking areas, where Cook likes to deploy tricky, technical inside forwards, he has been equally as busy in the transfer market. Kyle Edwards, who played a handful of games in the top flight for Sam Allardyce at West Brom last season, has joined on a three-year deal. Fleetwood’s primary winger Wes Burns has made the switch and MK Dons’ most influential playmaker Scott Fraser has also signed on the dotted line.
In short, it’s a bold and talented front line that should do plenty of damage in League One when partnerships are built. At the other end of the field, Town recruited last year’s League Two Keeper of the Year Vaclav Hladky from Salford City and Glasgow Rangers defender George Edmundson, but there is more work to be done on the backline. Town fans will hope that it’s third time lucky for a League One promotion, but their opening day draw at home to Morecambe suggests the Blues won’t always have it their own way this term.
