TOWN TALK

Ipswich Town: Mark Ashton on recruitment approach after relegation.

Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton has stated that the Blues will want to attract ‘a different style of player’ following their Premier League season.

The Blues were demoted at the first attempt, and both Ashton and manager Kieran McKenna have since said unequivocally that their goal is to not only return to the first tier, but to remain there.

And one of the most important takeaways from their season at the top table was the incredible level of athleticism and physicality required in the world’s greatest league.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Ashton was asked how Town will use what they’ve learnt to return to the top division. “I think it’s recruitment, recruitment, recruitment,” he said.

“One of the things we discovered was a disparity in the physical attributes of players necessary in the Premier League. “When it comes to recruiting players in the Championship, we need to adjust and change our approach.

“We need to look at players with physical attributes because, while Kieran can coach them, physical attributes cannot be developed to the level required to compete.

“So this is an evolution for us. We need to look into recruiting a different type of player, one with a distinct set of physical characteristics. “But let’s not kid ourselves: returning to the Premier League will be just as difficult.

We have to learn from what was a really difficult season.” Town’s promotion campaign begins on August 8th with a Friday night match at recently promoted Birmingham, shown live on Sky Sports.

NFL legend Tom Brady is a part owner of newly promoted Birmingham City. (Image: PA.) Birmingham’s ownership group includes NFL superstar Tom Brady, while fellow newcomers Wrexham are led by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

When asked how he felt about rubbing shoulders with those worldwide icons next season, Ashton laughed and said, “I was born and raised in the Midlands, and I spent 16 years at West Bromwich Albion, so it will be wonderful to be back there.

“I believe that we must simply be the best versions of ourselves and let others worry about how they want to conduct and be.

“We are very businesslike. This is sanity for us; it is not vanity. We are trying really hard to establish a professional backroom staff and a professional football club.

“I believe that if we can be the best versions of ourselves, we have every possibility to be competitive. “I want us going into this season with a hunter mentality, and I want us to attack the season.”

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