The media's sweet

How long will Roy Keane stay at Ipswich Town?

SO what do we make of Roy Keane?

How long will he be around? Can he make Ipswich Town become a success again?

He’s been in charge at Portman Road for coming up to 10 months now having arrived amid a blaze of publicity and a shed load of optimism.

Results-wise it hasn’t happened for the Irish footballing icon with Ipswich Town suffering their worst start to any season and failing to gain a victory until the last day of October.

Such is the charisma that surrounds him and the way he handles himself in the media - never afraid to speak his mind - Keane has kept Blues fans on his side.

This is a remarkable feat in itself and one that bodes well for the months – possible years – ahead.

There are many however – some within the club – who are somewhat surprised that Town owner Marcus Evans has been so lenient.

Most owners would have become jittery and made a move by now – you just have to look at QPR and Peterborough as examples of that.

But thanks in many ways to the careful vetting by previous chairman David Sheepshanks, Ipswich have a man at the top who is as close in the 21^st century to following the Cobbold-related principles that have made Ipswich Town FC what they are as possible.

Sheepshanks could – and possible almost did at one time – have eased the crushing financial woes that bugged his latter years in the boardroom hot seat by ‘selling out’ to any hobble–di-hi who came along flashing the cash.

But he maintained principles that John and Patrick Cobbold would have been proud of, and Town have a man at the helm who is a sharp and decisive businessman, but someone who has values.

So where does this leave Keane now that things are beginning to look up?

Number one he loves the area and his wife and five children are settled, something that did not happen during his time at Sunderland when his loved ones remained in the Manchester area.

Number two, and another plus, he has his players playing for him – and enjoying doing so.

Number three his track record at Sunderland still points in his favour having shaken them up and gained promotion to the Premier League on the back of a successful run that one feels could happen here as well. The man’s energy and desire to win can drive this along.

Number four he gets on well with Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg. It was a breakdown in trust with the hierarchy at the Stadium of Light that led to his departure from the north east.

Number five, and not so positive this one, is the surprising fact that despite his public persona he questions his own managerial ability. He has yet to convince himself that he can become a top manager. He seeks this and is determined to achieve it. But there is still some proving to do.

The signs are that if Ipswich move up to around mid-table by the end of the season, Keane’s position will remain secure.

But he will be left in doubt what is expected of him in 2010/11.

Ipswich Town hitting the road and hopefully the points

THE tyres of Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) bullet proof-fitted vehicle will have to go in for a check with all the travelling on the horizon.

Four away Championship games on the trot is new territory for the hardened media men that religiously follow Roy Keane and men around the globe.

One at home and one away is a nice format with an occasional double header either way thrown in.

This gives time to re-charge the batteries and enjoy a relaxing fortnightly couple of hours on a Saturday morning and a chance to take the better half out on a Saturday night.

But to have four trips on the trot presents severe logistical problems to overcome.

And this on the back of a hectic January where we went from north to south in pursuit of FA Cup glory (or is it gory) followed by a trek back north to sample the delights of Preston on a Friday night.

Billeting just over the wall from the jail in the Lancashire city was a tad off-putting, but once we ventured out on the town it all brightened up.

The Old Bull – I think that was the name, a bit hazy by the time I left – proved a fine hostelry with real ale aplenty and a convivial atmosphere.

An interval break to a three-floored Chinese emporium where you could eat as much as you could muster for less than a tenner only improved what was a pleasant evening.

It is best to gloss over the events at Deepdale although the home side were so poor that if Ipswich had managed to find the net first they would surely have won.

It’s a worry how bad Town were, and they need to be much improved against Middlesbrough or a serious dog fight to avoid relegation is on the cards.

Then it is goodbye to the better half, kids, dog, fish while the miles are clocked up in the pursuit of Ipswich pocketing enough points from their following four games to keep the faithful happy.

Loftus Road is friendly enough inside with some good recent Town showings, but a trip to QPR is fraught with danger because of a lengthy drag through the minefield that is the M25, then the north circular then the A4.

With copy restrictions meaning my written efforts have to be received back in Lower Brook Street, Ipswich by 11.30pm it could well be around midnight when we start the journey home.

Next on the agenda is a relatively short haul to London Road, Peterborough for another Tuesday night fixture that could see the midnight oil again being burned.

