COLIN Healy, who was the goalscorer in Monday’s 4-1 thrashing at Swansea City, today admitted that there is much improvement needed if Ipswich Town are to become serious promotion contenders next season.

On the evidence of their highly disturbing Easter period with a 5-1 home reverse to Norwich City followed by the heavy loss at the Liberty Stadium, no current Ipswich player would be guaranteed to make it into the Canaries or the Swans sides.

“If we are to get where we want to go next season we need to be able to go to places like Swansea and bring home some points,” said Healy.

“We can have no complaints about Monday’s result as the best team won.

“They played well and passed the ball impressively and it was not a good display by us.

“We wanted to put things right after the Norwich defeat, and if we are to make anything of ourselves we have to become more consistent and do it every week.”

Healy did not get a clear view of the second Swansea goal from Luke Moore that entered the net in the middle of the goal after a low shot from 20 yards.

“I couldn’t see whether it was a deflection but there may have been a bit of movement,” added Healy, who was cool about his second goal of the season.

“Jason laid the ball back and it was a nice moment when the ball went into the top corner.

“But it didn’t matter as we lost.

“We have a chance to still go out on a high at home on Saturday when Preston come to Portman Road.”

Healy is one of a number of players still considering whether to accept a Town new contract or not.

“Along with a number of other players at the club I’m still speaking to the manager,” said Healy, who joined Town on a two-year contract from Irish football in the summer of 2009.

Going through the Town team at the weekend certainly keeper Arran Lee-Barrett would struggle to displace John Ruddy or Doris de Vries while with the exception of a fully fit Gareth McAuley it is doubtful if any of the Town back line would be a regular in either the Norwich or Swansea teams.

An injury-free Jimmy Bullard could compete for a midfield place but the loanee is unlikely to be at Portman Road next season anyway, but neither Jason Scotland nor Connor Wickham would unduly concern the City or Swansea front two.

This goes to show the amount of work that Town manager Paul Jewell has to do over the summer months to bring his side up to a level required to compete for automatic promotion in 2011/12.

Ipswich fans can now vote for their player of the season online at http://www.itfcsupporters.co.uk/.

They can also cast their votes at the Preston game with the presentation ceremony taking place at Greshams Social club on Saturday evening.