IPSWICH Town's pre-season may only just have kicked off - but there has already been a major blow to morale.

IPSWICH Town's pre-season may only just have kicked off - but there has already been a major blow to morale.

For the Portman Road outfit, hotly tipped to contend in the ever-competitive Championship this year, are languishing in 12th place in the season's first league table.

The Blues are six spots out of the playoff places in the table, printed today on Blackpool's website, while the league is surprisingly topped by Barnsley, with relegated Birmingham in second.

Blackpool, Bristol City, Burnley and Cardiff fill the playoff spots, with early Championship favourites Derby County sinking into tenth place.

But there is one piece of good news for Town fans - the Blues are still above Anglian rivals Norwich, who are a spot lower in 13th position.

Of course, Ipswich fans can breathe a sign of relief - the table is merely an alphabetical list of the teams in the Championship, printed almost a month before the season kicks off!

Click here to see the season's first league table