adminIpswich Town Chairman Mark Ashton Warns of Gruelling Championship Campaign Ahead.
Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton has issued a rallying call ahead of what he describes as a “long, tough season” for the Blues in the 2025/26 Championship campaign.
The full fixture list was unveiled at lunchtime, confirming that Town will kick off the new season under the lights on Friday night with a challenging away clash at newly-promoted Birmingham City.
Home games against recently relegated Southampton and last season’s play-off finalists Sheffield United follow soon after.
Speaking to TownTV, Ashton admitted the scale of the challenge ahead:
> “It’s going to be a long, tough season. When you add in potential cup ties, we’re likely looking at close to 50 games. The Championship is always demanding – it’s competitive, it’s unpredictable, and we have to be fully prepared.”
On the opening game against Birmingham, Ashton said:
“It’s a tough fixture – they all are. That’s what makes this league so fascinating. Birmingham will bring energy and expectation, and we have to match that by being the best version of ourselves from the very first whistle.”
When asked which fixtures stood out for him, Ashton pointed to several:
“Naturally you look at the opener, the local derby, games against former clubs, the Christmas period, and the run-in. There are plenty of standout dates. But make no mistake – this league is relentless.”
Despite the demanding schedule, Ashton believes the Championship suits Ipswich’s style and structure:
> “I actually like the rhythm of the league – Saturday-Tuesday, Sunday-Wednesday – it keeps players focused. Kieran [McKenna] thrives in that routine, and so do we.”
Ashton also highlighted the intense work going on behind the scenes as preparations continue at pace.
> “There haven’t been any days off since before the West Ham game. We’re deep into the transfer window, we’ve got developments ongoing at the training ground – it’s full-on. But that’s the standard under this ownership group. We know the expectations.”
He stressed the importance of sticking to their identity and strategy:
> “Everyone starts the season full of hope. For us, it’s about being even better at what we already do well. There is no Plan B – just Plan A executed more effectively. We’re focused on keeping our core squad intact and making smart additions where needed. Recruitment never stops, and we’ve been active in every transfer window. That won’t change now.”
As the departure of defender Axel Tuanzebe looms, Ashton underlined the importance of holding onto their top talent:
> “We put together a strong squad last s
eason, but fell just short. That chapter is closed. Now it’s about retaining the players who made us competitive while adding quality on top. That’s never easy – good players attract interest. But it’s our priority.”
Despite the optimism fixture release day usually brings, Ashton remained businesslike:
“I know fans get excited, and rightly so. But I’m in work mode. This is serious business. The coming season will test every part of this club – from the squad to the staff, to the board, to our amazing supporters. We have to be ready in every sense.”
He concluded with a powerful reminder of the club’s ambitions:
“This is a special football club – a beautiful club that’s still rebuilding. We’ve made great strides in the last few years, but this is still just the beginning. If we stay united, there’s no limit to what we can achieve. But the hard work starts now.”
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