Then it is off to Hillsborough for a Saturday visit to Sheffield Wednesday, which at least takes in breakfast at the famous Ram Jam, before another Tuesday safari.

This time to Scunthorpe with safari the wrong word as the last visit to Glanford Park (in April) the coldest experience of the 2007/08 campaign.

Trying to type copy on a lap top at a deserted freezing ground after Keane has kept his players in the changing room for a hour after the final whistle - as at Preston last Saturday – is not an inviting prospect.

So here’s hoping for a couple of three-pointers along the way before Bristol City restore order again with a visit to Portman Road on February 27.

Surely after that there will be clutch of home games, but I’m not sure as this season appears so lop-sided.

Ipswich Town's Tommy Smith a cult figure in New Zealand

A COUPLE of days in Amsterdam not only refreshed parts that other cities cannot refresh it also gave time to reflect on Ipswich Town’s current standing.

And the result of the head scratching is that the Blues are heading in the right direction.

Two months ago it was a realistic possibility that Town could follow Norwich City’s path and disappear off the serious football radar.

Having made their worst start to any season we were right to have fears.

But after a run of 14 games with one defeat the outlook is now a great deal brighter.

What Keane will want to ensure happens is that skipper Jon Walters and midfielder Grant Leadbitter stay fit.

Both were absent at Selhurst Park serving one-match bans when the Blues suffered their only recent defeat on Boxing Day – and they were missed.

Anyway, we leap into Saturday’s game against Coventry confident that Ipswich can make it a hat-trick of home wins, and move further up the table.

It will be nice to be spending more of the weekend at home.

After the tedious crawl through London to Selhurst Park on December 26, it was the long haul up to Blackpool for the FA Cup tie against the Tangerines.

Home boss Ian Holloway is always good value and his request to a couple of policeman passing the referee’s dressing room door after the game deserves repeating.

Upset at ending the game with nine men and being sent to the stands, he quipped: “Arrest that man in there for impersonating a referee!”

Holloway hung around in the corridor until the necessary time had elapsed before he could enter and discuss the game with official Eddie Ilderton and the referee’s assessor.

Leicester is a doddle to reach and Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) did not leave Wilmslow Towers until 11.30am, still being tucked neatly into the stadium-side car park by 1.30pm.

Hot soup in the press room was welcoming but it was still not as cold or raw as Bloomfield Road the previous weekend.

Because so few games were played the national press was well represented, but not one made a move to approach Town boss Roy Keane as he came in among the newsmen to watch live TV coverage on the wall-mounted screen of a Scottish League game in action.

Keane was left unattended as he stood for several minutes while his players were warming up on the pitch.

The previous day had seen a call to reach BBC Radio Suffolk studio a tad earlier because of the weather for Rob Chandler’s popular Saturday lunchtime show.

It is always enjoyable to join in with avid Town fan Rob and Town legend Kevin Beattie.

My eldest son Daniel has returned to New Zealand after a month with a Tommy Smith Town shirt packed safely in his case.

Smith is set to become the biggest name in New Zealand football, and head of PE Daniel will steala march on his pupils when he takes lessons in his Town kit and Smith 35 on his back. He also took back several signed Tommy Smith photos – should be worth a small fortune.

The day Roy Keane wanted me in his side!

IT'S been some time since my primary duties allowed time to get back in action on this site.

But with Christmas done and dusted and everything quiet at Portman Road today with everyone from the manager down appearing to be off here we go with apologies for the long wait.

You will have seen in today's Evening Star that I came close to a game for the Blues in the autumn.

What an honour that would have been, and when Roy Keane said that things were so bad in August that he almost gave me a game the news was received with mixed feelings.

Firstly pride at the closeness of playing for Mr Keane, but alternatively disappointment that things were so bad that someone who last kicked a ball in earnest some considerable time ago had been in his thoughts.

Yes, I knew where the net was in my days as leading scorer at clubs like Needham Market and Whitton United, but the boots were in the loft and and the legs not really up Championship pace.

But who wouldn't be chuffed to have even been mentioned to have a chance of playing for a legendary ex-player who looks as though he has found the key to turning things around at Portman Road.

By the way don't take this too seriously as what the great man actual said beside the pitch at Bloomfield Road on Saturday was that things were so bad in August that even I came close to a game.

