IF every Ipswich Town fan had the benefit of 30 minutes in the company of manager Jim Magilton selling season tickets would be no problem.He may be in his first season of management - and results might not have been as good as hoped - but the 37-year-old is convinced that his goal of reaching the Premiership will be achieved in the not-too-distant future.

By Elvin King

IF every Ipswich Town fan had the benefit of 30 minutes in the company of manager Jim Magilton selling season tickets would be no problem.

He may be in his first season of management - and results might not have been as good as hoped - but the 37-year-old is convinced that his goal of reaching the Premiership will be achieved in the not-too-distant future.

And listening to him it is obvious that he has no doubts.

Lessons have been learned, groundwork has been done and as the Yazz song says, The Only Way is Up.

Magilton has every confidence in Town fans backing him.

He said today: “I have never been in an area like this. I would not have believed one existed from where I come from.

“Every person in this town - and in the area - cares about the football club I am proud to manage.

“From the very young to the more elderly there is just one club for them. I never see any other shirt than an Ipswich Town one when I am out and about.

“This club is special and I so want to bring to it success.”

He wants Blues supporters to join in the crusade.

“I want my team to play in front of full houses,” said Magilton as he pondered the possibility of reduced season ticket sales for 2007/8.

“A packed ground will inspire and lift my players.

“I want Portman Road to be the best place to be - and not half empty.

“At the end of the day Ipswich Town FC belongs to the fans - they are a huge part of the club.

“Every single person who comes through the turnstiles has a part to play.”

And commenting on a new season ticket deal announced today, Magilton says that it is a fantastic offer.

Magilton added: “We have learned from the mistakes we have made over the last few months and it takes a year to get things into shape.

“This was one of the first pieces of advice I received from Sir Bobby Robson.

“A season allows a team to perform and learn together, to develop trust and gain confidence in each other.

“And to learn from errors made.

“It creates a culture that allows players' natural talent to come to the forefront.

“We are returning for pre-season training in the middle of June and will hit the ground running.

“Teamwork cannot be created overnight, it has to be developed.

“When he is up against it every single member of my team must know that he can utterly rely and trust his team-mates not to let him down.

“This takes time. This is now taking shape.

“Players are now asking questions and want to be the best.

“Jordan Rhodes saw his name on the back of a shirt in our dressing room before last Saturday's Plymouth game.

“He has had a taste at just 17, he will want some more and this desire will rub off on the many other excellent youngsters we have at the club.”

Magilton watched a DVD this week of the American basketball film Coach Carter.

He said: “There is a great line where the coach says 'Since when is winning not enough'.

“And it is all about winning.

“Confidence comes and goes, but we have an ethos aimed on teamwork between the four dressing room walls.

“The tentacles then spread throughout the club.”

Ex-England striker Francis Jeffers is in line to be a full-time Town player next season - and the manager revealed that the current Blackburn star is not the only top-line recruit he has in his sights to bring in for next season.

Magilton sees a bright future - and he wants the fans to join in.