Ipswich take aim at Sky Sports pundit and Leeds during promotion parade

Ipswich Town are in the Premier League after back-to-back promotions having languished in League One 12 months ago – PA/Chris Radburn

Ipswich Town took aim at a Sky Sports pundit for doubting their Premier League credentials as the players enjoyed a beer-fuelled promotion parade.

Open-top bus celebrations saw defender Luke Woolfenden rant to the crowds about Don Goodman tipping the Suffolk club to tail off in the promotion hunt. “I’ll have to sit for six weeks now, and listen to Don Goodman tell us we’re not good enough for the Prem like we did in the Champ,” said Woolfenden. “We’re still going to finish mid-table, Don, but don’t worry about it. This group can do whatever we want, man. We’ve worked so hard.”

Having suggested  Ipswich would be unlikely to maintain their promotion push, Goodman had said “Ipswich’s defensive record is a bit shocking for a team going for automatic promotion” compared to Leicester and Leeds, who were “solid and effective in both boxes”.

With Leeds now facing the play-offs, players on the bus also joined in chants of “Leeds are falling apart again” to the tune of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart.

Ipswich’s return to the top tier after a 22-year wait came following a 2-0 win against Huddersfield at Portman Road on Saturday. Woolfenden, when asked if life could get better than this, later said: “It will get better when we have a moment’s silence for Don Goodman.”

Following cheers, he then added: “I think he’ll be absolutely gutted that we got promoted. He’s been calling us c—- all season.”

Luke Woolfenden had some choice words for Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman – Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Manager Kieran McKenna hailed his side’s “amazing achievement” as the bus parade toured the town. “It’s an incredible turnout, amazing seeing so much joy,” he told Sky Sports.

“Everyone deserves it, the whole town deserves it, the players…for how hard they’ve worked. And the supporters, who’ve followed so loyally for years and have been waiting for a day like this.

“We just set out to be as good as we could possibly be. The closer you get to the end you know you’re within reach of an amazing achievement and we’re so glad we were able to finish off well.”

The team’s playing staff and town of Ipswich looked to be having a good time on Monday celebrating the promotion – PA/Gareth Fuller

The fans turned out in force to applaud their team with the players letting their hair down – PA/Chris Radburn

‘Hands up if you’re in the Premier League’ – the players have some fun before summer and the tough task of staying in the top flight – PA/Gareth Fuller

Promotion marks a remarkable turnaround for the club, who were languishing in 11th place in the third tier when McKenna took over in December 2021.

The following season he guided the team to automatic promotion, picking up 98 points to finish narrowly behind League One title winners Plymouth.

McKenna already has one eye on next season in the Premier League and described it as a “massive job”.

He added: “Next season will be the challenge. We kept an incredible level of consistency from League One to the Championship in all aspects really and we’re going to have to do it again. It’s a massive job.”

Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles – and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.