IPSWICH Town could play a crucial role during the Olympic Games' football tournament.Club chairman David Sheepshanks has already told games organisers that he would like to offer them club facilities.

IPSWICH Town could play a crucial role during the Olympic Games' football tournament.

Club chairman David Sheepshanks has already told games organisers that he would like to offer them club facilities.

That could mean some group games in the soccer tournament being held at Portman Road – and it could mean one of the countries being based at the club's Playford Road training centre.

The Olympics will take place during late July and early August – while Town players are likely to be involved in pre-season training, but it is not thought that would be a great obstacle to the club's involvement.

The football tournament will probably take place at stadiums across southern England leading up to the final at the new Wembley.

Ipswich is thought to be an attractive option because it is only an hour from the main Olympic centre, and organisers would be confident of attracting a near-capacity crowd in the 30,000-seater ground.

There are fears that if matches were held at Stamford Bridge or Arsenal's new Ashburton Grove stadium they would be played in front of half-empty stands.

And Mr Sheepshanks is thought to be well placed to bring matches to Portman Road – he is well known to the Olympic organisers and is sure to lobby effectively to bring matches in our direction.