Paul Cook's tough start to life as Ipswich Town manager continued as they were hammered 3-0 by AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Whilst many fans would've expected the former Wigan chief to make more of an impact than he has, the majority recognise that he has inherited a group that have struggled for some time.

With a five point gap to the play-off places, a top six finish should still be possible for Ipswich in theory, but their alarming results and performances suggest that they won't be capable of putting the sort of run together that will be required.

Therefore, attention will already be on next season, and with new owners also in place at Portman Road, it could be an exciting summer for the Tractor Boys.

The main focus will be on who comes through the door, but there will be plenty of departures too. And, here we look at just EIGHT of the many players who could leave when the window opens...

The experienced defender has been at Ipswich since 2012, so he has had a lot of ups and downs in that time.

At 35, Chambers is past his best now and whilst his leadership qualities are clear to see, he is struggling at times in defence. So, with his contract expiring in the summer, it's highly unlikely that he will be offered a new deal.

Even though the former Nottingham Forest man has played regularly under Cook, he hasn't really impressed, so a fresh start could be best for both parties in the summer, allowing Chambers to end his career somewhere else.

Another experienced figure who is out of contract in the summer is left-back Ward.

Brought in by Paul Lambert, the former Wolves man has failed to impress this season, with many fans unhappy with his performances in recent weeks.

Despite that, he has continued to feature under Cook but it's hard to imagine that he will be offered a new deal, with the contract situation making it an easy decision for the club. A new left-back is sure to be on the radar for the boss in the summer as he looks to bring in plenty of new additions.

Yet another experienced figure who is out of contract is Skuse.

Like Chambers, the no-nonsense midfielder has been at the club for some time, but the past year or so has been tough for Skuse with injuries restricting the impact he could make.

Whilst he is sure to be a good professional around the place, like the other two, it's still hard to justify offering Skuse a new contract, particularly given his injury record this season. So, a summer exit feels inevitable and it will free up more space in the squad for new signings.

There are a host of Ipswich players out of contract in the summer and, in truth, it's hard to see many getting new deals.

One who falls into that category is Huws. The left-footer arrived with a decent reputation but his career has stalled at Portman Road, with injuries not helping at all.

However, when he has been on the pitch Huws hasn't done enough to suggest he warrants an extension. He hasn't played under Cook and it seems as though it will be another easy choice to let the player leave when his deal expires.

The winger joined from Peterborough in 2018 and his signings was considered a coup as Edwards had shone in League One previously.

However, the signing just hasn't worked out. Whilst the right-footer has shown moments of class in the few years that have followed, he hasn't been anywhere near consistent enough and has not made an impact this season.

His form under Cook will have done nothing to convince the boss that he deserves a new deal, so he should be another that leaves on a free, which won't disappoint the fans.

A player the club won't want to lose is Downes, with the 22-year-old midfielder clearly a talent with huge potential.

That much was evident when Crystal Palace made a move to sign him last summer and there interest doesn't seem to be going away. Even if it's not the Eagles though, clubs in the top two divisions will be keen to give Downes the chance to step up.

The change in ownership means Ipswich may not have to sell, but if a suitable offer comes in, and the player wants to go, a departure would still happen and it would give Cook more funds to reinvest.

Sears is another who faces an uncertain future, with his deal set to expire in the summer, although the club do have an option to extend his contract by 12 months if they want.

But, it's hard to imagine that Ipswich will do that. The 31-year-old has managed just one goal in 24 appearances this season and he has seriously struggled to shine under Cook.

That goal record, combined with his injury history, means that keeping the ex-West Ham man would be a risk for the Tractor Boys and it's one that you can't see them taking. Again, a summer exit feels inevitable.

Jackson is in a similar position to Sears in that he is out of contract in the summer but the club hold a one-year option.

His case may differ to Sears though, as he could be more of an asset to the club, so it wouldn't be a surprise if his option was activated.

Nevertheless, a summer switch could still happen. Firstly, Jackson will be entering his final year, so he is someone that could be bought at a cheaper price. Plus, despite his struggles this season, he has done well in the past and is a player that clubs higher up have monitored.