Carlos Edwards has called for greater team stability at Portman Road next season, if the Blues are to launch an assault on the top half.
Ipswich lead the way in terms of players used in the Championship, having handed out 23 debuts and used a massive 16 loan players, only securing their Championship status with a 3-1 home victory over Birmingham on Saturday.
A solid back four in recent months has played a big part in Town’s revival under Mick McCarthy, however the former Sunderland boss has been forced into the loan market more times than he would have liked to try and bolster a paper-thin squad, often short on quality.
Edwards believes the Blues can target the top end of the division next season, having motored into 11th spot following Saturday’s win, but insists Town have to be less reliant on short-term fixes.
“It’s a long season and the gaffer (Mick McCarthy) might want to nail down more guys on permanent contracts rather than bringing in players on loan,” said the 34-year-old.
“We want a stable club and need guys that want to wear the shirt on Saturdays and Tuesday evenings.
“There might be times where the manager has to bring in loan players because others are not pulling their weight and whoever comes in, we will embrace them as one of us.
“There are times when you have to change but when you are doing that every couple of games, it doesn’t help the flow of the team and the squad.”
Ipswich picked up their fifth win in eight games to comprehensively swat aside an in-form Birmingham team that had only lost once on the road this year, prior to Saturday.
Edwards, who has been revitalised under McCarthy’s management, believes that augers well for the future but is under no illusions that next season will be easy.
“It’s going to take a big effort when you look at the teams that are coming down from the Premier League,” said the Trinidadian.
“But we just need to believe we are capable enough, like we have at the back end of this season.
“We have come a long way under Mick McCarthy. We have been spanked a few times, but we have not surrendered and we will be at the top end of the table rather than the bottom, next season.”