“My gut feeling” – Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reveals exciting Ipswich Town prediction
Ipswich Town couldn’t avoid relegation from the Premier League and are now preparing for another season in the Championship.
At times, it seemed they might manage to escape the drop, but late runs from teams like Wolverhampton Wanderers sealed their fate.
Looking ahead to next season, it will be interesting to see whether Ipswich can follow in Burnley’s footsteps and secure an instant return to the Premier League, or if they will face a tough period like Luton Town did after their demotion.
We caught up with Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie to get his thoughts on where the Tractor Boys might end up next season.
Ipswich Town Expected to Be Strong Contenders for Promotion
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie shared his optimism for Ipswich’s chances: “My gut feeling is that Ipswich will be top-two contenders in the Championship.
I think they’ll push again. They’ve experienced the Premier League, had that fantastic promotion run, and Kieran McKenna has done an incredible job.
I believe they’ll go for it again, and I think they’ll be right in the thick of it. With the financial rewards from the league, despite relegation, they’ll certainly be among the top two.”
Summer Challenges for Ipswich Town
As always after relegation, the summer will be crucial. Ipswich is likely to face interest in their top players, especially Liam Delap, who has been their key goal-scorer and a major influence throughout the 2024/25 season.
With Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly interested in him, replacing Delap will be a tough task.
While they don’t necessarily need a player of his caliber for the Championship, top-quality strikers are hard to come by, so finding the right replacement will be essential.
The Financial Edge for Ipswich Town
Ipswich will also benefit from parachute payments, a financial boost that gives relegated clubs an edge over their Championship rivals.
Reports suggest that teams relegated this season could receive around £49 million in parachute payments, five times the amount of a regular Championship club.
The second year will bring a smaller payment if the club hasn’t achieved promotion.
While Ipswich may face competition from teams like Southampton and Leicester City, who are also relegated, their financial advantage, combined with the return of Burnley to the Premier League and the possible promotion of Sheffield United, means Ipswich will have strong competition but also a financial leg-up over several teams.
How they use these funds will be key to their success.
As Hendrie points out, with Kieran McKenna at the helm and the financial support coming their way, Ipswich is well-positioned to mount a serious challenge next season.