Of course it was one of his quips and the famous stare that accompanied his reply to my question on how things had improved was enough to make you take two steps back.

Anyway Her Majesty's Press corps (Ipswich branch) has been functioning well despite a long drive home on Saturday through snow and ice and a return to base delayed until 11.35pm.

A Sat Nav helped to negotiate a path to Selhurst Park on Boxing Day, while a friendly Lincolnshire-based reporter mate was in touch at 8.15am to save me getting out of my dressing gown before the Scunthorpe call-off.

Another success for yours truly came on Saturday when six press room colleagues wrote down their proposed team prior to the FA Cup game at Blackpool.

Knowing the surprises that Keane comes up with on a regular basis it was not an easy task, but I managed nine correct - better than the rest.

Thinking that Damien Delaney might not be risked I went for Alex Bruce and Owen Garvan instead of Delaney and Jack Colback.

Just had official confirmation that Liam Trotter is off to Millwall on loan leaving Paul Mariner at Plymouth disappointed as he was also keen on the midfielder.

I have a couple of days in Amsterdam coming up to visit the family of a dear long-standing friend who has recently died and then back in time for a Sunday trip to Leicester.

It's the better half's birthday so better not be too late home. Done think I'll take my boots.

Roy Keane knows how to handle the press

HAVING been a stranger to winning for so long Saturday’s long-awaited success over Derby County left many Town fans in a vacuum on Saturday.

Heads were scratched to try and recall what happens after three points.

A few beers yes, but then what?

Once the euphoria of the occasion had dimmed the realisation set in that Ipswich Town were still uneasily positioned at the foot of the Championship table.

The worse place of all – there is no further place to drop. Unless you take into account League One!

But do we raise our glasses even higher to celebrate progress? Were David Wright’s goal and an Asmir Begovic-inspired clean sheet enough to believe the nightmare is over?

We are in limbo this week with Saturday’s game at Reading likely to be a defining moment in the season.

Three points at the Madejski and we can broaden our smiles, a draw and we are still treading a much better path than six weeks ago, but a defeat and the gloom will return.

I don’t know about you, but I have been thinking back and recalling what I did differently last Saturday. In the hope that something I did made all the difference after a 14-game run without a win.

Was it the socks I wore, the breakfast I ate or perhaps the route I took to the ground that led to an Ipswich win?

Anyway, fingers crossed that Roy Keane and his men will be able to keep the Royals waiting for their first home victory since January.

Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) will be on the road again doing its best to find a way through the M25 road works and down the M4 to Reading.

Having had two daughters attending the university in Reading stretching over a four-year period my knowledge of the town is quite vast and I think I have been stuck on every section of the M25 in a traffic jam at some stage or another.

A vast car park surrounds the Madejski, which is ideal until you want to leave with basically just one exit.

A new media centre has been installed since the Royals’ Premier League days and very good it is too with a perfect seat at the end of the ground where Jon Stead scored such a spectacular winner last season.

And when we sit down to meet Keane on Friday morning at Portman Road how great it will be to have something different to talk about.

Instead of how are you coping and how are you feeling without a win, there will be more positive questions to ask.

And despite suggestions to the contrary, Keane’s relationship with the press is perfectly amicable taking time to answer every question and filling notebooks with his forthright opinions and comments.

Roy Keane, Paul Mariner, John Wark and Ray Crawford - it's all happening!

MY lips are sealed!

Sorry, but I can’t pass on any inside info after spending last Friday evening in the company of two former Ipswich Town stars – Paul Mariner and John Wark.

It was a joy to enjoy an evening meal and a couple of beers in a town centre Plymouth hotel with these two legends after Warky travelled down with his wife Karen see his long term pal and watch PM’s first official game as head coach to Argyle manager Paul Sturrock.

Many a tale was recalled relating to their days playing under Sir Bobby Robson – and latterly Bobby Ferguson – for the Blues and suffice to say that there was fun and games aplenty during the ‘glory years’ of Ipswich Town.

Both have a huge affection for the club and their fans and look back on their time with the Blues with understandable pride.

The pair had earlier spent time at Sturrock’s palatial home on the outskirts of Plymouth that has its own golf hole outside and a games room on the third floor complete with pool table, dart board, juke box and bar.

