Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton takes aim at Norwich City | OneFootball

Mark Ashton is keen to keep his team ahead of their arch-rivals Norwich, who remain in the Championship.

Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton has promised his team's supporters that he won't let Norwich City overtake them on his watch.

His comments to East Anglian Daily Times journalist Stuart Watson come amid the Tractor Boys' struggles during the early stages of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

These struggles are understandable, considering they won back-to-back promotions and still need time to adjust to life in the top flight.

Even with their big summer spending, they are still one of the weaker teams in the Premier League and it may take some time for them to fully gel together, considering they made quite a few additions during the previous transfer window.

Right now, they are sitting in the relegation zone, having surrendered a 1-0 lead late on last weekend to lose 2-1 at home to AFC Bournemouth.

Their only league win of the season so far came away at Tottenham Hotspur and as amazing as it was, that victory in the English capital won't count for anything if they can't secure survival at the end of the 2024/25 season.

At this point, they are on course to be relegated, but things could still change and they could roll the dice again during the January transfer window.

Mark Ashton issues Norwich City warning amid Ipswich Town struggles

Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, they are still above Norwich in the English football pyramid, and that will delight the Tractor Boys' fans, who spent a number of years in League One not so long ago.

Ashton is determined to keep Kieran McKenna's side ahead of their fiercest rivals, telling Watson: "We are not 'little Ipswich', we are not 'sleepy Suffolk'. I am not interested in bobbing along.

"We will move forward with power and pace, because if we don't that lot up the road will go past us again. Not on my watch!"

What Norwich City must do in their likely quest to catch Ipswich Town

Norwich need to look at retaining some of their best players if they are to have any chance of securing a top-tier return anytime soon.

Having sold the likes of Gabriel Sara and Adam Idah during the summer, with Jon Rowe also departing, has been a setback for them.

Idah may not have fulfilled his potential at Carrow Road, but he looked lively on the opening day of the season and could have been an asset if he was retained.

Borja Sainz is someone they need to keep hold of, along with Josh Sargent, and they may also need to add to their squad in January.

Owner Mark Attanasio will need to step up and provide the required investment but also needs to ensure his team remains within financial limits.