IPSWICH fans may be praying for a victory on Sunday and now it looks like manager George Burley is trying to get God on the Tractor Boys' side.Mr Burley is lending his weight to a sponsored cycle ride to raise money for Suffolk churches and admitted, if it came to a bit of divine intervention, he'd "take all the help he could get".

IPSWICH fans may be praying for a victory on Sunday and now it looks like manager George Burley is trying to get God on the Tractor Boys' side.

Mr Burley is lending his weight to a sponsored cycle ride to raise money for Suffolk churches and admitted, if it came to a bit of divine intervention, he'd "take all the help he could get".

The Holbrook resident – who may be ordered to get on his bike if Ipswich's fortunes don't improve – posed for pictures outside his local church alongside members of Suffolk's Historic Churches Trust.

He said: "I wouldn't say I'm a regular church goer although I have been to Holbrook church a few times with my family. I think it's nice for myself and the squad to get involved in community projects."

The Trust hopes 2,000 cyclists and walkers will turn out on Saturday to visit churches and raise £150,000 for reparation works throughout the county.

Organiser Christopher Spicer said: "This bike ride is a national event and was first run in Suffolk 21 years ago and the Suffolk event is still the most successful in the country. Last year headed by John Peel, it raised £144,000."

But with the cycle ride less than 24 hours before Ipswich's grudge game against Norwich, will Mr Burley be in the saddle?

"I have a bike which spends more time than it should in the garage. I'd like to make the ride but I'm afraid I'm going to have a lot on this Saturday training the team."

The busy manager added his weight to the campaign by signing a sponsorship form before returning to Portman Road in his Mercedes.