JOE Royle has received the backing of a coach who has worked under two of Ipswich Town's most successful managers.Charlie Woods was a pivotal figure at the club during the days when Bobby Robson and John Lyall were in the hot seat at Portman Road.

JOE Royle has received the backing of a coach who has worked under two of Ipswich Town's most successful managers.

Charlie Woods was a pivotal figure at the club during the days when Bobby Robson and John Lyall were in the hot seat at Portman Road. And he puts Royle in a similar bracket.

Woods said: “They are all good managers, and I like the way that Joe interacts with people. He gets the best out of everyone.”

Woods, who coached Town to two FA Youth Cup victories in the seventies, left his last job as Newcastle United chief scout soon after Robson, now Sir Bobby, was removed as Magpies manager.

He lives near the Ipswich training ground, and regularly pops over for a cup of tea with Royle and the Town coaching staff - as well as watching most matches at Portman Road.

“Ipswich have the right man at the helm in Joe Royle and I can see them moving forward,” added Woods, who held a number of posts with Ipswich.

He was youth team coach under Robson and moved on to become second team and then first team coach before being assistant manager to Lyall.

When George Burley took over at Portman Road, Woods was switched to chief scout, a position he also held at Tottenham and Newcastle following his move away from Ipswich Town.

“My views did not always gel with John Duncan when he was in charge at Portman Road, but I have worked with some excellent managers,” said Woods.

“Bobby Ferguson had a

difficult job following Bobby Robson, and he did well bearing in mind that the club had to sell players during his time.”