IPSWICH'S managerial quest took a dramatic new twist today.Academy supremo Bryan Klug, strongly tipped to feature prominently in the forthcoming shake-up, has been approached to take on a similar role at Newcastle.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH'S managerial quest took a dramatic new twist today.

Academy supremo Bryan Klug, strongly tipped to feature prominently in the forthcoming shake-up, has been approached to take on a similar role at Newcastle.

The Geordies have a vacancy to fill after Glenn Roeder, who previously ran the youth set-up at St James' Park, was appointed manager.

Roeder admitted 45-year-old Klug was a contender for the job on Tyneside - but insisted they also had other candidates in mind.

“We have compiled a shortlist of names for the new academy manager but nobody has been interviewed or been asked to be interviewed,” said Roeder.

“But Bryan Klug is the type of academy manager we are looking for and he may be one of three or four on our shortlist.”

Back at Portman Road, meanwhile, former skipper Jim Magilton remains a clear front-runner to succeed Joe Royle.

Town's request to speak to Southend boss Steve Tilson was rejected and he joins Tony Mowbray, Phil Parkinson, Colin Calderwood and Nigel Pearson on an ever-increasing list of non-runners.

I understand that Pearson, the assistant manager at West Bromwich Albion, was chairman David Sheepshanks' preferred choice for the job.

But the ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough defender failed to impress the other directors at the interview stage and was removed from a shortlist that also included caretaker boss Willie Donachie and ex-QPR manager Ian Holloway.

There is growing support at boardroom level for Magilton, who wants Klug to work alongside him as first team coach.

And with so many other candidates falling by the wayside, the 37-year-old former skipper is now a clear favourite for what would be a managerial baptism of fire.

However, if Klug is offered and accepts the role of academy manager at Newcastle it would throw the whole situation back into the melting pot.

Magilton is currently on a family holiday in Spain with wife Colette and young sons Adam and Ryan.

He will be back next week and, given the developments of the past few days, it will be a major shock if he is not unveiled then as Joe Royle's successor - provided Klug is happy to remain on board.

I understand that the pair attended their second interview with the Town hierarchy last Friday.

That is significant since Sheepshanks and chief executive Derek Bowden were entrusted with the task of conducting initial interviews and only those on the official shortlist were to go forward to discussions with the full board of directors.

Magilton's chances improved significantly when Calderwood opted to quit Northampton and become Nottingham Forest's new boss, and then Tilson insisted he was staying put at Roots Hall.

While Sheepshanks maintains Town are in no rush, I understand Magilton's absence on holiday is all that is delaying an official announcement.

Magilton and Klug are understood to have interviewed well, confirming the directors' faith in them stepping into the breach.

They would be working with several members of last year's FA Youth Cup-winning side who have since progressed to senior level and figured last term under Royle.

The club believe the fully qualified Klug can be influential on the training ground, so highly rated is he for his coaching expertise.

Magilton is a rookie by comparison, but has demonstrated a knack for coaching in recent years, serving his apprenticeship at midweek academy sessions while planning to continue in the game once his playing days ended.

The Ipswich directors, who believe his passion and influence can compensate for a lack of management experience, view him as an ideal front man.

By opting to keep the appointment 'in house' the club will also avoid the upheaval that often accompanies the installation of a new manager.

It will also free valuable funds, which might otherwise have been used to cover the compensation involved in securing the services of another club's manager.

That cash, plus a proportion of the money raised by a forthcoming second share issue, will form the basis of a transfer kitty for the new management team.