JOE Royle has been confirmed as the new manager of Ipswich Town with chairman David Sheepshanks claiming he was the outstanding candidate for the job.Sheephanks said that the club received 38 applications for the position before eventually cutting this down to a shortlist of just three.

JOE Royle has been confirmed as the new manager of Ipswich Town with chairman David Sheepshanks claiming he was the outstanding candidate for the job.

Sheephanks said that the club received 38 applications for the position before eventually cutting this down to a shortlist of just three. Of the remaining three Sheepshanks said, "Joe was the outstanding candidate and we are delighted to welcome him as the new manager of Ipswich Town."

Royle has signed a two and a half-year deal with Town but has not vowed to find a quick fix to the Blues dismal recent form. "Our first aim is to get away from the bottom and then we can look towards the play-off places. If we can make the play-off places early enough then who knows," said Royle.

Ipswich have also made an approach to Sheffield Wednesday in the hope of bringing William Donachie to Portman Road to act as assistant to Royle.

But it appears that Tony Mowbray still has a future at Ipswich after Royle said that he had spoken to Town's former caretaker manager and pursueded him to stay at the club. Mowbray will join Royle and Donachie in a three-man management team.

There will be no extra revenue for Royle to bring in new players except through money generated through player sales but Royle was confident that the current Town squad was the envy of most of Division One and had the talent to push up the league.

Although the Town's new man promised he would take a 'hands-on role' for Thursday's UEFA Cup second round first leg clash against Slovan Liberec he admitted that this tie would take a back seat when compared to Sunday's Division One clash against Crystal Palace.

Nevertheless, Ipswich fans will be hoping that these matches spark a sudden and prolonged revival.