Anyway, it was a memorable night and sitting not far away in the hotel bar was the pilot who had flown the Ipswich Town party down to the south west that afternoon.

He was keeping well within the limits, to ensure a safe passage home along with co-pilot and stewardess.

The trip went well for Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) with trains on time both ways and home in Ipswich by 11.30pm on Saturday night.

One of the beauties of the train is the capacity to get out the lap top and bash out Monday paper’s copy, leaving plenty of time to refresh on Sunday.

Another Town legend, Ray Crawford, was a travelling companion to Westbury where he changed trains for his trip home to Portsmouth.

Another wonderful guy and like Warky, Town fans, who took over a good percentage of the 5.54pm train, were not slow in showing their appreciation of the ex-Town star.

In fact, we knew that John was at the other end of a crowded platform when loud singing erupted in honour of his name.

How Roy Keane could have done with the likes of Crawford, Wark and Mariner in his line-up at Home Park, but even so it was a commendable Town display if not as accomplished as we would have liked.

Video 'nasty' just one Ipswich Town screen highlight

IT never used to be like this.

The job of covering Ipswich Town for the local paper as a member of Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) used to basically consist of wearing your fingers out bashing away on a typewriter or damaging the eardrums of innocent copy takers barking match reports through the phone from football grounds.

But how things change?

Within the last week I have had to brush up my hair for an Anglia TV interview, spent a very enjoyable hour in the company of Rob Chandler and Kevin Beattie in the BBC Radio Suffolk studio and a video ‘nasty’ on Green’Un TV with my sports room colleague Carl Marston.

And all this before embarking on one of my favourite rail journeys – from Paddington to Plymouth for this weekend’s game.

My Radio Suffolk stint with consummate professional Rob and Blues legend and long time mate Kevin was hopefully the first of many for the station’s Saturday lunchtime show.

Apart from speaking once when the red lights were still on and I thought my microphone was off it all appeared to go very well with Kevin sitting beside me with a fullscap pad filled with his notes.

Very thorough is our Kevin as he remains ‘as sound as a pound’, which is one of his favourite sayings.

From 15-year-old tea boy while the M6 was being built not too far away from his Carlisle home to his current status is something that ‘The Beat’ can look back on with pride.

My Anglia TV interviewee was the delightful Victoria Webb who is the daughter of Ipswich Town media staff member David Webb, and one of the former stars of television hit Hi-Di-Hi.

Have you ever pulled out of the rather dingy surroundings of Exeter St Davids station where the train service to Penzance switches drivers – yes it’s only half-way – and witnessed the delights of the next 10 miles.

The route takes you along the River Exe and then within inches of the English channel as the train sweeps along the coast. Wonderful stuff, and always a decent hotel and a pleasant evening to be had in Plymouth afterwards.

Elvis is in the Ipswich Town building!

FORGOT to mention in my last report of a laugh that my colleagues in Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) enjoyed at my expense as we went to enter Oakwell before the 2-1 Championship defeat against Barnsley.

When I was christened – yes I know way back when and in remembrance of a would-be uncle who died soon after birth – there was no guitar playing American with swivel hips and a smart quiff around.

But once Elvis Presley came on to the scene there have been regular links – certainly not in the singing category – between my good self and the late superstar.

And it all came back to haunt me again when someone in the Barnsley media department decided to hand me an envelope marked ‘Elvis King’.

I quickly put a finger or two – plus a thumb as I flexed my hand muscles – over the offending name tag.

But my colleagues are not sharp, eagled- eyed journalists for nothing and the game was up!

The ridicule was as ribald as you would have imagined, and all I could do was look forlornly at the lady who had parted company with the said envelope containing my press passes and break into a little ditty entitled ‘In the Ghetto.’

It used to be one of my karaoke party pieces – not a show stopper by any means, but one that I was called to perform regularly when it all went quiet for a while – but a couple of bars was more than enough on this occasion.

From that moment – even though I was wearing different shoes and a new coat supplied by Archant (too small according to my better judges at home) to bring Roy Keane and his men luck – I knew the day was done.

So when Jon Macken squeezed in a last-gasp winner to leave Town stranded at the foot of the Championship table it came as no great surprise to me.

These website duties are growing virtually by the day and there I was sitting in front of a video camera yesterday with East Anglian Daily Times Ipswich Town writer Carl Marston giving my Anthony Hopkins impression.

