FABIAN Wilnis today revealed his dream to manage Ipswich Town.And current Blues boss Jim Magilton has played a big part in the popular Dutch defender's decision.

Elvin King

FABIAN Wilnis today revealed his dream to manage Ipswich Town.

And current Blues boss Jim Magilton has played a big part in the popular Dutch defender's decision.

While Magilton is busy planning for the downfall of Hull City on Sunday to keep Town in with a chance of reaching the Coca-Coca Championship play-offs, Wilnis is busy planning his own future.

Now in his tenth season at Portman Road it remains to be seen whether it will be his last as a player - with his contract ending in the summer.

Not included in Magilton's squad in recent weeks, Wilnis - a late substitute at Wembley Stadium when Ipswich won the 2000 Championship play-off final - is now looking ahead to a coaching future.

And he wants to slowly progress his off-the-pitch career to follow his former team mate Magilton into management.

“I'd like to move into management one day and my real dream is to manage Ipswich Town,” said Wilnis, who will 38 at the start of next season.

“This football club has been a big part of my life for many years.

“I won't be looking to move into management overnight like Jim. I want to work my way up so that I can experience the coaching side before management.

“But one day I'd love the job here.”

Up until the last few weeks Wilnis has been saying that his future would be in mortgage advising; agency work; marketing; advertising or perhaps corporate hospitality.

He has maintained a healthy set of interests while enjoying his footballing life with the Blues.

But after a chat with Magilton his sights are now set on staying in football.

“It's not something I really considered,” Wilnis tells this weekend's Ipswich matchday programme.

“But I have been working with the younger players this season and really enjoyed it. I think the manager has seen that and we had a chat and he suggested I looked at coaching as an option. That was the turning point for me.

“I have thought about it and feel I have something to offer having been in professional football for 20 years.

“I have already helped some of the academy players and it's very rewarding for me as well.

“I'm taking my Level 2 and Level 3 coaching exams during the summer in a course run by the PFA. It's a fast track system that is open to players who have been in the game for more than five years.”

Wilnis, a former Town player of the year, has made 14 first team appearances this season, but has not featured since January.

“I have been talking to the manager over the past week or two. I'd like to stay here of course, especially after being here for so long.

“If it didn't work out, playing for another club for a year is another option. We will have to see what happens over the next week or so.

“It would be a wrench to leave though - even on a short-term basis.”