Ipswich Town Women head into their Women's FA Cup fourth-round clash this Sunday with a rare sense of freedom, offering a welcome respite from their gruelling fight for survival in the Women's Super League 2.
A Cup Distraction from League Struggles
The Tractor Girls, playing their debut season in the fully professional second tier, currently prop up the WSL2 table. They are five points adrift of Portsmouth and Durham, though Portsmouth have played a game more. This Sunday's tie against fellow WSL2 side Sheffield United will be played at their former home in Felixstowe, a temporary return after moving league games to Colchester to meet stadium criteria.
"The players will have a sense of freedom on Sunday," says the club's new technical director, Sean Burt. "There's no consequences this week. It doesn't matter if you go out and you make a mistake because the reality is it's not going to affect our league standing. So it can be a welcome distraction."
Major Off-Field Overhaul Underway
January has been a month of significant change at Portman Road. The long-serving manager Joe Sheehan was relieved of his duties on 6 January, with former player David Wright stepping in temporarily. Burt was appointed from Hearts on 12 January, and in a shrewd move, Sheehan was reassigned to the role of head of player development and academy manager on 16 January.
This restructuring bolsters the small team running the women's setup, led by head of women's football Rachel Harris. The club is also recruiting a wellbeing lead and a new sports scientist to adapt to WSL2 demands.
Burt, whose passion for recruitment was key to his appointment, emphasises a proactive, long-term vision. "This isn't just a case of being really reactive," he states. "We want Ipswich to win, to be competing at the top end of WSL2 and if unfortunately we do take a step down to tier three, then that's not going to deter us. We know where we want to be."
Belief in Survival and January Reinforcements
Despite their position, there is a firm belief that avoiding relegation is achievable. Results outside games against the top four have been narrow, and the new management sees room for immediate improvement.
"I felt like the margins we're losing by at the moment are so tiny that it wouldn't take a lot to swing things in our favour," Burt explains. He confirmed the club will be "very" busy in the January transfer window, viewing new signings as a way to boost overall squad performance. "If we get an extra 1% or 2% out of them because of new arrivals... those small margins that were going against you all of a sudden go in your favour."
Harris points to the club's successful pathway for young English talent as a foundation for hope. "Some of those players have absolutely shined this season," she says, "so it can be done." She also praised the club's cohesive spirit, highlighted by Sheehan's continued involvement. "I've got nothing but good things to say about Joe and I'm absolutely delighted that he's going to stay."
As the Women's FA Cup offers a break from league pressure, the rebuilt off-field team at Ipswich is ploughing all its energy into a crucial second half of the season, determined to secure their WSL2 status and build for the future.
