Chaplin Signs New Deal
Town top scorer Conor Chaplin has signed a new deal, tying him to the Blues until the summer of 2026.
The 26-year-old forward, who netted 29 times in all competitions last season, joined the club from Barnsley in the summer of 2021, signing a three-year contract when ran until next summer.
Chaplin, whose 26 goals in League One saw him share the Golden Boot with Peterborough’s Jonson Clarke-Harris, carried off most of the Town player of the Year awards at the end of 2022/23, while his strike at Derby in April was selected as the Goal of the Season.
“It feels amazing,” the former Portsmouth and Coventry man told the club site having put pen to paper.
“There is nowhere else I would rather be because this club is so ambitious in the way it thinks and the way it is run. It’s an exciting place to be. I am delighted and grateful.
“It was an easy decision to make because I am very lucky to have had a really good connection with my teammates and the staff, as well as the fans. I never thought of anything else so I’m delighted it’s sorted.
“This is probably the most comfortable I have been at a football club and it feels like it’s home. I was fortunate to get a lovely house straight away, which probably helps you settle down, and I love where I live. I love Suffolk in general because it suits me as a person.”
Chaplin, who is a trustee of the Ipswich Town Foundation and an ambassador to the Rainbow Tractors, the club’s LGBTQ+ supporters group, says he’s looking forward to getting back to Playford Road for the start of pre-season training on Monday 26th June.
“The break’s been good but it’s a case of getting back into the work gradually. It’s not long now until we’re back in for pre-season,” he added.
“I want to carry on and be better than the 2022/23 season – that’s always been my mantra in terms of season after season.
“I always want to beat the last one, which isn’t always possible and isn’t something I’ve always been able to do during my career, of course, but it has to be the aim.
“As well as we did last season – which we reflected on after the season finished – it’s time to park that and focus the upcoming campaign and the future.
“Memories are good but they don’t last forever. We need to focus and we need to be ready to go in the Championship.”
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Morsy Looking Forward to Return
Blues skipper Sam Morsy is looking forward to getting back to Playford Road for the start of pre-season training.
The Town squad are due to return to start their preparations for 2023/24 on Monday 26th June with their first friendly at Felixstowe & Walton the following Saturday.
“It’s been nice to have the chance to relax, get away on holiday and unwind a little bit after a long season,” Egypt international Morsy told the club site.
“The break does go very fast, though, and it’s not long until we’re back in for pre-season and working very hard.
“There are still a couple of weeks to enjoy with your friends and family but you do start to look forward to coming back in and working hard.
“The advantage with our manager and the staff is that you know there is going to be some very, very high quality coaching as well as some very hard work.
“Every player has bought into that and wants to improve and get better. The off-season and pre-season is an opportunity to do that – it’s not just about running miles and miles but also seeking out opportunities to improve that you maybe wouldn’t be able to do during a busy season.”
While away from the club, the players have been given their own bespoke fitness plans for the summer, while some will have employed private fitness coaches to work with them during the break.
“Everyone will have been given different programmes to do, depending on what they need. It gives you a timeline really to get the most in your legs because you’re going to need it for pre-season,” the 31-year-old added.
“The way the game is now, though, lots of players will be seeing people privately, too. It’s about fitting your needs and doing what’s required. Yes, you can complete your plan but having someone to push you through it and motivate you can be really important.
“It’s about getting ready and the whole squad are all over the country doing their work. Everyone speaks regularly and it’s a really tight-knit group.
“The promotion forms that bond and when we are all back together we’ll really enjoy our work again.”
