Former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has revealed that he thinks Ipswich Town could struggle to adapt to life in League One following their relegation.

The Tractor Boys dropped to the third-tier for the first time since 1958 after a truly forgettable year.

However, there were signs of encouragement under boss Paul Lambert and many feel the Scot could be the man to guide them back to the Championship at the first attempt. And, they begin the season this weekend as one of the favourites for the title.

Yet, Curbishley isn't so sure, explaining to the Racing Post the complications that come with trying to rebuild a club that has struggled for so long.

"(Ipswich) need to make sure that everyone is on board. When you get relegated, some of the players think they are too good for the league and are waiting for someone to come and get them. That’s from the top to the bottom. The club and manager are under huge pressure.

"How many clubs have got relegated and gone straight back up? You see Stoke go down, and made favourites to go back up, and they struggled.

"When you look at the Championship, it’s Premier League 2 in terms of stadiums and size of clubs. Suddenly you go into League One, you’re not going to big stadiums and nice pitches. You’re going to clubs where you turn up and can’t get your skips into the dressing room. It’s a totally different mentality that you need. Mentally adjusting to what you’ve got to do to get out of League One."

The Verdict

You can understand the point that Curbishley is making as we have seen side fail to live up to expectations after a relegation time and time again.

And, even though Ipswich fans may not agree, history suggests it is a factor for those that go down.

Having said that, they have a manager who has won promotion at this level before and that can be a real advantage as Lambert knows exactly what's required.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.