Terry Hunt reflects on a final day with the mood now transformed at Portman Road
Isn’t it amazing what a sense of unity and togetherness can achieve in football?
With players, management and supporters all pulling in the same direction, the whole mood at Portman Road has been transformed.
It seemed fitting that the final game of the season was played in warm sunshine, with a carnival atmosphere.
Those dark, divisive times seemed a long time ago.
It was a thoroughly entertaining game, with two teams attacking at every opportunity. Goals, saves, excitement, entertainment. That’s all we’ve been asking for.
MORE: Caretaker Klug’s thoughts on the game
Town fans are realistic. We know we’re not Barcelona. All we want is to be entertained, not bored, and appreciated, not dismissed.
The atmosphere was brilliant.
The North Stand sang throughout the 90 minutes, no matter what was happening on the pitch. It was really good to see the mutual respect between caretaker boss Bryan Klug and the fans when he saluted us after the final whistle.
Well done, Bryan. You’ve done the healing job which was so badly needed.
The chant which summed it all up was: “We’ve got our Ipswich back.”
So...We are in a much better place than we were just a few short weeks ago.
The club has made some good decisions - cutting season ticket prices, saying goodbye to McCarthy, and the Marcus Evans interview.
Now, it’s Evans who has the biggest decision of all to get right - the appointment of the next manager.
The positivity of the last few weeks has shown that the supporters are not a bunch of whingers, which McCarthy seemingly came to believe.
The new man will get more than a fair crack of the whip, both from Evans and from the Blue and White Army.
MORE: Town v Boro, full match report
Ok, the budget will be tight, but it’s still one of the best jobs in football. If the new gaffer believes in our youngsters, gets the likes of Huws, Dozzell and Bishop fit, and picks up a couple of smart signings, then I really believe this squad could challenge for the top six.
But that’s for the future.
Meanwhile, enjoy the summer and we’ll do it all again in August.
Come on, you Blues!
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