We discussed the current state of Ipswich Town as best we could and with very little make-up applied hopefully it came out okay.

It is the future and hey could lead to a new career.

But then again probably not. So back to the Elvis impersonations it is then!

Ipswich Town - burning the midnight oil!

TWO further trips to report on from Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) with sorties to Bramall Lane, Sheffield United and Oakwell, Barnsley.

It goes without saying that with three successive journeys up the A1 to Yorkshire – Doncaster was the first – the Ram Jam was again utilised for pre-match refreshments.

And waiting to greet us as our intrepid party entered the fine eating establishment before the Blades match was Ipswich Town secretary Sally Webb, who was travelling to the game with press liaison officer Wolfe Powell.

And it was through their good offices that we were able to part literally 20-yards from the entrance to the media centre at Bramall Lane.

A record as far as this particular fighting unit is concerned although to be fair most away clubs do provide parking space for the visiting media.

At 3-1 ahead with 12 minutes to go, the following day’s intros were starting to be written – at last a Town victory; what joy.

But by the time the referee blew his final whistle the Blades had levelled – and this was not the final horror of what proved to be a long night.

Despite their obvious frustrations and disappointments, Jon Walters and Grant Leadbitter appeared on cue at the dug-out area 15 minutes after the game to give me their valued opinion of the game.

So far, not too bad - with one Championship point in the bag and two good interviews in the bag.

But then it started to go wrong.

As I played back my tape, the batteries in the dictaphone decided to run out.

Oh joy of all joys, I had to write a back page lead story from memory as I could not find any fresh AAA batteries when I returned home at 2pm after a very untimely detour around Cambridge as the A14 was blocked.

And yes it all got worse!

Unbeknown to me at the time Virgin had decided to have problems with their e-mails so all the work I had achieved during the game, and sent back home to finish, was unavailable.

All I knew was that my e-mails were not working, and after 30 minutes of trying I gave up and fired up the company lap top that contained my earlier work.

My work for the following day’s Evening Star was achieved around 3.30pm, but because some bright spark decides to turn off the company computer at night I was unable to send.

So it was 5.35am when I was woken up by a call from work ‘Where is your copy’?

By 6am I had fired up again and sent, and found little sleep after that with two hours having to suffice.

The next day Town chief executive Simon Clegg decided it was time to face the press and back Roy Keane, so by 11am I was back in the office feeling decidedly shabby ready for the 1pm meeting.

Anyway we survived and Barnsley proved a far less eventful trip despite the stab in the heart of the last minute Tykes’ winner.

Thanks to help from ITFC press office star Steve Pearce I was able to take onboard Keane’s quotes he delivered to TV in the players’ tunnel and was not present when he upset some national journalists later on.

Jaime Peters, bless his little heart, was good value for his post-match interview while Liam Trotter stood in splendidly for goalscorer Liam Rosenior who got called away for a standard drug test.

Trains, pies but no wins yet for Ipswich Town

SOME new travelling companions for Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) trip to Doncaster last weekend.

Carl Marston from the EADT and photographer Warren Page joined senior driver Barry Kent and myself in our latest sortie beyond enemy lines.

And what an enjoyable day it proved – apart from Quinton Fortune’s late equaliser – with a sumptuous buffet breakfast at the Ram Jam on the way up the A1.

We arrived in plenty of time to drop off Messrs Marston and Page and then carry on to collect Ipswich Town ace media man Steve Pearce at Doncaster station.

Six platforms with trains going to all sorts of places – heaven for any train buff, and even a steam train rattling by at full steam.

Now you might get a hot meat pudding with spuds at Middlesbrough pre-match and an array of hot and cold goodies at West Brom.

At more homely Doncaster you get a pork pie. Not just any old pork pie but a mountain of pork pies with differing flavours ranging from traditional to outright spicy.

And there is a highly friendly individual in the Keepmoat Stadium press box who insists that you will not go hungry with custard cream and then Jaffa cakes handed round at regular intervals.

To be honest you can only take so much – particularly after the delights of the Ram Jam. But there was certainly no tea required in the King household when base was reach around 8.30pm.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of Match of the Day and these days the Championship review that follows on BBC does not hold the same attraction when Ipswich have not won.

