Evening Star soccer writer ELVIN KING, one of Britain's most accomplished sports journalists, casts his experienced eye over today's new investment from Ipswich Town owner Marcus EvansFASTEN your seat belts and prepare for take-off.

Elvin King

Evening Star soccer writer ELVIN KING, one of Britain's most

accomplished sports journalists, casts his experienced eye over today's new investment from Ipswich Town owner Marcus Evans

FASTEN your seat belts and prepare for take-off.

Ipswich Town are on the runway ready to reach new heights now a new sponsorship deal has been confirmed.

Our exclusive revelations today that owner Marcus Evans has given a £4million boost to Blues manager Jim Magilton's war-chest is hugely significant and a move which will be welcomed by Town fans everywhere.

Added to the additional player investment owner Evans has promised, it makes the sky the limit for the reconditioned Tractor Boys.

He was a hungry man when he decided Ipswich Town was the club where he wanted to invest some of his millions. His manager said at the end of the season just gone he was “ravenous” for success. Two hungry men - and cash to spend - is a potent cocktail.

The hardened millionaire was hungry to reach the Premier League, where the businessman in him realises he has to be to make his investment work for him.

Having been involved with the club now for six months this thirst for success - and his passion and support for the Super Blues - has increased.

If he had any doubts he picked the right club they have long since disappeared. If he had any doubts about the management of the club - on and off the field - they have long since disappeared.

To prove this he is prepared to hand over more of his millions to Magilton in the coming weeks. It will not be too many days before announcements of new signings can be made, making Magilton's squad stronger and more durable than the one that missed out on the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs by just one point in 2007/08.

The January transfer window came within a month of the takeover by Evans and assessments were still being made. Now it is all systems go, with Evans having seen enough to back his manager with more funds as he finds himself having a bigger involvement than he originally anticipated.

This is because he has become part of the

tradition that is Ipswich Town.

The tradition that saw the Cobbold brothers oversee monumental seasons at Portman Road under the managements of Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.

That tradition still exists within the corridors of Portman Road, even in these contemporary times.

A lucrative new five-year sponsorship deal on top of the Evans takeover puts Ipswich in good shape as they gain speed down the runway to what has all the makings of being a successful flight.

By the way, a word of praise today for a trio of “unsung” heroes at Portman Road - club chief executive Derek Bowden, marketing boss Andrew Goulbourn and communications guru Terry Baxter.

All three have worked tirelessly to link with the Marcus Evans Group to ensure a seemless linkage between London and Portman Road.