Jim: 'Town are best club in the land'

By Elvin King

JIM Magilton today set about the task of lifting 'The best club in the land' back to where they belong.

Three points at Kenilworth Road against a deplorable Luton Town on Saturday all but ensured Ipswich Town another season in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Having rid himself of relegation fears in what has been a rather troublesome first managerial campaign, Magilton can now look forward - to life in the Premiership.

He revealed his determination to bring top flight football back to Portman Road.

“This is the best club in the land,” he said. “I can see good things happening - and I am convinced they will.”

And having witnessed the savage treatment Luton chairman Bill Tomlins received on Saturday from Hatters fans after the departure of manager Mike Newell and six straight defeats, Magilton reflected on the position of his own often maligned chairman, David Sheepshanks.

“I don't know anyone who loves Ipswich Town more than our chairman,” said Magilton.

“He works tirelessly and would do anything to help get us back in the Premiership.

“It is not until you get an insight to what is going on inside this great club of ours that you realise the vast amount of good work being done.

“Yes, all clubs have trying times and the chairman is not naïve and knows improvements have to be made.”

Despite the likelihood of finishing in the bottom half of the table - and no better than last season - Magilton's love affair with supporters built on his playing days continues.

And he said that the club needs the fans more than ever now.

With a drop in season ticket sales potentially dowsing the flames of expectancy in which he adamantly believes, Magilton said: “Now is the time to stick together, to be positive and to anticipate better times.”

Fifty points is the accepted safety target in the Champion-ship and Town are now two points short of this with seven games remaining.

Unless hit by a bizarre set of results, the manager can now start building for the future.