JOE Royle and Ipswich Town Football Club have parted company in a move that has shocked the world of football.The Town manager, who was planning another campaign to take the Super Blues back to the Premiership, decided to leave after a meeting with club chairman David Sheepshanks and chief executive Derek Bowden.

JOE Royle and Ipswich Town Football Club parted company this afternoon in a move that has shocked the world of football.

The Town manager, who was planning another campaign to take the Super Blues back to the Premiership, decided to leave after a meeting with club chairman David Sheepshanks and chief executive Derek Bowden.

In a statement on the club's website, Sheepshanks said: “Joe and I have met today and agreed that this is the right moment to go our separate ways.

“The parting is entirely amicable. I would like to place on record our warm appreciation and thanks for the tremendous job that Joe has done at Ipswich during his tenure, managing the club initially through turbulent times and building a side that reached the play-offs in two out of the last three seasons.”

Royle added: “I would like to thank everyone involved at Ipswich Town - the fantastic staff and the players for their support and for giving their best at all times.

“As the chairman said, we part extremely amicably and I wish the club, its staff and the supporters nothing but the very best for the future.”