Ipswich Town

"The amount of new managers coming into the league this year, I have never seen anything like it".

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by special guests Tommy Smith and Alex Bruce to preview the 2025-26 Championship season.

They discuss a range of topics including assessing chances of sides coming down from the Premier League, who the contenders might be for the top six and take a deep dive of each of the sides promoted from League One.

Listen to the full episode of 72+ and more on BBC Sounds.

The 2025-26 Championship season kicks-off on Friday (20:00 BST) with a mammoth game between promotion favourites Birmingham City and Ipswich Town.

The Blues are first to host in this year's campaign after a record-breaking spell in League One last season.

Meanwhile, Ipswich will be seeking a big win as they look to bounce right back into the Premier League after just one season in the top tier.

• Three of the last four league matches between Birmingham and Ipswich have ended in draws, with the Tractor Boys winning the other 3-1 in February 2024, the most recent meeting between the sides.

• Ipswich Town have won one of their last 19 away league matches against Birmingham (D8 L10), a 1-0 victory in the 2012-13 campaign in Mick McCarthy's first game in charge.

• Birmingham won the 2024-25 League One title with 34 wins and 111 points, both all-time records in a single season in Football League history. The Blues didn't lose a single home league game and are unbeaten in 25 overall (W21 D4), only having a longer unbeaten home run between October 1970 and April 1972 (36 games).

• Ipswich Town picked up just 22 points in the Premier League in 2024-25 (W4 D10 L24), their lowest ever in a single league season in their history. In 2025, only Southampton (6) have picked up fewer points than the Tractor Boys (7) among sides in the top four tiers of English football, while they also have the joint worst defensive record (49 goals conceded, level with Mansfield).

• This is the second time Birmingham are playing Ipswich at home in their first league game of the season. The other time was a 3-1 win in 1995-96 – when the Blues were newly promoted to the second tier, and Ipswich had just come down from the Premier League.

Ipswich are set to snub a £35m offer from Nottingham Forest for England under-21 midfielder Omari Hutchinson, with Brentford also still interested in the 21-year-old. (David Ornstein, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Napoli and Sweden midfielder Jens Cajuste is set for another loan spell with Ipswich Town following a medical, however the Championship side will be obligated to buy the 25-year-old should they win promotion back to the Premier League this upcoming season. (Sacha Tavolieri via X), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich Town have appointed defender Dara O'Shea as their new captain for their return to the Championship.

The 26-year-old replaces Sam Morsy who joined Kuwait SC last month.

O'Shea joined Ipswich from Burnley in August 2024 following their promotion to the Premier League and the Clarets' relegation from the top flight.

The Republic of Ireland international made 35 Premier League appearances for the Suffolk club last season and captained the side on a handful of occasions when Morsy was absent.

"It is an honour to be named captain of Ipswich Town," O'Shea told the club website., external

"To follow in the footsteps of so many great captains here is something I feel hugely privileged to do and this is a proud moment for me and my family."

Ipswich kick off the new Championship season at Birmingham City on Friday (20:00 BST) and you can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Ipswich Town are assessing injuries to defender Conor Townsend and forward Jaden Philogene after both went off injured in Saturday's final pre-season game at Auxerre.

Townsend was substituted just before the half-hour mark with a knee problem while Philogene was forced off eight minutes into the second period after taking a blow to his ankle.

Ipswich launch their Championship campaign away at Birmingham City on Friday (20:00 BST).

"It leaves us in a challenging position but they're going to come over the course of the season," boss Kieran McKenna told the club website, external.

"We've got one now and we've got to take it head on."

Ipswich won the game 3-0 against the French Ligue 1 side with goals from George Hirst, Jacob Greaves and Ali Al-Hamadi and, barring the injuries to Townsend and Philogene, McKenna is pleased with how their preparations have gone.

"The group has been excellent - the commitment's been excellent, the staff have worked really hard and we've had a good challenging programme," he said.

"I don't think there's much we'd change but there's no way you can prepare in a pre-season game for the intensity we're going into on Friday night and the intensity we're going to bring, but in everything we can can control we've done as well as possible."

Ipswich Town have joined the race to sign striker Oli McBurnie with Sheffield United, Swansea City and Hull City also linked with the free agent, who left Las Palmas after their relegation from La Liga. (Football League World), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Ipswich Town have struck a deal with Middlesbrough for 23-year-old midfielder Hayden Hackney worth up to £20m but now await an agreement from the England Under-21 international to complete the move. (EFL Analysis), external

Wrexham are prepared to make a £7m bid for Wales forward Nathan Broadhead but his current club Ipswich are not looking to sell the 27-year-old this summer. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.