It means I have had enough football for one day, and am quite happy to let the majority female vote in my abode get its way over TV rights.

And so it was last Saturday although hopefully I will pushing to see the action this weekend – with a win getting closer for Roy Keane’s side and one that may happen against Newcastle if the Magpies can be kept stretched.

Kevin Beattie - Ipswich Town singing legend!

STILL searching for their first league victory of the season; Ipswich Town travel to Doncaster at the weekend for a match against Yorkshire opposition who are in the same boat.

It is interesting stuff at Portman Road these days; with increased comment on manager Roy Keane’s future, and conflicting reports about the spirit in the Blues camp.

One thing is for sure, Keane’s immediate future is cemented to Ipswich Town – and so it should be just seven games in.

Ask me in three months time if Town are still in a similar position and the answer will be different.

But for now let’s have faith in the manager, although hopes that the home game with Nottingham Forest would bring a positive result were killed off once the visitors brought on the powerful Dele Adebola up front.

Keane desperately needs a commanding and experienced central defender – someone who will put a stop to all these bad goals his team are conceding.

Once the necessary plumbing improvements have been made to stop the leaking of goals, a move up the table can start.

But anyway, on to more agreeable matters and the state of Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch).

What a wonderful sortie into enemy north eastern territory with a pleasant evening spent in the heart of Middlesbrough where the young ladies are in danger of catching their death with their penchant for wearing belts instead of skirts.

But the Italian food was excellent at a restaurant recommended by Radio Suffolk sports supremo Mark Matthews, who has had interests in that part of the world.

Town legend Kevin Beattie was on manoeuvres with us at the weekend and being an ex-Boro player he was a willing if somewhat erratic navigator.

“That’s where I stayed, that’s where we trained, that’s where we ate, that’s where Ayresome Park was,” recalled the Beat as he enjoyed his return to the town.

Yours truly was in charge of the navigational map for the outward and return journeys and glad to report that no mishaps occurred in what was one of the most pleasant trips home ever.

After dispensing with the inane Alan Green and his crackly phone-in programme aimed at the completely football mad, it was a thankful switch over to the delights of BBC Radio 2.

And the last night of the Proms was being celebrated with a Barry Manilow live concert from Hyde Park, London.

Now I have four children and do not bend to any particular affection for the American’s saccharine style.

But he can belt out a good song or two, and chauffeur Barry Kent, the Beat and myself were in full voice as we journeyed down the A1.

Fellow passenger Brenner Woolley, BBC Radio Suffolk’s ace commentator, was not so taken by Mr Manilow and was literally cringing into his shoes most of the way home.

And you can imagine the answer when asked if he wanted a Manilow CD for his birthday the following day.

Met two London-based Sunderland supporters lassies at the Grantham services and once they had discovered who the Beat was – ‘he looked familiar but could not put a name to the face’ – they were quick to beg us to take Daryl Murphy and Nyron Nosworthy off their hands.

“We will drive them personally to Portman Road to get rid of them,” they trilled, having far more sympathetic words for Messrs Leadbitter, Edwards and Colback who Keane has taken from the Stadium of Light.

Ipswich Town - happy hunting grounds

IT’S all hands to the pump again after the international break with Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) on their way to Middlesbrough on Friday for the following day’s Championship match at the Riverside.

The north east venue holds some happy memories after a Premiership victory on Easter Monday in 2001, and the following season a credible Sunday goalless draw three days after a 1-0 UEFA Cup win over Inter Milan and two days before a 4-1 League Cup defeat at Newcastle United.

Ipswich Town were really something in those days following some magical leadership from George Burley had seen them finish fifth in the top flight in 2000/01 and qualify for European football.

Blues fans were planning for a second leg in Milan at the time of their last trip to the Riverside, and what an exodus it was with an estimated 9,000 making their way to the San Siro.

What a magnificent turn-out, and I am still convinced it was Town’s excellent away support that ‘won’ them the ballot to appear in the UEFA Cup again the following year against other fair play winners.

What other club would have taken several hundred fans to Luxemburg minnows Avenir Beggen in the preliminary round on August 15 so boosting the coffers of a for all intents and purposes amateur club?

Trips in my book to places like Sunderland and West Brom always signify defeat whereas when you set out for places like Middlesbrough and Everton (in my experience) there is always a reason to have an extra spring in your step.

