JIM Magilton will become the youngest manager in the Championship when he is unveiled by Ipswich today.

JIM Magilton will become the youngest manager in the Championship when he is unveiled by Ipswich today.

And Town fans will have no complaints if he fares as well as the previous youngest, Watford's Aidy Boothroyd, who will be the 'baby' of Premiership bosses next season.

Magilton, who was 37 last month, takes over from the departed Joe Royle after initially declaring he would not be applying for the job.

But not only did he change his mind and pursue the post, he also saw off some tough competition to land it.

Today's announcement comes 16 days after The Evening Star revealed that Magilton had emerged as a front-runner for the position.

The ex-skipper makes a far speedier return to Portman Road than anyone, least of all himself, could have imagined.

He said an emotional farewell on April 22, after the home win over Derby, and reaffirmed his intention to carry on playing for at least one more season elsewhere.

But Royle's shock exit on May 11 changed all that and former Northern Ireland captain Magilton will today be installed as only Town's 12th manager in their 70 years as a professional club.

As expected, academy director Bryan Klug has also been confirmed as first-team coach in the backroom reshuffle.