IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton is the first major beneficiary of the millions of pounds Marcus Evans is preparing to pour into the football club.The talented young boss has been given a contract extension which will last until 2010 with the promise of personal riches if he can continue to build a team which can do the business on the pitch.

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton is the first major beneficiary of the millions of pounds Marcus Evans is preparing to pour into the football club.

The talented young boss has been given a contract extension which will last until 2010 with the promise of personal riches if he can continue to build a team which can do the business on the pitch.

Magilton made a solid start to his management career last year, inheriting a team which had had the heart ripped out of it after failing to win promotion in 2005.

The progress he made last year has been built on during the current campaign - at home at least - and with the financial shackles taken off there is real hope for the future.

Few fans will disagree that Magilton and his back-room team are the right people to take the club forward - they have endured the lean times and earned the right to try to bring the good times back to Portman Road.

The deal which also ties Bryan Klug and Steve Foley to the club may be just the first in the new era for the club.

But in the long term it could ultimately also be seen as the most important.

THIS is traditionally a very bad time of the year on Britain's roads.

As the clocks go back, days become gloomier, fog and mist becomes more of a problem, and life becomes more dangerous on the roads.

At this time of the year it is vital that vehicles should be seen on the roads - and drivers need to remember that their lights are as important to make themselves visible to other road users as they are to light the road itself.

The Evening Star is re-emphasising the safety message with our Belt Up, Light Up, Shut Up campaigning - reminding drivers to use safety belts, switch on lights and not to use hand-held mobiles while driving.

Today that message has been endorsed by the police as a vital way of ensuring safety on our roads. It is a safety message all drivers should keep close to their hearts.

ALWYN Basford and his family have given great service to the people of Rushmere running the newsagent and village shop for nearly three decades - but now he has decided to retire.

It means the end of an era for the village - his store is closing for the last time although papers will still be delivered in the area.

The closure is a graphic illustration of the changing shopping habits over the last few decades - some people now pick up their papers during a visit to the nearest supermarket rather than making a special trip to the newsagent.

Newspapers will continue to play an important part in people's lives, but in Rushmere they will no longer be bought from the Beechwood stores.

His loyal customers will be keen to wish Mr Basford and his family a long and happy retirement, but there will no doubt be a tinge of sadness for the end of an era in the village.