Where Do We Go From Here?

We have a new team kit and new squad numbers, as we prepare for another season in League One but where do we go from here? A lot will depend on two things. Can we start the new campaign with Luke Woolfenden and Flynn Downes still in the Town team, and if so will we be able to welcome back some of our supporters to Portman Road? If the answer to both questions is no, then I fear we are in big trouble, and not just from a financial perspective.

Luke Wolfenden has been rewarded with the number six shirt, and Flynn Downes retains his 21, probably because he considers it to be a lucky number. Brett McGavin, Barry Cotter, Ben Folami, Aaron Drinan, Corrie Ndaba and Ben Morris and third-choice keeper Adam Przybek have not been given numbers this time around, and I guess this is because many of them will go out on loan. Tomas Holy will be proud to wear the number one jersey; although it is quite likely that manager Paul Lambert will once again be looking for someone to compete for his position.

For the sake of our manager and supporters as a whole, it is vitally important that we hit the ground running again but this time stay there! Lessons must be learned from last season and we probably need another striker to keep Norwood and Jackson on their toes. Freddie Sears is someone who could do that too but he has to remain fit. The imminent return of  Kane Vincent-Young and Jack Lankester could be a real boost for the Blues and Armando Dobra will have learned a lot from last season as well, and could be all the better for it!

This coronavirus has made life very difficult for everyone and I would think Town will be desperate to get at least some supporters back into the ground. We have a big enough stadium to socially distance effectively if the one-metre rule was applied. I would think that around 15,000 supporters could be allowed back into Portman Road if the right strategy was employed. A staggered approach to the entry and exit system would have to be executed and if this was managed effectively, there might even be room for some travelling fans too. Season ticket holders would get first preference and although this would mean there would be not many seats left for the less frequent visitor, this is surely right and proper under these most trying of circumstances.

Where we go from here is quite frankly anybody’s guess but if we can keep hold of our ‘bright young things’ then the future for Town remains relatively bright.