Joe Royle’s decree

Joe Royle’s Ipswich hope to take another step back to the premiership tonight - and fulfil Royle’s last remaining ambition in football. Simon Lewis reports.

THERE was a time when just 10 minutes separated Paul Jewell and Joe Royle as they grew up in Liverpool. Today, they might as well be a world apart.

As Jewell begins his summer holidays safe in the knowledge his Wigan side have already reached the promised land of the Premiership, Ipswich manager Royle must tonight negotiate a play-off semi-final second leg against West Ham at Portman Road, just to keep the dream alive of a return to the English elite.