Let’s hope this proves to be an omen this weekend and that Roy Keane’s three transfer window final day signings come in and provide the necessary to turn his side from ‘ugly ducklings’ into ‘graceful swans.’

Let’s face it a defeat at the Riverside followed by one at home to Nottingham Forest next Tuesday will set the alarm bells ringing.

But let’s be positive. Let’s look to a good result at Middlesbrough and a resounding victory against Forest.

Fingers crossed it happens, and then we can really get our teeth in the season.

Fun and games in this Ipswich Town seat!

IT hasn’t been a good start for Ipswich Town under the management of Roy Keane.

The summer optimism and burning anticipation has turned to concern after just two points from the opening five matches.

Take his final games at Sunderland before he left the Stadium of Light and his opening sequence with the Blues this term and it has been all negative stuff for Keane.

This has to go against the grain for a man who doesn’t suffer fools easily and certainly doesn’t have loser stamped anywhere in his public profile.

If Town fail to gain a result at Middlesbrough on September 12 and then find it impossible to gain a victory against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road three days later the damage will be done as far as many Town fans are concerned.

The majority, possible because of the hype that surrounds the man, are still backing the Irish legend to get it right.

But if the slump continues further down the line this loyalty could be lost, and fur will start to fly.

Keane will be hoping that his last minute transfer window signings will turn things around with the newcomers providing the steel and the leadership to turn what has regularly looked like a rudderless ship into one on a mission to succeed.

Having to go back to his former club for Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards can work – or not work - in two ways.

Firstly, it is a plus that he knows these players and must be convinced that their attitude is right and they have the stomach for the fight that lies ahead of them.

But secondly, many will question his need to go back to his old club. Is he not au fait with the wider football scene to bring in players who can develop into Premier League stars and not ones who have a proven record at the club’s current level but no hard evidence to back their ability to play higher?

Here’s hoping for the best, but I stand by my claim in June that Jim Magilton’s QPR could easily finish above Town this season.

It is far too early to write off Keane, and with the same backing that Sir Bobby Robson received in his opening Town years he can come good – very good.

Off the pitch there has recently been plenty of fun and games, but nothing I can expand on here.

Just suffice to say that life is never dull sitting in and around this particular seat.

Sir Bobby factor will help Ipswich Town

LESS than seven days to go before the big kick-off.

So how excited should we be?

Can Roy Keane fulfil the faith put in him by owner Marcus Evans and lift the Blues back to the Premier League at the first attempt?

This is the burning question on the lips of all Ipswich Town fans.

There are two things that should give us confidence for a successful start to the 2009/10 season.

The first is the encouraging way that pre-season has gone.

The professional manner in which under the influence of Keane and his coaches, Ipswich have tended to probe away in the opening stages of games, and then taken their chances in the latter stages to gain victories.

This shows an organised method of play – with a balanced look and workable shape and bodes well for the months ahead.

The second is the Sir Bobby Robson factor.

The great man did so much for Ipswich bringing some wonderful times to Blues supporters for 14 seasons.

And the man who was club president at his death last Friday can still play a part.

The warmth of his memory will surely lift both club and fans for a period of time as the new campaign opens.

And what of Keane’s reputation?

He has appeared to be like a cuddly bear to those who have had dealings with him so far.

And I read an interesting piece in a broadsheet national daily that suggests Keane’s decision to keep his distance from his players will prove a successful ploy – as it did in the Championship at Sunderland.

It was explained that keeping players on edge keeps them in the unknown and keeps them wanting to please their manager.

With the addition of a goalscorer or two his squad – although not looking on paper stronger than 12 months ago – looks capable enough with intelligent leadership to make an impact.

Every club will feel the same at the present time – if not why bother to enter any competitions – but from where I sit some good times could well be ahead for Ipswich Town over the next nine months or so.

Roy Keane and his Ipswich Town signings

WITH Ed Upson signing a new one year contract and Shane Supple about to follow suit there is just one outstanding issue to be sorted from the 13 players whose Ipswich Town contracts expire on June 30. And faced with a head against heart decision, young midfielder Liam Trotter is set to be ruled by his head and accept a longer Scunthorpe deal than the one-year offer believed to have been made by Blues boss Roy Keane. The former Northgate School pupil will have a much better chance of playing first...(read more)