Ipswich Town

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There are just nine weeks to go before Premier League football returns to Portman Road, but are Ipswich Town ready for it?

The club's head of operations, Rich Carpenter, has been speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk about the 90 projects that have been started since the end of the Championship season.

"There about 30 new projects just because we are in the Premier League," he said.

"The most noticeable changes will be the new television studio and floodlights. But we have also had to increase the away capacity to just under 3000 and put in safe standing.

"There is an awful lot of work to do to bring the stadium up to speed because we have not been in the top flight for a while.

"We started planning this work in December, so we were ahead of the game and the Premier League helped us talk through those plans."

But where is the money coming from?

Carpenter says although the building work has to be done to meet Premier League standards, Ipswich "are being very careful" with the budget to not overspend.

"The money is largely coming from investment into the club," he added. "But also there is the money from the Premier League as well.

"In terms of the facilities you have to provide, it is very tough. It was well documented what Luton Town had to do last season to Kenilworth Road and we are having to do pretty much the same thing."

Listen to more from Carpenter on BBC Sounds

Ipswich Town are set to rival Turkish side Besiktas for Rangers and Wales midfielder Tom Lawrence, 30. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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The 2023-24 Premier League season may have only just finished but there is only 10 weeks until the 2024-25 season is scheduled to start.

So what are the key dates that you need to know?

When does the season start and finish?

The 2024-25 Premier League campaign will get under way during the weekend of 17-18 August.

It will take place over 33 weekends, with four midweek rounds and one Bank Holiday matchweek.

To allow for a mid-August start, there will not be a 'winter break' this time around. However, to avoid Christmas and New Year fixture congestion, the league will give more rest time to sides over three of the festive match rounds, with no club playing within 60 hours of another match.

The final round of fixtures will be played on Sunday, 25 May 2025, with all games to kick off at the same time.

When are the fixtures released?

09:00 BST on Tuesday, 18 June.

We will have all the details here for your club as soon as the fixtures are released.

Sign up for news notifications to find out all the key fixtures

When does the transfer window open and close?

The summer window will officially open on Friday, 14 June, which also happens to be the start of Euro 2024, and will remain open until Friday, 30 August at 23:00 BST.

Transfer deadline day has been brought forward this year to be in line with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

Follow your club page and make sure your notifications are on so you don't miss a transfer deal.

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The latest episode of BBC Radio Suffolk's Tractor Social podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.

Graeme McLoughlin and Connor Bennett enjoy Ipswich Town being officially confirmed as a Premier League club, discuss how they think the Tractor Boys will fare in the top flight, and if Kieran McKenna's new contract is the best signing that the club will make this summer.

We asked for you for your thoughts on what Ipswich's summer priority is.

Here is a selection of your responses:

Steve: With many players returning to their clubs, we need to invest in quality and Premier League experience in order to have a chance of staying up.

Stephen: I'd like to see Omari Hutchinson recruited into the team and a couple of seasoned Premier League defenders too. At least one midfielder similarly moulded to those we already have but younger to step in when we will inevitably need them. The team is not broken, it just needs a few more quality Premier League players added who fit our requirements.

Liam: Personally, at this stage in terms of our squad, it is not ready for the Premier League. Key players like Omari Hutchinson, Jeremy Sarmiento and Kieffer Moore are all going back to their clubs after their loan spells. These three players were part of the reason we are in the Premier League. We need to make some big signings if we want to stay up.

Paul: There is a lot of transfer talk around purchasing of forward players, but I think the number one priority should be to bring in a couple of good defenders. Promoted teams always struggle defensively and we shipped a lot of goals in the Championship (although partially due to the style of play).

Tim: Get Omari Hutchinson secured on a permanent contract. Superstar in the making.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Promoted Ipswich fans are currently celebrating for a second time, after manager Kieran McKenna signed a new four-year contract.

Just a week ago, it looked absolutely certain that he would be tempted by the advances of Chelsea, Manchester United or Brighton - or whatever wealthy club was knocking at his door.

Well done to that man for staying true to the Tractor Boys, but for also being sensible knowing the wild uncertainty at these bigger clubs.

Manchester United gave David Moyes less than 10 months and Chelsea gave Graham Potter just over seven months. In fact, Chelsea have gone through a whole gang of gaffers in the past couple of years, but clearly this is part of their cunning plan.

Kieran obviously didn't fancy that sort of plan.

I just hope that if things do go pear-shaped at the start of the new campaign, he isn't summarily dismissed and that big chance he had to progress gone.

He was flavour of the month this summer, but it is amazing how quickly tastes can change with the seasons in football.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter

The club summer is off and running, so what's the first thing that needs sorting out at Ipswich Town?

Is it a contract, a transfer, a fan issue or something else?

Tell us here, external

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Ipswich Town have made a new contract offer to goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky.

Hladky made 46 appearances for the Tractor Boys in the Championship last season as Kieran McKenna's side finished second and secured promotion to the Premier League.

The 33-year-old former Czech Republic youth international signed for Ipswich in 2021 from League Two side Salford City and was part of the team that achieved consecutive promotions in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Elsewhere, the club have paid tribute to the departing Kayden Jackson and Dominic Ball.

Jackson made 199 appearances during six seasons at Portman Road, scoring 28 goals, while Ball made 35 appearances across his two seasons.

Manager McKenna said: "Both have made vital contributions on the field and, off the pitch, have played central roles in developing a culture and setting standards which have been so important to the club's progress.

"Their contributions to everything the club has achieved should not be understated."

Addressing fans, Jackson said: "I will always be extremely proud to have played for this brilliant club. The last two seasons in particular have been truly special and being able to play a part in getting this club promoted from League One to the Premier League is something I will remember for the rest of my life."

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On Monday, Ipswich Town announced their retained list with Kayden Jackson and Dominic Ball departing the club.

The duo played a key part in helping Ipswich gain back-to-back promotions but will not be involved in the Premier League campiagn.

Also leaving are Panutche Camara and Nick Hayes with Sone Aluko retiring.

Meanwhile, loanees Omari Hutchinson, Jeremy Sarmiento, Kieffer Moore, Lewis Travis and Brandon Williams will also all return to their parent clubs this summer.

You can read more on the club's official website., external

You will immediately notice a different look and feel to our Ipswich Town coverage - just one of the many benefits that come with promotion to the Premier League.

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